Awards & Accolades

During David Sanford’s tenure as Chairman of Sanford Heisler Sharp, the firm has tripled in size, opened four new offices, and been recognized by prominent legal media. Most recently, the firm’s recognition has included Benchmark Litigation’s 2021 Labor & Employment Employee-Side Firm of the Year and the National Law Journal naming the firm as both Employee Rights Firm of the Year and Human Rights Firm of the Year for 2021. David was also named 2021 Labor & Employment Attorney of the Year by Benchmark Litigation.

Recognized as Law Firm of the Year

A Highly Awarded Law Firm in Employment Law and Human Rights
  • 2022 Civil Rights Firm of the Year, 2021 Employment Rights Firm of the Year & 2021 Human Rights Firm of the Year
    2022 Civil Rights Firm of the Year, 2021 Employment Rights Firm of the Year & 2021 Human Rights Firm of the Year
  • 2021 & 2020 Labor & Employment Firm of the Year
    2021 & 2020 Labor & Employment Firm of the Year
  • 2021, 2019, 2018 & 2016 Employment Practice Group of the Year
    2021, 2019, 2018 & 2016 Employment Practice Group of the Year
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  • 2022 National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers

    2022 National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers

    2022 Elite Trial Lawyers’ Civil Rights Firm of the Year – Sanford Heisler Sharp

    2022 Elite Trial Lawyers’ Rising Stars of the Plaintiffs Bar – Qiaojing Ella Zheng

  • 2021 National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers

    2021 National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers

    2021 Elite Trial Lawyers’ Employment Rights Firm of the Year – Sanford Heisler Sharp

    2021 Elite Trial Lawyers’ Human Rights Firm of the Year – Sanford Heisler Sharp

    2021 Elite Trial Lawyers’ Elite Women of the Plaintiffs Bar – Deborah Marcuse

    2021 Elite Trial Lawyers’ Rising Stars of the Plaintiffs Bar – Danielle Fuschetti

  • 2021 South Trailblazers

    2021 South Trailblazers

    Kevin Sharp was named a 2021 South Trailblazer by The American Lawyer
  • 2021 Benchmark Litigation - David Sanford

    2021 Benchmark Litigation - David Sanford

    David Sanford - Labor & Employment Attorney of the Year
  • 2021 Labor & Employment Firm of the Year - Benchmark Litigation

    2021 Labor & Employment Firm of the Year - Benchmark Litigation

    2021 Labor & Employment Employee-Side Firm of the Year
  • 2020 California Trailblazers

    2020 California Trailblazers

    Ed Chapin was named a 2020 California Trailblazer by The Recorder
  • 2020 Benchmark Litigation - Labor & Employment Firm of the Year

    2020 Benchmark Litigation - Labor & Employment Firm of the Year

    2020 Labor & Employment Employee-Side Firm of the Year
  • 2021 Benchmark Litigation - Labor & Employment Star

    2021 Benchmark Litigation - Labor & Employment Star

    Ranked in six locations for Labor and Employment by Benchmark Litigation in 2021

    David Sanford – Labor & Employment Star, Northeast

    Jeremy Heisler – Labor & Employment Star, Northeast

    H. Vincent McKnight Jr. – Labor & Employment Star, Northeast

    Russell Kornblith – Labor & Employment Star, Northeast

    Deborah K. Marcuse – Labor & Employment Star, Northeast

    Andrew Melzer – Labor & Employment Star, Northeast

    Michael Palmer – Labor & Employment Star, Northeast

    Kate Mueting – Labor & Employment Star, Northeast

    Alexandra Harwin – Labor & Employment Star, Northeast

    Kevin Sharp – Labor & Employment Star, South

    Ed Chapin – Labor & Employment Star, West

    Felicia Gilbert – Labor & Employment Star, West

  • 2020 Benchmark Litigation - Labor & Employment Star

    2020 Benchmark Litigation - Labor & Employment Star

    Ranked nationwide and in five locations for Labor and Employment by Benchmark Litigation in 2020

    David Sanford - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Jeremy Heisler - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Kevin Sharp - Labor & Employment Star - South

    H. Vincent McKnight Jr. - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Ed Chapin - Labor & Employment Star - West

    Russell Kornblith - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Deborah K. Marcuse - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Felicia Gilbert - Labor & Employment Star - West

