Nina is both Chief Counsel of Government and Public Affairs at Americans for the Arts as well as the Executive Director of the Americans for the Arts Action Fund. Since 1993, Nina has served as the chief policy strategist for Americans for the Arts’ federal, state, and local government and public affairs work, grassroots advocacy campaigns, policy development, and national coalition-building efforts with both cultural and civic organizations to advance the arts in America. In 2009, she spearheaded the very successful “Arts = Jobs” advocacy campaign that strategically secured $50 million of federal support for more than 7,000 arts jobs and millions of dollars more for arts infrastructure projects within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Nina produces several programmatic events annually, including National Arts Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill; the Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and the National Public Leadership in the Arts Awards, which are presented in partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors.

Serving simultaneously as the executive director of the Americans for the Arts Action Fund and its connected Political Action Committee, the only dedicated arts PAC in America, Nina mobilizes the political and legislative efforts of more than 420,000 citizen activists in advancing arts policy issues among legislators and candidates seeking federal public office.  She recently completed ArtsVote2012, culminating with high profile arts policy events at both the Republican National Convention in Tampa and the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. She is a graduate of The George Washington University with a B.A. in French Literature, and of The University of Richmond School of Law with a J.D.  She is a member of the Virginia State Bar.

Sarah Mercer pairs her litigation background with her passion for local and state government to develop creative political and administrative solutions for her clients’ legal problems. She helps her clients overcome challenging and entrenched legal issues by navigating the complex and fickle political landscape.

Through her close ties with elected officials and bureaucratic staff at all levels of local and state government, including legislative leaders, department directors, mayors, governors and attorneys general, Sarah forms connections and bridges relationships within the firm and for her clients.

Her multi-state practice, which includes Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico, encompasses lobbying, political and regulatory advocacy, campaign finance, land use and gaming. Sarah’s involvement in several high-profile policy matters demonstrates her leadership and skill in the field. She succeeded in persuading the Colorado General Assembly to authorize private equity investment in the provision of elder care on behalf of InnovAge, which resulted in the expansion of services to Colorado’s seniors while allowing them to remain in their own homes. Sarah was also successful in the unanimous passage of state legislation which removed licensure requirements so that individuals can watch up to three pets in their homes without regulatory oversight and can more easily participate in the sharing economy through platforms like the firm’s client Rover.com. Further, her advocacy on behalf of Smart Colorado resulted in legislation that prohibits edible marijuana in forms that can be confused with traditional candy and secured a $9.2 million increase in funding for marijuana education in elementary, middle and high schools across the state.