ORACLE AMERICA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- Staff Attorney
- Member of the Connecticut
- Staff Attorney at Sanford Heisler Sharp
At Sanford Heisler Sharp, Albert's practice has focused on whistleblower and qui tam, discrimination and harassment, and financial services litigation, representing both individuals and classes. Working with a team of Sanford Heisler Sharp attorneys, Albert has represented clients including:
a class of tens of thousands of current and former employees of Walgreens in an ERISA action
a whistleblower in an action against Roche and Humana for submitting false claims
female attorneys who were discriminated against because of gender by Morrison & Foerster LLP
female students who accused Yale University of Title IX violations
high level executives who were terminated after complaining of employer's business practices
Albert received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law at Austin, and his bachelor's degree in Economics from Columbia University. While a student at the law school, Albert participated in the school's Capital Punishment Clinic. Albert was selected in his final year of law school for the Baker & Botts Outstanding Senior Student Award.
Prior to joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Albert was an associate at Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach and Constantine Cannon, LLP, where he gained substantial experience in antitrust litigation and securities class actions.
Albert is a member of the Connecticut and New York state bars.
In his spare time, Albert enjoys fantasy football, track & field, film noir, and early Jamaican music (i.e., ska, rocksteady, reggae).
Education
J.D., University of Texas School of Law
B.A., Columbia University
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Member of the San Diego Team
- Director of Operations at Sanford Heisler Sharp
Alec Konstantin is the Director of Operations at Sanford Heisler Sharp, a national law firm with offices in the District of Columbia, New York, California, Tennessee, and Maryland. He received his B.A. with highest distinction and highest departmental honors from the University of California, Berkeley.
Alec joined the firm as a Legal Assistant in 2016 and became the firm's Director of Operations in 2020. He works closely with the firm's Managing Partners on technological, administrative, case management, and strategic issues, and he assists the firm's Chairman with nearly every aspect of the firm's management and day-to-day operations. Among his many contributions, Alec has helped the firm open its Nashville, Baltimore, and Atlanta offices, transition to its new offices in San Diego and Palo Alto, build out the firm's intake team, negotiate contracts and manage relationships with vendors across the country, implement a number of new technologies, launch and oversee the management of the firm's new website, coordinate virtual and in-person trainings and events, and centralize the firm's administrative guidance.
Prior to joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Alec worked as a Research Assistant at the Human Rights Center at Berkeley Law and as a Legal Data Science Associate at Ravel Law, a legal analytics startup that LexisNexis acquired in June 2017.
Education
B.A., University of California, Berkeley, highest distinction, Phi Beta Kappa
A.A., St. Petersburg College, summa cum laude
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- Partner
- New York Partner
- Partner at Sanford Heisler Sharp
Alexandra Harwin is a Partner at Sanford Heisler Sharp and Executive Chair of the firm's Discrimination and Harassment Practice Group.
Since joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Alexandra has been repeatedly recognized in the legal community as one of the nation's top employment lawyers. Among her professional accolades, Alexandra was recognized in 2021 as one of Bloomberg Law's 40 Under 40, an honor bestowed on just 40 lawyers across the U.S. and across all sectors of legal practice. Previously, Alexandra was one of just five employment attorneys nationwide named a Rising Star by Law360 in 2017. Alexandra has also been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star, by Benchmark Litigation as a Labor & Employment Star - Northeast, and by Lawdragon as one of the 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment & Civil Rights Lawyers.
At Sanford Heisler Sharp, Alexandra's practice has focused on representing clients in discrimination, harassment, and retaliation settlements and lawsuits, as well as litigating major class actions against employers who mismanage 401(k) plans in violation of ERISA. Alexandra is known for her legal acumen, strategic thinking, pragmatism, and outstanding results, especially in contentious, complex disputes. Alexandra's representations have included:
Litigating and negotiating a settlement on behalf of a class of female pharmaceutical employees at a Novartis subsidiary, culminating in a $8 million Court-approved settlement
Litigating and negotiating a settlement on behalf of a class of women victimized by disgraced Rabbi Bernard Freundel, culminating in a $14.25 million Court-approved settlement
Negotiating settlements totaling in excess of $30 million for law firm partners, associates, and counsel and in-house attorneys with claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation
Litigating through trial a lawsuit against Columbia University brought by female faculty member Enrichetta Ravina, which resulted in a $1.25 million jury verdict
Beating motions to dismiss and litigating proposed class actions against UnitedHealth and Allstate alleging mismanagement of 401(k) investments affecting thousands of employees
Negotiating multimillion dollar settlements for university students and employees who have been subjected to sexual harassment
Negotiating settlement packages for clients in an array of industries, including pharmaceuticals, finance, and manufacturing, with favorable terms that include reinstatement for employee who was terminated after maternity leave, promotion for female lawyer who was discriminatorily denied partnership, and multiyear severances in unlawful termination cases
Negotiating private, out-of-court settlements for female employees who have been underpaid based on gender, at times obtaining multiples of the lost salary
Alexandra received her law degree from the Yale Law School and her undergraduate degree summa cum laude from Harvard, where she was the top ranked student in her graduating class. While at Yale, Alexandra was Managing Editor of the Yale Journal of Law and Feminism, survey design manager for Yale Law Women's Top Ten Family-Friendly Law Firms Survey, and a member of the Yale Supreme Court Advocacy Clinic. As an undergraduate at Harvard, she studied gender-based employment discrimination through the disciplines of history and economics, and she received numerous awards for her undergraduate thesis exploring feminist attitudes towards women's unpaid housework in the 1960s through the 1970s.