    Andrew Melzer - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Michael Palmer - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Kate Mueting - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Alexandra Harwin - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

  • 2019 National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers

    2019 National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers

    Sanford Heisler Sharp named 2019 Elite Lawyers in the categories of Employment Law and Discrimination.
  • The National Law Journal

    The National Law Journal

    Saba Bireda - 2019 DC Rising Star

    Kate Mueting - 2017 DC Rising Star

  • Employment Litigation Department of the Year

    Employment Litigation Department of the Year

    National Law Journal/Legal Times – Washington, DC Employment Litigation Department of the Year
  • 2018 National Law Journal Trailblazers

    2018 National Law Journal Trailblazers

    David Sanford was named a 2018 National Law Journal Plaintiffs' Lawyer Trailblazer

    Ed Chapin was named a 2019 National Law Journal Employment Trailblazer

  • 2013 Litigation Boutique Hot List

    2013 Litigation Boutique Hot List

    National Law Journal – 2013 Litigation Boutique Hot List
  • 2019 Benchmark Litigation - Labor & Employment Star

    2019 Benchmark Litigation - Labor & Employment Star

    Ranked in six locations for Labor and Employment by Benchmark Litigation in 2019

    David Sanford - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Jeremy Heisler - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Kevin Sharp - Labor & Employment Star - South

    H. Vincent McKnight Jr. - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Ed Chapin - Labor & Employment Star - West

    Russell Kornblith - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Deborah K. Marcuse - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Andrew Melzer - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Michael Palmer - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Kate Mueting - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Alexandra Harwin - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

  • 2018 Benchmark Litigation - Labor & Employment Star

    2018 Benchmark Litigation - Labor & Employment Star

    Ranked in four locations for Labor and Employment by Benchmark Litigation in 2018

    David Sanford - Labor & Employment Attorney of the Year

    Jeremy Heisler - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Kevin Sharp - Labor & Employment Star - South

    H. Vincent McKnight Jr. - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Ed Chapin - Labor & Employment Star - West

    Russell Kornblith - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Deborah K. Marcuse - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Andrew Melzer - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Kate Mueting - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

    Alexandra Harwin - Labor & Employment Star - Northeast

  • 2021, 2019, 2018 & 2016 Employment Practice Group of the Year - Law 360

    2021, 2019, 2018 & 2016 Employment Practice Group of the Year - Law 360

    2021, 2019, 2018 & 2016 Employment Practice Group of the Year
  • Law360 Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar

    Law360 Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar

    2018 Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar - David Sanford

    2014 Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar - David Sanford

  • Law360 MVP

    Law360 MVP

    2021 Law360 MVP - H. Vincent McKnight Jr.

    2019 Law360 MVP - Deborah K. Marcuse

    2018 Law360 MVP - David Sanford

  • Law360 Recognitions

    Law360 Recognitions

    2022 Law360 Rising Star - Qiaojing Ella Zheng

    2021 Employment Practice Group of the Year

    2020 Law360 Rising Star - Russell Kornblith

    2019 Employment Practice Group of the Year

    2018 Employment Practice Group of the Year

    2016 Employment Practice Group of the Year

    2019 Law360 Rising Star - Kate Mueting

    2017 Law360 Rising Star - Alexandra Harwin

    2016 - No. 17 Best Law Firm for Minority Attorneys

    2016 - No. 18 Best Law Firm for Female Partners

    2016 - No. 56 Best Law Firm for Female Attorneys

  • 2021 Best Law Firms

    2021 Best Law Firms

    U.S. News & World Report ranked Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP nationally for its ERISA Litigation practice. It also ranked the firm in 8 metro ranking categories, including a Tier 1 ranking in San Francisco for its Employment Law practice as well as recognition in Nashville for its Employment Law practice, San Diego for its Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation practices, and Washington, DC for its Employment Law, Commercial Litigation, and ERISA Litigation practices.
  • 2020 Best Law Firms

    2020 Best Law Firms

    Ranked for its Employment Law practice in San Francisco; for its Commercial Litigation practice in San Diego; and for its Commercial Litigation practice in Washington, DC.
  • 2019 Best Law Firms

