He was well-known as a corporate lawyer and was considered an authority on real estate titles.

In 1886, he was appointed receiver of the Indianapolis, Decatur and Springfield Railroad, a position he served as until 1892.

Gerard, who later became a New York Supreme Court Justice and United States Ambassador to Germany, retired from the firm in 1908.

He was an advocate of the Mortgage Tax Law, which was enacted and proved a boon to New York City real estate interests.

[4] Sands was an executive committee member of the New York City Bar Association.

Their daughter, Mary Emily Sands, married Hugh Melville Howard of Wicklow, Ireland.