Alexandra's focus on anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation law reflects her longstanding commitment to civil rights and gender equality. After graduating from Harvard, she worked at the Center for American Progress, performing progressive economic policy research for Gene Sperling, who served as Director of the National Economic Council for Presidents Clinton and Obama.
A member of the New York, New Jersey, District of Columbia, and Maryland bars, Alexandra has also been outspoken in the legal community as a thought leader and advocate for greater protections for employees. She has published opinion pieces and analyses in the New York Law Journal advocating for an expansion of discrimination laws to cover partners, independent contractors, and others who may not always be considered "employees"; in Law360 discussing the pitfalls of parental leave policies that differentiate between primary and secondary caregivers; in Law360 discussing prospects for obtaining class certification in employment cases ranging from pay discrimination to sexual harassment; in the New York Times advocating for more predictable rules for alimony; and in Slate on numerous legal topics.
Alexandra has also been a CLE presenter on cutting edge employment topics, including novel pay equity statutes and recent legislation restricting the imposition of non-disclosure agreements on victims of harassment and discrimination. Alexandra has presented on CLE panels that have included "Gender and Racial Equity in an Evolving Corporate Environment" at Legal Week, "Current Ethical Issues For In-House Counsel & Those Who Advise Them: Litigation Perspectives" before the New York City Bar Association, and "Aggressive Bargaining: The Legal and Ethical Boundaries of ‘Me Too'-era Settlements" at Frankfurt Kurnit's Annual Litigation Ethics Summit.
When Alexandra is not lawyering, she enjoys talking politics, reading economics articles, getting better at knitting, and spending time with her two kids.
Alexandra Harwin is the best advocate one could possibly imagine. Rigorous, tirelessly committed, and above all brilliant, Ms. Harwin is the lawyer you would want on your side. Fierce and pragmatic, working with Ms. Harwin has redefined for me what responsibility means. Her legal representation has always been not only of the highest caliber but also characterized by unending compassion and intelligence. In the twists and turns of the legal process, Ali is a shining light.
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant
- Member of the New York Team
- Legal Assistant in the New York
Alexandra Saczawa is a Legal Assistant in the New York office of Sanford Heisler Sharp, a national law firm with offices in the District of Columbia, New York, California, Tennessee, Georgia, and Maryland. Alex graduated from Yale University in 2022 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a certificate in Energy Studies.
At Yale, Alex worked with Matriculate as an Advising Fellow to advise high school students on their college application process through long term remote mentorships. Matriculate's mission is to bridge the educational access gap in the college admissions process by helping low-income high achieving students attend colleges that will best fit their needs. She conducted a variety of scientific and engineering research, including her senior capstone which sought to improve upon water purification techniques for boron removal and capture. Her senior year, she worked with Urban Resources Initiative, a non-profit partnered with the Yale School of the Environment that engages in community forestry activities in New Haven, CT.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the New York Team
- Associate at Sanford Heisler Sharp
- Member of the New York City Gay Men 's Chorus
At Sanford Heisler Sharp, Alok works primarily in the firm's Discrimination and Harassment and Public Interest Litigation Practice Groups and has represented both individuals and classes. Working with a team of Sanford Heisler Sharp attorneys, Alok has represented clients including:
a nationwide class of women who work on oil rigs with claims of gender discrimination and sexual harassment
thousands of employees aggrieved by violations of the California Labor Code at the healthcare facilities where they work
a former president and general manager who was underpaid and terminated based on her gender
a finance executive who was terminated after objecting to his employer's hazardous, unsafe, and illegal conduct
an undocumented immigrant seeking refuge in the U.S. after experiencing persecution in his home country based on his sexual orientation and political opinions
Alok received his law degree cum laude from New York University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude and Bachelor of Music magna cum laude from Northwestern University, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. While at New York University School of Law, Alok served as an Articles Editor on the New York University Law Review and Co-Chair of the OUTLaw LGBTQ Organization. He was named a Robert McKay Scholar and worked at the ACLU's LGBT & HIV Project, Lambda Legal, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.