    2019 Best Law Firms

    Ranked for its Employment Law practice in San Francisco; for its Commercial Litigation practice in San Diego; and for its Commercial Litigation practice in Washington, DC.
  • 2018 Best Law Firms

    2018 Best Law Firms

    Ranked for its Employment Law practice in San Francisco; for its Commercial Litigation practice in San Diego; and for its Commercial Litigation practice in Washington, DC.
  • 2017 Best Law Firms

    2017 Best Law Firms

    Ranked for its Employment Law practice in San Francisco; for its Commercial Litigation practice in San Diego; and for its Commercial Litigation practice in Washington, DC.
  • 2016 Best Law Firms

    2016 Best Law Firms

    Ranked for its Employment Law practice in San Francisco; for its Commercial Litigation practice in San Diego; and for its Commercial Litigation practice in Washington, DC.
  • 2015 Best Law Firms

    2015 Best Law Firms

    US News Best Lawyers National Tier 1 Employment Firm, San Francisco
  • 2022 Lawdragon 500

    2022 Lawdragon 500

    The following attorneys were named to the 2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment & Civil Rights Lawyers list:

    Saba Bireda 

    Ed Chapin 

    Christine Dunn 

    Charles Field 

    Felicia Gilbert 

    Alexandra Harwin 

    Jeremy Heisler

    Steve Kelly 

    Russell Kornblith 

    Deborah Marcuse 

    H. Vincent McKnight

    John McKnight

    Andrew Melzer 

    Kate Mueting 

    Michael A. Palmer 

    David Sanford 

    Kevin Sharp

  • 2021 Lawdragon 500

    2021 Lawdragon 500

    The following attorneys were named to the 2021 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment & Civil Rights Lawyers list:

    David Sanford

    Jeremy Heisler

    Kevin Sharp

    H. Vincent McKnight Jr. 

    Ed Chapin

    Russell Kornblith

    Deborah K. Marcuse

    Felicia Gilbert

    Andrew Melzer

    Michael Palmer

    Kate Mueting

    Charles Field

    Alexandra Harwin

    Steve Kelly

    Saba Bireda

    John McKnight

    Christine Dunn

  • 2020 Lawdragon 500

    2020 Lawdragon 500

    The following attorneys were named to the 2020 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Lawyers list:

    David Sanford

    Jeremy Heisler

    Kevin Sharp

    H. Vincent McKnight Jr. 

    Ed Chapin

    Russell Kornblith

    Deborah K. Marcuse

    Andrew Melzer

    Michael Palmer

    Kate Mueting

    Saba Bireda

  • 2019 Lawdragon 500

    2019 Lawdragon 500

    David Sanford, Jeremy Heisler, H. Vincent McKnight Jr., and Deborah K. Marcuse were selected for the 2019 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Lawyers list
  • 2018 Lawdragon 500

    2018 Lawdragon 500

    David Sanford was named as one of the 2018 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Lawyers

  • Super Lawyers

    Super Lawyers

    David Sanford – DC and New York Metro Super Lawyer

    Jeremy Heisler – New York Metro Super Lawyer

    Kevin Sharp – Mid-South Super Lawyer

    H. Vincent McKnight Jr. – DC Super Lawyer

    Ed Chapin – San Diego Super Lawyer; One of the Top 50 San Diego Super Lawyers for 2008, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2018

    Deborah K. Marcuse – Maryland Rising Star Super Lawyer

    Russell Kornblith – New York Metro Rising Star Super Lawyer

    Andrew Melzer – New York Metro Super Lawyer

    Michael Palmer – New York Metro Super Lawyer

    Kate Mueting – DC Rising Star Super Lawyer

    Alexandra Harwin – New York Metro Rising Star Super Lawyer

    Steven J. Kelly – Maryland Super Lawyer

    Leigh Anne St. Charles – Mid-South Rising Star Super Lawyer

    Danielle Fuschetti – Northern California Rising Star Super Lawyer

    Qiaojing Ella Zheng – Northern California Rising Star Super Lawyer

  • AV Rated

    AV Rated

    AV Preeminent Rating Martindale-Hubbell
  • The 2018 American Lawyer Industry Awards

