Employment Rights Firm of the Year 2021
Human Rights Firm of the Year 2021
2021 & 2020
2021, 2019, 2018 & 2016
An Industry Leader
Sanford Heisler Sharp is celebrated by the leading professional journals as the number one ranked employment rights firm and number one ranked human rights firm, drawing acclaim from judges across the country, top publications evaluating the legal industry, the nation’s leading mediators, and even adversaries against whom we litigate.
“Biggest verdict ever awarded in an employment discrimination class action.”
– The American Lawyer
Unrivaled Experience
Sanford Heisler Sharp has attorneys who have collectively tried hundreds of cases, a former federal Chief Judge who has tried and overseen as judge over one-hundred cases, attorneys who have clerked for state and federal judges across the United States, and a brilliant staff which supports the firm’s attorneys and plays a vital role in case management. We have won precedent-setting verdicts and settlements for C-Suite executives, attorneys, directors, managers, and hourly workers. We are a firm of passionate and dedicated professionals who care deeply about justice and routinely outperform attorneys and staff on the other side.
Our Practice Areas
Sanford Heisler Sharp excels at holding major companies, firms, and institutions accountable when they cause harm. We advocate for victims of discrimination, harassment, and sexual assault, including employees at Fortune 500 companies, attorneys at law firms, and university faculty and students. We represent whistleblowers in exposing fraud against the government and promote corporate compliance in cutting-edge issues like consumer fraud, cybersecurity, foreign corrupt practices, highway safety, and digital ad fraud by supporting investigations conducted by the OCC, FTC, SEC, NHTSA, and the DOJ. We prosecute ERISA class actions for employees whose retirement savings are jeopardized by mismanaged 401(k) plans, and we bring class action lawsuits for workers whose employers fail to pay the commissions and overtime payments they are owed. We also have specialized expertise representing Asian and Asian-American clients in US-based litigation.
$253 Million Settlement
Gender Discrimination Verdict Against Pharma Company
Sanford Heisler Sharp achieved the largest jury verdict in U.S. history in an employment discrimination case. A jury awarded $253 million after finding the pharmaceutical giant liable for gender discrimination in pay, promotions, and relating to pregnancy. The case benefited over 7,000 female pharmaceutical representatives.
$99 Million Settlement
Overtime Settlement Against Pharma Company
Sanford Heisler Sharp brought a major wage and hour class and collective action lawsuit alleging that Novartis misclassified its pharmaceutical representatives and failed to pay them overtime that they were owed. Sanford Heisler Sharp negotiated a $99 million settlement which resulted in over 7,000 sales reps receiving settlement payments.
$28 Million Settlement
Overtime Settlement Against Tech Company
Sanford Heisler Sharp secured a $28 million settlement for AT&T managers who had not been paid overtime by the telephone giant. The settlement benefited thousands of employees and resolved multiple class action and collective action lawsuits filed in California, Connecticut, and Georgia.
$20+ Million Trial Verdict
Trial Verdict for Victims of Pornography Website
In Jane Doe v. GirlsDoPorn.com, Sanford Heisler Sharp represented a group of 22 women who were manipulated and defrauded by the owners and operators of the pornography website GirlsDoPorn. Sanford Heisler Sharp won rulings to preserve the women’s anonymity, and the Court awarded over $20 million to punish the wrongdoers and benefit the victims.
$19.5 Million Settlement
Gender Discrimination Settlement Against Tech Company
In 2016, Sanford Heisler Sharp reached a $19.5 million settlement against Qualcomm in a gender discrimination class action involving a class of approximately 3,300 women and was reached before plaintiffs filed suit. The settlement included comprehensive programmatic relief to ensure female employees working in STEM and related positions at the company will have access to equal job opportunities.
Class Action Case Results
Sanford Heisler Sharp's groundbreaking class action lawsuits and settlements have recovered nearly half a billion dollars for class members. Through our successful class actions, we have delivered results for tens of thousands of individuals, including employees who were discriminated against, victims of sexual harassment and exploitation, workers whose retirement accounts were mismanaged, and employees who were not paid the wages they were owed.
Whistleblower Case Results
Sanford Heisler Sharp‘s whistleblower and qui tam suits have recovered over $4 billion for our whistleblowers and the U.S. Government. Our clients are whistleblowers from a wide variety of fields including technology, banking, and government contracting, from local companies and Fortune 500 companies alike. We protect their interests and privacy throughout all stages of federal investigations, from pre-filing inquiries with enforcement groups to meetings with multi-agency task forces, and ultimately through the award or settlement process.
$50 Million Settlement
Qui Tam Settlement Against Navistar
Sanford Heisler Sharp represented a former employee turned whistleblower who alleged that Navistar, a defense contractor, overcharged the Government in the MRAP vehicle purchase. The case settled in 2020 for $50 million, $11 million of which was awarded to the whistleblower.