A member of the New York bar, Alok has authored publications that appear in Law360 and the New York University Law Review, and has presented on topics that include employment discrimination protections for individuals suffering from anxiety and depression. Alok is also a member of the New York City Bar Association.
Before joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Alok completed clerkships for the Honorable Pamela K. Chen of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and the Honorable Carlos F. Lucero of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Prior to his clerkships, Alok was a litigation associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.
Having earned an undergraduate degree in music performance, Alok is a member of the New York City Gay Men's Chorus and serves on the Board of Directors of Periapsis Music and Dance, Inc., an arts nonprofit that cultivates new concert repertoire at the intersection of dance and music.
Education
J.D., New York University School of Law, cum laude
B.A. and B.Mus., Northwestern University, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- Member of the New York Bar
- New York Partner
- Partner at Sanford Heisler Sharp
Andrew Melzer is a Partner at Sanford Heisler Sharp and Co-Chair of the firm's Wage and Hour Practice Group.
Since joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Andrew has been recognized in the legal community as a New York Metro area Super Lawyer, a Benchmark Litigation Labor & Employment Star, and one of Lawdragon's 500 leading employment lawyers.
At Sanford Heisler Sharp, Andrew's practice has focused on wage and hour violations, employment discrimination and retaliation, and other public interest and civil rights matters. Andrew's representations have included:
Litigating on behalf of hundreds of nurses and staff who alleged that understaffing at a psychiatric facility resulted in unsafe working conditions and related Labor Code violations, a case that culminated in a $2.85 million court-approved settlement and programmatic changes to hospital policies and practices
Litigating an age discrimination class and collective action against a major auto manufacturer, resulting in comprehensive changes to company policies and practices
Litigating a class action for breach of the warranty of habitability at a lower Manhattan housing complex, for failure to provide adequate heat to tenants and associated harms, culminating in a $10 million dollar cash settlement and structural improvements to the buildings to ensure habitable living conditions
Litigating a gender discrimination class and collective action on behalf of female pharmaceutical representatives, culminating in a $6.2 million settlement
Litigating a series of overtime class and collective actions for AT&T field managers, culminating in a combined $28 million in settlements
Litigating a civil rights and wrongful death suit on behalf of the family of a jail inmate who died from an inadequately-treated sickle cell anemia crisis, resulting in more than $2 million in settlements and an independent study of the medical and correctional practices of the jail
Negotiating various pre-suit settlements
Drafting appellate briefs, petitions, and amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court, and several U.S. Courts of Appeals for amicus clients that have included LGBT student groups, women's rights organizations, and the National Employment Lawyers Association/New York
Andrew received his law degree from New York University and his Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in History from Yale. While a student at NYU, Andrew performed legal work with the Civil Rights Clinic and the Unemployment Action Center. He also was a summer law fellow at the Human Rights Campaign. At Yale, he won an award for his senior thesis on U.S. diplomatic history.
A member of the New York Bar, Andrew has authored and co-authored articles that have appeared in various legal publications such as Wolters Kluwer's Labor Law Journal, the University of Illinois Law Review Online, Cardozo Law Review de•novo, and Law360. In addition, he has presented at numerous conferences on topics in class actions and employment law.
Before joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Andrew completed clerkships for the Honorable Chief Justice Christopher Armstrong and renowned jurist the Honorable Benjamin Kaplan, both of the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Andrew also worked at the Claims Resolution Tribunal in Zurich, Switzerland where he helped restore looted Swiss bank accounts to Holocaust victims and their heirs by adjudicating claims against a settlement fund established through litigation in the Eastern District of New York.
Outside of the office, Andrew enjoys pursuits such as hiking, reading, crossword puzzles, and rooting for the New York Islanders. He has volunteered with the Sierra Club's Inspiring Connections Outdoors program, helping lead New York City school students on nature outings.
Education
J.D., New York University School of Law
B.A., Yale University
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant
- Member of the San Francisco Team
- Legal Assistant in the Palo Alto
Anika Bajpai is a Legal Assistant in the Palo Alto and San Francisco Offices of Sanford Heisler Sharp, a national law firm with offices in the District of Columbia, New York, California, Tennessee, and Maryland. She received her B.S. from Cornell University, where she majored in Industrial and Labor Relations and graduated with distinction.