    The 2018 American Lawyer Industry Awards

    2018 American Lawyer Attorney of the Year Finalist - David Sanford
  • Bloomberg Law

    Bloomberg Law

    Alexandra Harwin recognized as one of 40 top young lawyers nationwide in Bloomberg Law’s 2021 edition of “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40.”
  • American Bar Foundation

    American Bar Foundation

    David Sanford and Deborah H. Marcuse are Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
  • 2019 Attorney for Justice

    2019 Attorney for Justice

    Kevin Sharp was named the 2019 Attorney for Justice by the Tennessee Supreme Court
  • 2019 Legal Leaders

    2019 Legal Leaders

    David Sanford, H. Vince McKnight Jr., and Thomas J. Henderson named 2019 Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Lawyers
  • 2018 Legal Leaders

    2018 Legal Leaders

    David Sanford, H. Vince McKnight Jr., and Thomas J. Henderson named 2018 Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Lawyers
  • 2020 Chambers & Partners

    2020 Chambers & Partners

    Ranked in USA by Chambers and Partners in 2020

    David Sanford ranked as a Chambers USA 2020 Leader in the Field in New York for Labor & Employment: Mainly Plaintiffs Representation

  • 2019 Chambers & Partners

    2019 Chambers & Partners

    Ranked in USA by Chambers and Partners in 2019

    David Sanford ranked as a Chambers USA 2019 Leader in the Field in New York for Labor & Employment: Mainly Plaintiffs Representation

  • 2018 Chambers & Partners

    2018 Chambers & Partners

    Ranked in USA by Chambers and Partners in 2018

    David Sanford ranked as a Chambers USA 2018 Leader in the Field in New York for Labor & Employment: Mainly Plaintiffs Representation

  • 2017 Chambers & Partners

    2017 Chambers & Partners

    Ranked in USA by Chambers and Partners in 2017

    David Sanford ranked as a Chambers USA 2017 Leader in the Field in New York for Labor & Employment: Mainly Plaintiffs Representation

  • 2016 Chambers & Partners

    2016 Chambers & Partners

    Ranked in USA by Chambers and Partners in 2016
  • 2019 Virginia Business Legal Elite

    2019 Virginia Business Legal Elite

    Of Counsel Johan Conrod named a 2019 Legal Elite in the category of appellate law by the Virginia Business magazine.
  • Top Rated Lawyers

    Top Rated Lawyers

    American Lawyer- Top Rated Employment Lawyers

    Corporate Counsel- Top Rated Employment Lawyers

    National Law Journal- Top Rated Employment Lawyers

  • 2022 Women Worth Watching

    2022 Women Worth Watching

    Christine Dunn – 2022 Women Worth Watching Award Recipient

    Melinda Koster – 2022 Women Worth Watching Award Recipient

  • Profiles in Diversity Journal - Woman Worth Watching

    Profiles in Diversity Journal - Woman Worth Watching

    2019 Women Worth Watching

    Saba Bireda a recipient of the 2019 Women Worth Watching Award by the Profiles in Diversity Journal.

  • Silicon Review - 50 Most Trustworthy Companies

    Silicon Review - 50 Most Trustworthy Companies

    50 Best Companies to Watch 2020

    Sanford Heisler Sharp was named one of the 50 best companies to watch in 2020 by Silicon Review.

  • Lawyers of Distinction

    Lawyers of Distinction

    David Sanford was named a 2018 Lawyer of Distinction

    H. Vincent McKnight Jr. was named a 2019 Lawyer of Distinction

    Deborah K. Marcuse was named a 2020 Lawyer of Distinction

    Christine Dunn was named a 2022 Lawyer of Distinction 

  • 2017 Top 10 Settlements

    2017 Top 10 Settlements

    Named the 8th top class action settlement in California in 2017 by TopVerdict.com for the Google wage and hour class action settlement
  • 2019 Top 50 Jury Verdicts

    2019 Top 50 Jury Verdicts

    Named the 28th top labor & employment verdict in the United States in 2019 by TopVerdict.com for the Beth Burns wrongful termination lawsuit
  • 2016 Top 50 Jury Verdicts

    2016 Top 50 Jury Verdicts

    Named the 12th top settlement in California in 2016 by TopVerdict.com for the Qualcomm gender discrimination class action
  • 2019 Top 100 Jury Verdicts

