Margaret F. Hardy
Shareholder
Experience
“Thank you for your leadership, guidance, and reassurance during the most stressful experience of my nursing career. I wouldn’t have known how to get through that hearing without your help.”
Client
About
Biography
As President of Sands Anderson, Margaret Hardy brings 25 years of leadership experience when advising clients and guiding our firm’s growth and vision.
Margaret is a skilled attorney, combining her legal talents with a genuine belief in the value of working together, motivating each other, and learning from one another. Margaret strategically guides operations and supports her clients’ successes with forethought and positive leadership.
In addition to serving as President, Margaret is the Fredericksburg office leader and serves healthcare clients, local governments, and businesses with complete legal support. Margaret also offers her talents as Group Leader of the Healthcare Group and member of the Government, Business, and Litigation Groups.
A registered nurse, Margaret applies her experience when representing her health care clients in medical malpractice actions and investigations and proceedings before the Department of Health Professions. Her creative legal solutions can further help businesses and professionals facing litigation to look ahead and proactively address their unique needs. Margaret also works with Treasurers across the Commonwealth in the collection of delinquent real estate taxes. She and her team in the Fredericksburg office have recovered millions of dollars of real estate taxes for local governments across Virginia.
Outside of the office, Margaret is a hobby farmer raising Angora goats. She uses their fleece for spinning and hand-dying mohair yarn to use for her fiber art, including weaving and knitting. She also enjoys riding motorcycles.
Professional Highlights
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Supports health care professionals and providers before the Virginia Department of Health Professions licensing boards
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Defends health care providers, agencies and facilities in malpractice actions
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Represents treasurers and local governments in the collection of delinquent real estate taxes
Recognition
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Virginia "Super Lawyer®” in State/Local/Municipal
2019 - 2024 -
Circle of Excellence, Virginia Lawyer's Weekly
2024 -
Best Lawyers in America® in Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants & Litigation - Health Care, 2018 - 2024
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"Legal Elite", Virginia Business magazine, Health Law
2008 - 2023 -
Influential Women of Law, Virginia Lawyer's Weekly
2020 -
Virginia "Super Lawyer®” in Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice 2013, 2015 - 2018
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Influential Women of Virginia,
2013
Favorite Book
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To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
Background
Education
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College of William & Mary
J.D., 1995 -
Old Dominion University
M.B.A., 1993 -
University of Richmond
B.S., 1986 -
Johnston-Willis Hospital School of Nursing
Nursing Diploma, 1979
Admissions
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Virginia
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
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U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
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U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
Involvement
Speaking Engagements
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UVA's 5th Annual Shaping Justice Conference
Panelist: "Beyond Bostock: Sex Discrimination in the Workplace" -
Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Virginia: Lectures to undergraduate, graduate, and RN to BSN students on topics related to malpractice and licensing matters.
Professional Affiliations
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Virginia State Bar
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Virginia Bar Association
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American Bar Association
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Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Medical Malpractice Section, Vice Chair, 2007 – 2008, Chair, 2008 – 2009
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Defense Research Institute
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Fredericksburg Area Bar Association
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American Association of Nurse Attorneys
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American Society for Healthcare Risk Management, National and Virginia Chapter
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Virginia Women Attorneys' Association, State Board, Member, Immediate Past President
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Virginia Women Attorneys' Association, Fredericksburg Chapter, Member
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Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing, University of Virginia School of Nursing, 2014 - Present
Community Service
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Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce
Legal Counsel -
Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region, Secretary, Board of Directors, 2014 – present
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United Methodist Family Services (UMFS)
Board of Directors, 2008 – 2018, Chair 2016-2018, Board of Directors, 2022 - present -
Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, Legal Counsel
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Mary Washington Healthcare, Board of Trustees
Publications
Publications by Margaret F. Hardy
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Chapter 25, "Legal and Ethical Issues," Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health: A Resource for Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Primary Care Practitioners in Nursing
2nd Place, Child Health Category, 2021 American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Awards
Margaret F. Hardy In The Media
- Virginia 500: The 2021 Power List, Virginia Business
- Virginia 500: The 2020 Power List, Virginia Business
- Downtime: Spinning a yarn with Margaret Hardy (and her goats), Richmond BizSense
- Decision Maker: Margaret F. Hardy with Sands Anderson law firm, Richmond Times-Dispatch
News by Margaret F. Hardy
News About Margaret F. Hardy
- Margaret F. Hardy Honored by Virginia Lawyers Weekly in Its Inaugural Circle of Excellence
- Twenty-Seven Sands Anderson Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America®
- 17 Sands Anderson Attorneys Named to 2023 Virginia Super Lawyers®
- Sands Anderson Shareholders Ratify 2023 Board of Directors
- Forty-Four Sands Anderson Lawyers Named to 2022 Virginia Business Legal Elite
- Twenty-Three Sands Anderson Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America®
- Twenty-One Sands Anderson Attorneys Named to 2022 Virginia Super Lawyers®
- Sands Anderson Approves 2022 Board of Directors
- Twenty-One Sands Anderson Attorneys Named as 2022 Best Lawyers in America®
- Nineteen Sands Anderson Attorneys Named to 2021 Virginia Super Lawyers®