While at Cornell, Anika focused her coursework on labor rights and international relations. On campus, she mediated violations of the Student Code of Conduct through the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution and worked with English Second Language campus employees. She also wrote for the Cornell Diplomat, a student-run international affairs magazine, before serving as its President.
As an undergraduate, Anika researched topics ranging from IP policy to colonialism in Northeastern India. Her research on gender and climate in Zambia was published by the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research, and she was later selected to present on the topic at the Consortium of Universities for Global Health.
Anika has previously worked with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, the Fair Labor Association, and the ILO. She is considering law school in the future.
Education
B.S., Cornell University
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Human Resources at Sanford Heisler Sharp
- Senior Human Resources Director
Anita Youngkin is the Senior Director of Human Resources at Sanford Heisler Sharp, a national law firm with offices in the District of Columbia, New York, California, Tennessee, and Maryland. She received her M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix and her B.S. from the University of Utah.
Ms. Youngkin has more than 20 years of experience in managing and directing human resources operations nationally and internationally. She has been a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) since 2001 and holds SHRM's Senior Professional in Human Resources (SHRM-SCP) certification and the HR Certification Institute's Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Certification.
Education
MBA, University of Phoenix
B.S., University of Utah
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant
- Member of the San Diego Team
- Legal Assistant in the San Diego
Anna Tropiano is a Legal Assistant in the San Diego office of Sanford Heisler Sharp, a national law firm with offices in the District of Columbia, New York, California, Tennessee, and Maryland. She received her B.A. with highest distinction from the University of Michigan and the Residential College.
While at Michigan, Anna pursued her studies in Political Science and Writing both inside and outside of the classroom; focusing her academics on issues of civil and constitutional rights, she completed a senior capstone essay that explored why the American occupiers of Japan codified gender equality in Articles 14 and 24 of the 1947 Japanese Constitution following World War II. Throughout college Anna served as the editorial intern for the gender parity nonprofit Take the Lead Women and as a peer writing consultant at Michigan's Sweetland Center for Writing.
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant
- Member of the New York Team
- Legal Assistant in the New York
Anne-Katrine Glittenberg is a Legal Assistant in the New York office of Sanford Heisler Sharp, a national law firm with offices in the District of Columbia, New York, California, Tennessee, Georgia, and Maryland. She received her B.A. magna cum laude from Davidson College, where she majored in Political Science. She recently completed a Fulbright English Teaching Fellowship in Taiwan, supporting efforts to build cross-cultural relationships and mutual understanding through education.
Anne-Katrine has explored her passion for addressing social issues in both domestic and international settings. For many years she worked with a Norwegian organization that advocates for refugee women as they enter the workforce. As a research assistant in the Davidson College Political Science Department, she collected data on county-level candidates in the U.S. 2020 election and international rebel groups. She has also interned at the Arab American Institute, the U.S. Institute for Peace, and UNICEF Norway.
Education
B.A., Davidson College, magna cum laude
At Sanford Heisler Sharp, Austin's practice has focused on wage and hour, whistleblower/qui tam, public interest litigation, and employment discrimination matters, representing both individuals, groups, and classes.
a group of workers with claims against an insurance company for wage and hour violations
a group of non-citizens challenging the legality of bond hearing policies and practices that would lead to their arbitrary detention
Job Titles:
- Senior Legal Assistant in the Baltimore
Ayanna Martin is a Senior Legal Assistant in the Baltimore office of Sanford Heisler Sharp, a national law firm with offices in the District of Columbia, New York, California, Tennessee, Georgia, and Maryland. She received her B.S. from Vanderbilt University. Her academic interests included global development, public policy, and mass incarceration in the U.S.
While at Vanderbilt, Ayanna served as Chair of Project I Am, an organization dedicated to the personal and professional development of minority students. During her junior year, Ayanna explored her passion for international studies and social equality as an intern at Douglas Silas Solicitors, a London-based law firm that advocates Special Needs Children's education rights. Her senior capstone focused on how the dynamics of class, race, and gender affect management styles and employment practices in a cross-cultural context.
Bob Sullivan is Of Counsel to Sanford Heisler Sharp.
Bob has focused his practice on insurance regulatory law for more than 27 years and has significant experience in tax law and corporate governance issues. Prior to becoming Of Counsel to Sanford Heisler Sharp, Bob founded and led the Insurance Industry and Regulatory Practice Group for a national law firm. In addition to insurance industry transactions, Bob has also been involved in insurance litigation, including class action litigation. Bob has extensive expertise in analyzing annuity contracts and universal life schemes, which have been used by companies to enrich their agents at the expense of investors.
