About Andrew J.
Andrew J. Cates built a path to law that runs through the military and the tech world. He completed undergraduate studies in Latin American Studies at San Diego State University, earning a B.A. in the early 1990s. He later pursued graduate work toward a master’s degree in Latin American Studies. He returned to school for law and received his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 2008, where his studies included criminal defense and tax law.
Cates served in the United States Marine Corps in the mid-1980s. He was a 0331 M60 machine gun team leader in Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and he held the rank of Substance Abuse Non-Commissioned Officer in the 5th Marine Regiment. Those years in uniform came before a stint as a software engineer in the mid-1990s, work that lasted several years and exposed him to technical problem solving and project work outside a courtroom.
He entered private practice after law school and established the Law Offices of Andrew J. Cates, LLC, where he has served as managing lawyer since 2008. His litigation practice grew out of courtroom experience and academic study. Over time he handled criminal matters and legal issues with tax implications. He has appeared in state proceedings in Connecticut and maintained professional memberships tied to trial and criminal practice.
Cates belongs to the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, and the Connecticut Bar Association. Those memberships reflect the contours of his work: criminal defense and civil litigation that can involve contested facts and procedural challenge. He draws on prior leadership roles in the Marines and on technical work as he prepares cases and advises clients about possible outcomes.
Clients and colleagues describe him as methodical in trial preparation and deliberate in courtroom settings. He keeps files and briefs organized and tends to present arguments in straightforward terms. He does not specialize narrowly; instead he handles a range of criminal defense matters and represents people when tax-related legal questions arise alongside criminal charges.
He maintains an active practice in Connecticut through the Law Offices of Andrew J. Cates, LLC. He focuses his practice on criminal defense and related tax matters.
