Sanford Heisler Sharp LLP | 20th Anniversary 2004 - 2024
Sanford Heisler Sharp LLP | 20th Anniversary 2004 - 2024

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Gender Discrimination Attorneys

Sanford Heisler Sharp is one of the nation’s leading law firms advocating for women in the workplace. Many of our clients are top performers in their fields, serving in high-profile roles in industries as diverse as technology, law, finance, accounting, publishing, pharmaceuticals, academia, and medicine. Despite their talents and commitment to their work, many professional women experience sex discrimination that disrupts or even derails their career plans.

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Examples Of Gender Discrimination

In modern workplaces, sex discrimination takes many forms. Pay discrimination is rampant, where employers fail to provide equal pay to women who are performing equal work or substantially similar work as their male colleagues. Many women experience especially acute gender discrimination when they are pregnant, take maternity leave, or take on caregiving responsibilities as mothers. Sexual harassment is a persistent problem, especially in male-dominated workplaces where female employees are subjected to sexually-charged comments, sexual advances, and even assault in the workplace.

How Sanford Heisler Sharp Can Help

Sanford Heisler Sharp has litigated many of the country’s highest profile gender discrimination class actions, securing the largest gender discrimination verdict in U.S. history and representing many thousands of women who have banded together to bring class action lawsuits challenging gender discrimination in pay, promotions, and during pregnancy. In addition, Sanford Heisler Sharp routinely represents female employees in confidential negotiations so that our clients can obtain compensation while preserving their reputations and professional networks.

Successful Gender Discrimination Cases

Our Discrimination and Harassment Practice Group has successfully resolved scores of gender discrimination cases, including:

  • $253 million jury verdict against Novartis in ground-breaking gender class action lawsuit
  • $10 million settlement of equal pay collective action against big four accounting firm KPMG
  • Multiple gender discrimination class action settlements against pharmaceutical companies, including $8 million settlement with Alcon and $6.2 million settlement with Merck
  • $10+ million settlement on behalf of a group of female attorneys at a law firm
  • $2+ million settlement for employee who was denied pregnancy accommodations
  • $2+ million settlement for university employee subjected to sexual harassment
  • Multi-year settlement for female lawyer who was denied promotion to partner

To learn about how Sanford Heisler Sharp can assist you in your gender discrimination claims, reach out to the Discrimination and Harassment Practice Group.

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Employment Law

Client Testimonials

"They have given me some closure for the first time in over five years.”

- Former Client

“Forever indebted to them”

- Suzy Reingold

“This Firm has proven again and again it has the necessary talent, experience, intelligence, creativity, and resources to represent workers and whistleblowers successfully against even the country’s largest employers.”

- Lorene Schaefer, Esq., President of WinWinResolve.com and Former GC of GE Transportation

“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

“Everyone I interacted with at Sanford Heisler Sharp was not only accomplished and brilliant at what they do, but also good people with good values.”

- Former Client

“Each member of the Sanford Heisler Sharp team shows ultimate professionalism, mastery of the law, unwavering dedication to the clients and passion for the cause. And most important to me, kindness and compassion.”

- Former Client Donna Kassman, Lead Plaintiff in KPMG Gender Discrimination Class Action

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 deeply appreciated not only [the Firm’s] astute legal counsel, but also the understanding and human touch they used at every turn. . . . As a lawyer myself, I felt privileged to have gotten the chance to work with them.”

- Female Law Partner

“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 team at Sanford Heisler consists of great people who are not only very skillful in the legal domain, but are also wonderful human beings with the highest degree of empathy for their clients.”

- A Female Director in a Tech Company

"Thank you again to you all for representing me on this matter. You are all phenomenal. I am very grateful for your knowledge, professionalism and compassion.”

- Big Law Attorney

“The result was extraordinary.”

- Marc Thomas, Attorney and Former CEO of GE Aviation Materials

Read More Testimonials

$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.

See More Case Results

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