At Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, our success in protecting the public interest stands on the strength and determination of our legal team. Many of our attorneys are leaders in their fields, offering unique perspectives informed by valuable backgrounds.
One such leader is Kevin Sharp, a former federal judge who now serves as Co-Vice Chairman of our firm and Co-Chair of our Public Interest Litigation Practice Group. Kevin’s experience on the federal bench is an asset to our firm, benefitting our clients as well as the public.
A Career Driven by Justice
Kevin’s passion for justice is evident in his distinguished career. Former President Barack Obama nominated him for a lifetime appointment as a federal judge serving Tennessee between May 2011 to April 2017, and the Senate unanimously confirmed him. As a judge – and the Court’s Chief Judge for three years of his tenure – he presided over thousands of cases and dozens of trials, including complex civil and criminal litigation.
Serving as a federal judge is a high honor. Nonetheless, Kevin felt he could better advance justice by reentering private practice, joining our firm in 2017. Kevin’s commitment to promoting the common good through high-impact public interest litigation aligns with the core values and focus of Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight and our Public Interest Litigation Practice Group.
The Unique Advantage of a Former Federal Judge
Few law firms can claim the distinction of having a former federal judge on their team. Federal judgeships are prestigious positions with lifetime appointments. Historically, those seated as federal judges have typically demonstrated not only a thorough mastery of the law but also a proven commitment to justice, both qualities that Kevin exemplifies.
Kevin’s experience on the bench benefits our team and our clients in profound ways. His insider’s perspective of the court system – including how judges manage cases and what they consider when making decisions – helps us build effective litigation strategies. The insights he gained by presiding over complex litigation enhance our ability to prepare for challenging scenarios in the courtroom. Additionally, his deep familiarity with nuanced procedural rules and intricate statutory frameworks serves as an advantage in not only federal and multidistrict litigation but also in cases that move through state courts.
Our Public Interest Litigation Practice Group: Making a Difference Through High-Impact Cases
Led by Kevin and Co-Chair David Tracey, our Public Interest Litigation Practice Group has successfully pursued many high-profile public interest lawsuits. State and federal statutes authorize private individuals to file public interest lawsuits on behalf of the government – and, by extension, the public – in situations involving violations of certain laws. This role empowers our firm to hold influential entities like large corporations accountable. It also drives systemic change by enforcing regulations and ethical standards, especially when governmental agencies are unable or unwilling to act. Through these lawsuits, we strive to uphold justice and maintain the integrity of our democratic system.
Among our many successful case results, our victories in the public interest arena include:
- Pursuing justice and accountability in the opioid epidemic: Our firm filed 59 lawsuits against Big Pharma companies and entities involved in the distribution chain on behalf of numerous Virginia cities and counties in high-profile federal multidistrict litigation and state courts. We have achieved favorable settlements with multiple defendants in those cases, and our fight continues.
- Cracking down on untraceable “ghost guns”: In our groundbreaking Polymer80 ghost gun case on behalf of the city of Baltimore, we held a manufacturer and distributor accountable for dangerous home-assembled firearms that are untraceable and un-serialized, which proliferated gun violence throughout the metropolitan area.The settlement mandated that the gun manufacturer “contribute to healing Baltimore for the injuries and trauma their products inflicted on the city.”
- Seeking corporate accountability for financial mismanagement: We have spearheaded numerous class-action cases against employers and other negligent parties for financial mismanagement of 401(k) plans under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). We successfully pursued these cases against large corporations like General Electric and Walgreens, recovering hard-earned retirement income for hundreds of thousands of participants in billion-dollar-plus plans.
- Advocating for whistleblowers: We support those who courageously speak out against corporate wrongdoing by pursuing whistleblower cases through various state and federal avenues. For example, we filed a case under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act that exposed an illegal kickback scheme in several Big Pharma companies.
- Promoting prison reform: We join forces with law centers and legal advocacy groups to expose mistreatment and violations of civil rights in our jails and prisons. As of 2024, we have partnered with Disability Rights Tennessee and Youth Law Center and filed a class action lawsuit against the state of Tennessee and its Department of Children’s Services over alleged abuses to children and young people with disabilities in the state’s juvenile detention facilities.
Kevin has played a major role in these and other significant cases, including serving as a pro bono attorney and staunch advocate for Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist imprisoned by the federal government since 1976.
Benefitting the Public Interest at Trial and Beyond the Courtroom
As important as our litigation work is, our public interest advocacy extends well beyond the courtroom. We frequently collaborate with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, grassroots and community organizations, and other stakeholders to coordinate our efforts. We promote legislative reforms that advance social justice issues like corporate accountability, civil rights, and consumer protection. Our determination in community-based advocacy work is just as fierce as when we prepare for a trial, and we take these efforts just as seriously.
Judge Kevin Sharp and our Public Interest Litigation attorneys continue to drive change with bringing important social issues and litigation to the forefront. They tirelessly pursue upholding the rights of the public, individuals, consumers, and our clients with meritorious cases that make a difference.