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The City of Johnson City recently welcomed Sunny Sandos to the position of staff attorney.

Sandos most recently served as the Executive Director of Planned Giving at East Tennessee State University, where she was responsible for planned gift arrangements through the drafting of proposals for trusts, gift annuities, wills, life insurance policies and life estates. Sandos also owns Sandos Law, PLLC, which serves the entire state of Tennessee through a web-based practice focused on estate planning. Her experience also includes seven years in private practice, with an emphasis on civil litigation and municipal law.

Sandos is a faculty member of the National Business Institute in estate planning and previously served as an adjunct professor at ETSU. In 2018, she was recognized as a Fellow in Charitable Estate Planning (FCEP). The designation acknowledges her commitment to a nationally recognized standard of ethics.

Sandos now serves as legal counsel for the City and is responsible for the interpretation of laws, rulings and regulations in regard to municipal government.

“Having previously served on the Johnson City Planning Commission as well as the Historic Zoning Commission, Sunny is extremely knowledgeable about City affairs and has a strong desire to serve,” said City Manager Pete Peterson. “We are fortunate to have an attorney with that background in addition to her professional experience.”

Sandos, who grew up in Greeneville, holds a bachelor’s in Mass Communications from East Tennessee State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. During her time at ETSU, she spent a session in Nashville as a legislative intern with the 104th Tennessee General Assembly.  The summer following graduation, she served as a congressional intern to former Tennessee Representative William “Bill” Jenkins.

While earning her doctorate of jurisprudence from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in Macon, Ga., she received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Legal Writing, was a member of the Negotiation Team and served as the school’s representative to the American Bar Association. She also founded the Sports and Entertainment Law Society during her time as a student.

“I am excited to be able to combine my professional interests with my personal desire to serve the community,” said Sandos. “I look forward to being a part of the many positive efforts taking place in the City.”

Sandos currently serves as chairperson of the Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church Planned Giving and Endowment Council. She also serves as treasurer for the Washington County Bar Association. Sandos is a member of 100+ Tri-Cities Women Who Care and the Washington County Women’s Leadership Society. She resides in Johnson City with her husband and their three children.

 

CONTACT:    Beth Greene, executive assistant
                             Administration
                             423.434.6002

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