Bob received his law degree from the University of Kansas, an LL.M. from Emory University, and his Bachelor of Arts from Pittsburg State University.
A member of the Kansas and Missouri bars, Bob also is a licensed insurance producer in both Kansas and Missouri. Bob's experience in private industry gives Bob a unique perspective regarding whether companies have breached their duties to consumers and investors. He is a member of the Missouri and Kansas Bar Associations.
Education
LL.M., Emory University
J.D., University of Kansas
B.S.B.A., Pittsburg State University
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the San Diego Team
- Associate at Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP
At Sanford Heisler Sharp, Cara's practice has focused on discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, and wrongful termination, representing individuals treated unjustly by employers. Cara was an integral part of the four-attorney team that represented twenty-two victims of the now infamous fraudulent and exploitative pornography scheme GirlsDoPorn through a 99-day bench trial that resulted in a more than $20 million judgment and permanent injunctions prohibiting the company's deceptive and unlawful practices. This case received both national and international attention and earned Sanford Heisler Sharp the honor of being named the 2021 Elite Trial Lawyers' Human Rights Firm of the Year. The perpetrators of GirlsDoPorn's criminal enterprise were indicted on federal sex trafficking charges, and several have pleaded guilty, while one remains a fugitive wanted by the FBI.
Alongside the same team of attorneys, Cara also represented fifty GirlsDoPorn victims in a trail blazing case against MindGeek, the company that owns and operates behemoth pornography website Pornhub.com, for participating in and profiting from GirlsDoPorn's sex trafficking venture in violation of federal law. The case was resolved on mutually agreeable, confidential terms in October 2021.
Working with a team of Sanford Heisler Sharp attorneys, Cara's clients have included:
female scientists at the top of their fields who were discriminated against and terminated from pharmaceutical companies based on their sex and gender
a city attorney who was fired for her refusal to violate public records laws
healthcare executives who were terminated from their positions after investigating, reporting, and opposing unlawful conduct at a California hospital district and medical foundation
an auditor of a nationwide bank who was retaliated against and terminated for reporting violations of banking statutes and regulations
a nurse at a psychiatric hospital who was fired for opposing and reporting persistent and dangerous understaffing
a female lawyer who was discriminatorily denied business development opportunities and wrongfully terminated
Cara received her law degree from Wake Forest School of Law and her bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. While at Wake Forest, Cara received CALI awards for achieving the top grade in several classes and provided pro bono legal services to elderly individuals with limited means in the Elder Law Clinic. While at UNC, Cara studied comparative literature, ran two marathons, and walked on to the varsity Women's Rowing team.
A member of the California and South Carolina (inactive) bars, Cara has authored two articles that appear in the Wake Forest Journal of Business and Intellectual Property Law.
Before joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Cara was an associate at Motley Rice, where she gained valuable experience in tobacco, asbestos, securities, and burn pit litigation.
When Cara is not lawyering, she enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, biking, endeavoring to grow things, and watching hummingbirds perform aerobatics.
Education
J.D., Wake Forest University School of Law, cum laude
B.A., University of North Carolina
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- Senior Litigation Counsel
Carolin Guentert is a Senior Litigation Counsel at Sanford Heisler Sharp.
At Sanford Heisler Sharp, Carolin's practice has focused on the Discrimination and Harassment and Criminal/Sexual Violence practice areas, representing both individuals and classes. Carolin's representations have included:
Litigating a proposed pregnancy discrimination class action filed by female attorneys against Morrison & Foerster LLP
Representing graduate students whose professor sexually harassed and retaliated against them in violation of Title IX
Litigating a proposed nationwide gender discrimination and sexual harassment class action filed against Schlumberger Technology Corporation on behalf of women who work on oil rigs in the U.S.
Litigating a proposed class action against Yale University and its all-male fraternities on behalf of students who were subjected to discrimination and a sexually hostile environment
Negotiating settlements on behalf of individuals alleging a broad range of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims under state and federal law, including claims brought by employees in the legal, financial services, tech, and consumer goods industries
Representing a lawyer who was discriminated against for being the primary caregiver to her children during the pandemic
Negotiating a settlement on behalf of a college student who was sexually assaulted by a professor
Representing a factory employee who was harassed because of her sexual orientation and gender
Carolin received her law degree from New York University School of Law, her LL.M. with distinction from Georgetown University Law Center, and her Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from The College of New Jersey. While at New York University School of Law, Carolin served as the Senior Symposium Editor for the Journal of International Law & Politics. She also served as the president of the Domestic Violence Advocacy Project and participated in the Reproductive Justice Clinic.