    2019 Top 100 Jury Verdicts

    Named the 91st top verdict in California in 2019 by TopVerdict.com for the Beth Burns wrongful termination lawsuit
  • 2018 Top 100 Jury Verdicts

    2018 Top 100 Jury Verdicts

    Named the 62nd top civil rights violation verdict in the United States in 2018 by TopVerdict.com for the Ravina vs. Columbia University, et al.
  • San Diego Attorney Journal - Law Firm of the Month

    San Diego Attorney Journal - Law Firm of the Month

    San Diego Attorney Journal, February 2016
  • NTLA Top 10 Trial Lawyers - Wage and Hour

    NTLA Top 10 Trial Lawyers - Wage and Hour

    David Sanford - Top 10 Wage & Hour Trial Lawyers
  • NTLA Top 25 Trial Lawyers - Class Action

    NTLA Top 25 Trial Lawyers - Class Action

    David Sanford – Top 25 Class Action Trial Lawyers
  • NTLA Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers

    NTLA Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers

    Alexandra Harwin – Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers in New York

    Qiaojing Ella Zheng – Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in California

  • NTLA Top 100 Trial Lawyers

    NTLA Top 100 Trial Lawyers

    Kevin Sharp - The National Trial Lawyers Top 100

    Deborah K. Marcuse - The National Trial Lawyers Civil Plaintiff Top 100

  • 2022 Washingtonian's Faces of Employment Discrimination

    2022 Washingtonian's Faces of Employment Discrimination

    H. Vincent McKnight Jr. 

    Kate Mueting

  • 2020 Washingtonian – Washington, DC’s Best Lawyers: Employment Plaintiffs

    2020 Washingtonian – Washington, DC’s Best Lawyers: Employment Plaintiffs

    David Sanford

  • 2019 Washingtonian - Washington, DC’s Best Lawyers: Employment Plaintiffs

    2019 Washingtonian - Washington, DC’s Best Lawyers: Employment Plaintiffs

    David Sanford
  • 2018 Washingtonian - Washington, DC’s Best Lawyers: Employment Plaintiffs

    2018 Washingtonian - Washington, DC’s Best Lawyers: Employment Plaintiffs

    David Sanford
  • 2022 Best Lawyers

    2022 Best Lawyers

    Sanford Heisler Sharp - 2022 Best Lawyers
  • 2022 Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch

    2022 Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch

    Leigh Anne St. Charles
  • 2021 Benchmark Inaugural Top 20 Labor and Employment Litigators List

    2021 Benchmark Inaugural Top 20 Labor and Employment Litigators List

    David Sanford

    Deborah Marcuse

  • 2022 The National Law Journal Plaintiffs’ Lawyer Trailblazers

    2022 The National Law Journal Plaintiffs’ Lawyer Trailblazers

    Vince McKnight was named a 2022 Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Trailblazer by the National Law Journal

  • 2021 The National Law Journal Plaintiffs’ Lawyer Trailblazers

    2021 The National Law Journal Plaintiffs’ Lawyer Trailblazers

    Deborah Marcuse was named a 2021 Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Trailblazer by the National Law Journal

  • 2022 Latino Leaders Worth Watching

    2022 Latino Leaders Worth Watching

    Felicia Gilbert
  • 2022 Maryland Daily Record and Maryland State Bar Association Leader in Law Honoree

    2022 Maryland Daily Record and Maryland State Bar Association Leader in Law Honoree

    Deborah Marcuse – Leadership in Law

    Steve Kelly – Justice Champion

  • 2022 Asian Leaders Worth Watching

    2022 Asian Leaders Worth Watching

    Qiaojing Ella Zheng
  • 2022 Business Insider Rising Star

    2022 Business Insider Rising Star

    Leigh Anne St. Charles

  • 2022 Daily Journal Top Labor & Employment Lawyers

    2022 Daily Journal Top Labor & Employment Lawyers

    Qiaojing Ella Zheng
  • 2022 Elite Trial Lawyers’ Civil Rights Firm of the Year

    2022 Elite Trial Lawyers’ Civil Rights Firm of the Year

    2022 Elite Trial Lawyers’ Civil Rights Firm of the Year – Sanford Heisler Sharp

    2022 Elite Trial Lawyers’ Rising Stars of the Plaintiffs Bar – Qiaojing Ella Zheng