Andrew B Saunders, Attorney  Saunders & Saunders, LLP.

Andrew B Saunders

Profession & company: Attorney  Saunders & Saunders, LLP.

How do you celebrate your Irishness? For me, celebrating my Irishness is more about values than it is about heritage. I try to carry forward values of curiosity, honesty, loyalty, empathy and humor with me every day in how I lead, how I work, and how I connect with people. The Irish spirit is resilient, hardworking, and deeply rooted in community. I celebrate my Irishness by honoring the traditions that shaped my family—storytelling, family connections and a strong sense of humor that gets you through the tough days. I try to remember the legacy of Irish American who came to this country (including many of my family) out of need and who with the support of the Irish American community were able to overcome much adversity and were able to succeed.  I am a direct beneficiary of this support system, and I try to celebrate my good fortunes by trying to pass that value system on—whether it’s mentoring younger folks coming up in the industry or making sure our team feel like a family. Because Irishness, to me, is about connection. It’s about remembering where you come from and making sure those values carry forward in everything you do.

Name a maritime hero you admire and why?  Sir Ernest Shackleton. Though best known as an Antarctic explorer, Shackleton was Irish‑born, and his life at sea reflects qualities that have long defined Irish contributions to maritime history: courage, endurance, leadership, and an unshakable sense of responsibility for others. What I admire most about Shackleton is not that he conquered new lands—he didn’t—but that he never lost a single man under his command, even in the most extreme conditions imaginable. When his ship Endurance was crushed by ice, he transformed a disaster into a test of leadership, navigating impossible seas with determination, skill, and empathy. His focus was always on bringing his crew home safely, not on personal glory. That kind of leadership—calm under pressure, fiercely loyal to your team, and always thinking three steps ahead—is something I’ve tried to live by in my own work. The sea demands respect, humility, and teamwork. Shackleton understood that survival at sea depends as much on character as on seamanship. In that way, he represents the best of the Irish maritime tradition: resilient in adversity, steady under pressure, and guided by loyalty to those who sail alongside him.

What did you learn in your first job which has been useful to you throughout the career? One of my earliest roles was working as a scalloper out of the port of New Bedford. I was 17 years old at the time, and I did it while going through school for approximately 5 years.  The job required spending 12 days at sea for each trip, with a demanding schedule of two 6-hour watches per day. Every thirty minutes, regardless of weather conditions or readiness, the drags had to be hauled back, dumped sorted and scallops cut, making the work incredibly strenuous.  It was truly a team effort as we all shared in the success (or lack thereof) of the trip.  I often describe the lay-share system of fishing  as the most socialistic capitalistic profession there is. Although I did not fully appreciate it at the time, I gained many valuable insights while working in the middle of the ocean. The most important lesson was understanding that no matter how much I complained, it had no effect on making the boat stop rocking nor did it have any effect of having the work pause. It taught me to handle challenging situations by compartmentalizing the goal, allowing me to focus without being distracted by the difficulties ahead. It also showed me how to become tone-deaf to circumstances beyond my control, ultimately positioning me to persevere, endure, and succeed despite adversity.

Biography: Andrew has practiced law since 1992 with a concentration primarily in complex commercial  marine matters both in the US and internationally and has also directly overseen the creation of marine related business entities in Mexico, Canada, Colombia, Brazil, Gabon, Cameroon, Kazakhstan, the UAE, and Singapore. His commercial maritime law practice provided him with the opportunity to counsel clients in marine and marine-related commercial and corporate transactions. Andrew is a member of the US Maritime Law Association (Proctor Status), the New Bedford Bar Association and the New Bedford Port Society. He resides in Fairhaven, Massachusetts with his wife of 38 years (Sandra), has two daughters and a dog named Henry.