A member of the New York and District of Columbia bars, Carolin has authored/co-authored articles that appear in the Cardozo Law Review, the Federal Sentencing Reporter, Law360, and the New York University Journal of International Politics. Carolin is also a member of the Sanctuary for Families Pro Bono Council.
Before joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Carolin completed a clerkship for the Honorable Jack B. Weinstein of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. After her clerkship, Carolin was a clinical teaching fellow in Georgetown University Law Center's Domestic Violence Clinic, where she gained substantial experience in representing survivors of domestic violence, supervising law students in their representation of clients, and designing and teaching clinic seminar classes. As part of the fellowship, she completed the Women's Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program at Georgetown. Carolin speaks German (native) and French (proficient).
Education
LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center, with distinction
J.D., New York University School of Law
B.A., The College of New Jersey, summa cum laude
Job Titles:
- Partner at Sanford Heisler Sharp
- Washington, DC and Baltimore Partner
Christine Dunn is a Partner at Sanford Heisler Sharp and Co-Chair of the firm's Criminal/Sexual Violence Practice Group.
Since joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Christine has been recognized in the legal community as a Lawyer of Distinction and as one of Lawdragon's 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment & Civil Rights Lawyers.
At Sanford Heisler Sharp, Christine's practice has focused on criminal/sexual violence cases, whistleblower/qui tam matters, and employment discrimination actions, representing individuals and classes. Christine's representations have included:
Litigating on behalf of a certified class of approximately ten thousand African American current, former, and prospective Deputy U.S. Marshals who experienced race discrimination
Negotiating settlement of more than a million dollars on behalf of a female general counsel of a financial services company who was discriminated against on the basis of her gender
Negotiating settlement on behalf of a young woman who was sexually assaulted in a residential treatment facility
Negotiating settlement on behalf of a male client who was sexually assaulted as a child by a teacher at an elite private school
Litigating on behalf of a female medical student who was sexually assaulted in her apartment building as a result of her landlord's negligence in failing to repair a known security risk
Negotiating robust programmatic relief from an elite high school on behalf of a sexual assault survivor
Protecting the interests and rights of a crime victim during the criminal prosecution of the perpetrator
Assisting a former employee of a construction and engineering company to obtain a recovery for blowing the whistle on fraud and allowing the government to achieve a $5.65 million settlement under the False Claims Act
Christine received her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Yale University.
A member of the Maryland and District of Columbia bars, Christine has conducted presentations on a range of issues related to victim advocacy. Christine is also a member of the National Crime Victims' Bar Association and the National Hispanic Bar Association.
Before joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Christine completed a clerkship for the Honorable Michael Farrell of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. After her clerkship, Christine joined Williams & Connolly LLP as an Associate where she litigated matters involving class action, sexual abuse, accounting fraud, defamation, medical malpractice, contract dispute, and white-collar criminal defense. Christine then worked at the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. At the Department of Justice, Christine prosecuted federal civil rights crimes involving official and police misconduct, racially motivated violence, and human trafficking, including sex trafficking. She also conducted extensive grand jury investigations and jury trials throughout the U.S. and made numerous presentations to law enforcement agencies on civil rights issues. Many of Christine's official and police misconduct prosecutions involved allegations of sexual violence. Christine also completed a detail as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia where she appeared in court on a daily basis to handle a variety of criminal matters.
When Christine is not lawyering, she enjoys reading, paddle boarding, hiking, yoga, and spending time with her daughter.
Education
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
B.A., Yale University
Job Titles:
- Million Settlement in Rabbi Freundel Secret Videotaping Case
Job Titles:
- Government to Collect Data That May Shed Light on Pay Discrimination
Wages and Overtime Law: A Return to the Past Courtesy of the U.S. Supreme Court
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- Senior Legal Assistant
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Francisco Team
- Palo Alto and San Francisco Partner
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- New York Partner
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Nashville Team
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Member of the New York Team
- Member of the San Diego Team
- Member of the San Francisco Team
- Sanford Heisler Sharp 's Chairman
David Sanford, Sanford Heisler Sharp's Chairman, has recovered more than one billion dollars for individual clients and the U.S. Government since 2004. He has served as lead counsel in more than 50 class actions and numerous qui tam fraud cases around the country. David has also represented over 100 general counsel, in-house counsel, and lawyers in claims against their law firms and companies. Notably, he served as lead counsel in a gender discrimination class action against Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation that resulted in a $253 million verdict-the largest Title VII verdict in U.S. history.