$120 Million Settlement
Whistleblower Settlement Against Pharmacy
Sanford Heisler Sharp and co-counsel represented a general manager of an Omnicare pharmacy who blew the whistle on violations of the Medicare Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act. As part of the settlement, Omnicare agreed to pay $120 million.
$68.5 Million Settlement
Whistleblower Settlement Against Office Supplier
Sanford Heisler Sharp represented a whistleblower who alleged that office supply company Office Depot violated the California False Claims Act by overcharging over 1,000 government agencies for office and classroom supplies. The qui tam suit against Office Depot settled for $68.5 million.
$23.5 Million Settlement
Whistleblower Settlement Against Medical Device Company
Sanford Heisler Sharp filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging that medical device company Medtronic violated the False Claims Act by engaging in an illegal kickback scheme. Working with the Department of Justice and the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, Sanford Heisler Sharp negotiated a $23.5 million global settlement.
$762 Million Settlement
Whistleblower Settlement Against Biotech Company
Sanford Heisler Sharp represented a former employee-turned-whistleblower who accused biotech company Amgen of violating the False Claims Act by promoting off-label drug use and illegal kickbacks to promote sales. Sanford Heisler Sharp's work with the U.S. Department of Justice culminated in a $762 million global qui tam settlement.
$3.3 Million Verdict
Title IX Wrongful Termination Case
Sanford Heisler Sharp achieved the largest known jury verdict and monetary award in a Title IX case in U.S. history. Sanford Heisler Sharp represented women’s basketball coach Beth Burns, who was terminated by San Diego State University after she raised complaints about gender equity in athletics. A jury awarded over $3.3 million in damages following a four-week trial.
$8 Million Settlement
Retaliation Settlement for Law Firm Partner
Sanford Heisler Sharp represented a client who was fired from her job as a law firm partner after she accused the firm of discriminating against her. Sanford Heisler Sharp secured an $8 million settlement for our client.
$5 Million Settlement
Settlement for Pair of Law Firm Partners
Sanford Heisler Sharp secured a settlement that exceeded $5 million for two law firm partners who experienced discrimination at their law firm.
$5 Million Settlement
Sexual Harassment Victim at University
Sanford Heisler Sharp secured a $5 million settlement for a client who experienced sexual harassment from a tenured faculty member whom she trusted.
$5 Million Settlement
Discrimination and Retaliation Victim at Major Company
Sanford Heisler Sharp represented a client who experienced harassment and retaliation at a prominent company. Sanford Heisler Sharp secured an $5 million settlement for our client.
$8.3 Million Arbitration Award
Arbitration Award in Silicon Valley Fraud Case
Sanford Heisler Sharp won an arbitration for a Chinese client who co-founded a Silicon Valley semiconductor company but was defrauded by his co-founder and wrongfully deprived of an equity stake in the company he helped build. Sanford Heisler Sharp proved breach of contract and fraud and won an award totaling over $8.3 million.
Individual Case Results
Many of our clients prefer to resolve their cases out of court. For these clients, Sanford Heisler Sharp negotiates private settlements that are customized to meet our client’s needs, including providing financial security and restitution, protecting their reputations, and helping them transition with dignity out of a toxic situation. When a defendant does not settle a case, Sanford Heisler Sharp files the case in court and deploys all resources necessary to aggressively prosecute and try a case.
“I was fighting on my own before I began working with Christine and her team [Steve Kelly , Nicole Wiitala , and Shaun Rosenthal]. When she took on my case, I was able to graduate college and …”
– Former Client
“The firm, particularly Deborah Marcuse, treated me with kindness as well as the best expert guidance. Forever indebted to them.”
– Suzy Reingold
“Collectively the SHS team represented the highest level of professionalism, integrity, and passionate care for justice that I have ever witnessed in my career.”
– David Chen, a Former Client
“As an attorney on the defense side, I can say there is simply no one better than Sanford Heisler Sharp. That view is shared by defense attorneys around the country. They outwork the other side, master the law and facts, and achieve great results.”
– Maria Hallas, Attorney and Journalist
“Sanford Heisler Sharp have taken the pharmaceutical industry by storm. They are shattering the glass ceiling imposed on women by pharma’s old boys’ club.”
– Jacqueline Pena, Lead Plaintiff in The Class Action Wellens v. Daiichi
“I contacted SHS because it has a stellar reputation as a champion for workplace gender equality. That reputation is well-deserved; SHS is a deft negotiator, a voracious advocate, and – most importantly – knows how to get results.”
– Former Client and VP of a Major Technology Company
“The result was extraordinary.”
– Marc Thomas, Attorney and Former CEO of GE Aviation Materials
Client Testimonials
At Sanford Heisler Sharp, our clients are our highest priority. Clients seek us out for our depth of experience handling complex cases, our creativity and strategic thinking in challenging situations, our compassion and responsiveness, our fortitude and integrity, and our commitment to the public interest. It is a testament to our team that many of the clients who seek out Sanford Heisler Sharp are themselves lawyers or C-suite executives accustomed to working with first-rate professionals.