Partner Reflection: Andrew Macurdy

By Andrew Macurdy, New York Partner | October 2024

I joined Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight last year after nearly a decade of serving as a federal and state prosecutor in New Jersey. I was drawn to the Firm’s public interest focus and commitment to pursuing impactful cases. Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight has, over the course of two decades, achieved through litigation large-scale changes to the practices of major institutions—and often entire industries. Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight was the perfect next chapter for my career—seeking justice on behalf of victims, exposing corporate fraud, and trying cases.

The variety of work we do at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is second to none. The Firm’s work touches upon a wide breadth of subject areas—from individual civil rights to mass tort opioid litigation to sexual assault to complex financial class actions. That willingness to take on new types of cases over the years also attracted me to the Firm. We both negotiate settlements pre-suit as well as bring cases to trial. In just the past few months, I have bounced from litigating summary judgment on behalf of our relator-client in a False Claims Act case, to helping an SEC whistleblower navigate misconduct occurring real-time at their company, to cross-examining company witnesses in federal court.

My colleague Brent Hannafan, another long-time federal prosecutor, and I co-chair the Firm’s trial practice. Every one of our attorneys is a trial lawyer. We do not back down against well-resourced opponents. And we are committed to pursuing justice—for our clients and for our communities—even when the odds are long. The relationships formed with our clients consistently grow into strong bonds over the course of a representation, and that particularly happens when the case proceeds to trial. We are often empowering victims of discrimination or harassment to make their voices heard. We are advocates and mouthpieces for our clients. We are there to help them tell their story, and to support them against the sometimes overwhelming weight of powerful institutions on the other side. One of the cases I tried last year was in the Southern District of New York against Robert De Niro and his business. We defeated De Niro’s claims against our client, De Niro’s longtime assistant, and won a $1.2 million verdict for gender discrimination and retaliation on her behalf. Our client resolutely sought to clear her name in court, and I was proud to support her.

Beyond the work itself, the Firm has attracted an amazing (and growing) team of dedicated attorneys, legal assistants, and staff. Every person is committed to the Firm’s pursuit of justice. I enjoy learning from colleagues with decades of experience in employment, civil rights, and qui tam cases, as well as trial work. And I feel energized by the optimism and excitement of our legal assistants, recent college graduates who all have excellent careers—in the law or otherwise—ahead of them. Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is a place brimming with top talent taking on difficult legal issues with the common goal of improving people’s lives.

Congratulations to the Firm on two decades of impactful advocacy, and here’s to many more years of important work to be done.

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