Our Nashville location is managed by Firm Co-Vice Chairman Kevin H. Sharp, Co-Chair of our Firm's Public Interest Litigation Practice Group. A nationally recognized advocate for criminal justice reform, Kevin was the Chief Judge of the U.S. District for the Middle District of Tennessee before stepping down from the bench in April 2017 to open Sanford Heisler Sharp's Nashville office.
Job Titles:
- Says Cushman & Wakefield CEO Can'T Duck Bias Suit
Job Titles:
- Firm Managing Partner and Baltimore Managing Partner
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Diego Team
- San Diego Partner
According to his complaint, during his tenure at Giorgio Armani Corporation, the company's Chief Financial Officer informed General Counsel Fabio Silva he did not trust Mexicans, and thereafter subjected Mr. Silva to increased scrutiny and discriminatory treatment. When General Counsel Silva reported this treatment to Chief Operations Officer, Giorgio Fornari, and Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Lucinda Rosso, General Counsel Silva was berated for complaining. General Counsel Silva was then denied a raise for reporting the discrimination.
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Francisco Team
- Co - Managing Partner of the Palo Alto and San Francisco Offices
Job Titles:
- Co - Managing Partner of the DC Office and Co - Ombudsperson
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- Civil Rights Litigation Support Specialist
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Legal Intake and Operations Specialist
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Legal Intake and Operations Specialist
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant
- Member of the New York Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Member of the New York Team
- Member of the San Diego Team
- Member of the San Francisco Team
- Co - Vice Chairman
Our Firm's Co-Vice Chairman Jeremy Heisler has secured notable victories in employment class actions and complex multi-party and multi-state litigation, producing more than $500 million in benefits to class members. As lead counsel, Jeremy secured the largest wage and hour settlement of 2012 ($99 million). His other successes include a $19.2 million settlement from GE Capital where GE Capital charged consumers illegal fees and a $15 million settlement from a major leasing company that defrauded consumers.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nashville Team
- of Counsel
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Washington, DC Partner
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Senior Litigation Counsel
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Senior Legal Intake and Operations Specialist
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the New York Team
Job Titles:
- Firm Administrative Partner
Job Titles:
- Judge
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Member of the New York Team
- Member of the San Diego Team
- Member of the San Francisco Team
- Co - Chair of Our Firm 's Public Interest Litigation Practice Group
- Co - Vice Chairman
Job Titles:
- Human Resources Coordinator
- Member of the New York Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Nashville Managing Partner
- Senior Litigation Counsel
Senior Litigation Counsel Leigh Anne St. Charles will become managing partner of the Nashville office, effective January 1, 2022. Leigh Anne represents employees in individual and class actions involving discrimination, family and medical leave, employee benefits, and civil rights.
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- Senior Legal Assistant
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Francisco Team
- Litigation Fellow
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- New York Partner
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Francisco Team
- Litigation Fellow
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- Senior Litigation Counsel
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Member of the New York Team
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Nashville Team
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Member of the New York Team
- New York Managing Partner
Michael Palmer, who has co-chaired the firm's Wage and Hour practice since 2015, is now Managing Partner of the firm's New York office.
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Diego Team
- Media and Communications Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Diego Team
- Partner
- Managing Partner of the San Diego
- San Diego Managing Partner
Charles Field is the Managing Partner of the San Diego office of Sanford Heisler Sharp and Chair of the firm's Financial Services Group.
Since joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Charles has been recognized in the legal community as a National Law Journal Employment Trailblazer (2021) and was part the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Lawyer list (2021).
At Sanford Heisler Sharp, Charles's representations have included:
Litigating a number of ERISA class action cases against several Fortune 500 companies for claims of mismanaging their employees' 401(k) retirement plans, resulting in multi-million-dollar settlements in Brown-Davis, et al. v. Walgreen Co. ($13.75 million), Karg v. Transamerica ($5.4 million), and Price, et al. v. Eaton Vance Corp. ($3.45 million)
Litigating ERISA class claims against UnitedHealth Group, GE, Home Depot, and Allstate for mismanaging 401k plans
Representing elderly and high-net worth individuals in their claims of financial abuse and fraud against investment firms, promoters and brokers, including winning a $2.1 million award for an investor against Madison Avenue Securities
Charles received his law degree from McGeorge Law School, a degree in European Legal Studies from The University of Edinburgh and The University of Salzburg, and his undergraduate degree from Indiana University-Indianapolis.
A member of the California bar, Charles has been interviewed by CNBC's Closing Bell, the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Law360, and several trade publications dealing with ERISA and investment issues.
