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

The National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers

Civil Rights Firm of the Year 2022
Employment Rights Firm of the Year 2021
Human Rights Firm of the Year 2021

Benchmark Litigation Labor & Employment Employee Firm Of The Year

Labor & Employment Firm of the Year
2021 & 2020

Law 360 Employment Practice Group Of The Year

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

Search By Award

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 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

Kevin Sharp was named a 2021 South Trailblazer by The American Lawyer

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 Employee-Side Firm of the Year

2020 California Trailblazers

Ed Chapin was named a 2020 California Trailblazer by The Recorder

2020 Benchmark Litigation – Labor & Employment Firm of the Year

2020 Labor & Employment Employee-Side Firm of the Year

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

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

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

The National Law Journal

Saba Bireda – 2019 DC Rising Star

Kate Mueting – 2017 DC Rising Star

Washington Legal Times 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 The National Law Journal Trailblazers Plaintiffs' Lawyers

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

The National Law Journal Litigation Boutique 2013 Hot List

2013 Litigation Boutique Hot List

National Law Journal – 2013 Litigation Boutique Hot List

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

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. Notice of Data Event

Law360 Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar

2018 Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar – David Sanford

2014 Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar – David Sanford

Law360 MVP

2021 Law360 MVP – H. Vincent McKnight Jr.

2019 Law360 MVP – Deborah K. Marcuse

2018 Law360 MVP – David Sanford

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

2023 Best Law Firms

U.S. News & World Report ranked Sanford Heisler Sharp nationally for its Employment Law practice. It also ranked the firm in 8 metro ranking categories, including a Tier 1 ranking in San Diego for its Personal Injury Litigation and in San Francisco for its Employment Law practice.

2023 Best Lawyers

Sanford Heisler Sharp has been recognized by Best Lawyers for two distinct awards: Eight firm attorneys have received the The Best Lawyers® in America award, and two firm attorneys have received the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America award. Many of these attorneys have been recognized for these awards for several consecutive years.

David Sanford has been recognized in The Best Lawyers® in America 2023 for work in Employment Law – Individuals. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2019. He is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Sanford Heisler Sharp.

Kevin H. Sharp has been recognized in The Best Lawyers® in America 2023 for work in Employment Law – Individuals. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2008, with a focus on civil rights legal matters. He is the Co-Vice Chairman of Sanford Heisler Sharp.

H. Vincent “Vince” McKnight, Jr., has been recognized in The Best Lawyers® in America 2023 for work in Qui Tam Law and Commercial Litigation. He has been recognized since 2008 for his work in Commercial Litigation and Qui Tam Law. He is the Co-Managing Partner of the Washington, DC office and Co-Ombudsperson.

Jill Sullivan Sanford has been recognized in The Best Lawyers® in America 2023 for work in Qui Tam Law and Commercial Litigation. She has been recognized since 2014 for her work in Employment Law – Individuals.

Kate Mueting has been recognized in The Best Lawyers® in America 2023 for work in Qui Tam Law and Commercial Litigation. She has been recognized since 2021 for her work in Employment Law – Individuals and Litigation – Labor and Employment. She is the Firm Administrative Partner for Sanford Heisler Sharp.

Leigh Ann St. Charles has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2023 for work in Qui Tam Law and Commercial Litigation. She has been recognized since 2021 in Labor and Employment Law – Employee matters. She is the Nashville Managing Partner of Sanford Heisler Sharp.

2021 Best Law Firms

U.S. News & World Report ranked Sanford Heisler Sharp 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.