Prior to joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Charles served as the general counsel of an institutional money management firm that furnished investment management services to ERISA retirement plans, cities and towns, endowments, and investment companies. During his 17-year tenure, he oversaw compliance with ERISA, as well as federal and state securities laws, including the federal fiduciary duty standards embodied in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. He served on the firm's various investment and investment performance committees, and securities valuation committees as well as on the boards of directors of various investment funds that invested billions of dollars in the global securities markets. As an investments industry lawyer, Charles constructed hundreds of investment funds that are the very type at issue in the cases Sanford Heisler Sharp litigates and was responsible for overseeing the funds' compliance with U.S. securities laws and, in some cases, the law of the jurisdiction of organization (e.g. Mauritius, Ireland, Cayman Islands).
When not lawyering, Charles enjoys traveling and living an active life in sunny San Diego.
Education
J.D., McGeorge Law School
B.A., Indiana University-Indianapolis
European Legal Studies, The University of Edinburgh and The University of Salzburg
Charles Field's analysis of the materials I submitted showed me that is exactly what he did. Sanford Heisler Sharp drilled down on everything and identified several unethical practices, such as investing in vehicles that featured poor performance records, yet maximized management fees. In calling out the unscrupulous behaviors and general incompetence, Mr. Field cited FINRA and finance industry standards. When I read his final brief, I knew that my interests had received the best advocacy possible.
Going forward, I feel confident that Mr. Field and the Sanford Heisler Sharp team have given me the best shot at a successful result in litigation.
Charles Field and Sanford Heisler have been excellent partners as our business has grown. They understand our firm and have helped us navigate the legal landscape in our industry. Charles is particularly responsive when we need him and is willing to bring in other resources to address our issues. Because of their efficiency and teamwork, we feel Sanford Heisler offers great value and service.
Mr. Charles Field, Esquire was very professional, courteous and polite in helping me research an equities matter. He contacted me timely with the results of an equity public filing review, and I was thoroughly impressed by everyone I interacted with at Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP.
Charles Field became Managing Partner of the San Diego office on January 1, 2022. David Sanford, Sanford Heisler Sharp's Chairman, has recovered more than one billion dollars for individual clients and the U.S. Government since 2004. He has served as lead counsel in more than 50 class actions and numerous qui tam fraud cases around the country. David has also represented over 100 general counsel, in-house counsel, and lawyers in claims against their law firms and companies. Notably, he served as lead counsel in a gender discrimination class action against Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation that resulted in a $253 million verdict-the largest Title VII verdict in U.S. history.
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- Senior Litigation Counsel and Co - Ombudsperson
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- Media and Operations Specialist
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Francisco Team
- Co - Managing Partner of the Palo Alto and San Francisco Offices
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Legal Intake and Operations Specialist
Relator Vincent Bevilacqua, a former employee of CDM Smith, alleged that CDM Smith and CDM Federal Programs Corporation engaged in a scheme to submit inaccurate cost and labor hour estimates and related certifications in a contract with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic.
Job Titles:
- Ex - Assistant
- Ex - Employee
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant
- Member of the San Francisco Team
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Member of the New York Team
- Partner
- Managing Partner of the New York
Partner Russell Kornblith is General Counsel for the Firm and represents clients in matters of fraud against the U.S. government and in a wide range of employment disputes.
Job Titles:
- Co - Managing Partner of the DC Office
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Senior Legal Assistant
Job Titles:
- Adds Co - Vice Chair, New Managing Partners
- Announces First Firmwide Managing Partner
Sanford Heisler Sharp is an advocate for consumers in financial fraud actions, and specifically against companies that engage in predatory lending and unfair or deceptive business practices, among other unscrupulous practices affecting thousands of consumers. Currently, the firm is investigating GE for its possible breach of fiduciary rules under The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Sanford Heisler Sharp has successfully litigated and achieved extraordinary results in cases concerning Title IX, rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse, child abuse, premises liability, drunk driving, and crimes resulting from the wrongful service of alcohol. The attorneys in Sanford Heisler Sharp's criminal/sexual violence practice group are knowledgeable and well-prepared to help survivors navigate both the criminal and civil justice systems. Their extraordinary results, in part, follow from their understanding that every survivor has a potentially valuable civil claim despite the outcome of a survivor's criminal proceeding against their perpetrator, and from their commitment to ensuring a survivor's privacy is protected as much as possible during the legal process.
Sanford Heisler Sharp represented a former employee-turned-whistleblower who accused biotech company Amgen of violating the False Claims Act by promoting off-label drug use and illegal kickbacks to promote sales. Sanford Heisler Sharp's work with the U.S. Department of Justice culminated in a $762 million global qui tam settlement.
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.
Sanford Heisler Sharp brought a major wage and hour class and collective action lawsuit alleging that Novartis misclassified its pharmaceutical representatives and failed to pay them overtime that they were owed. Sanford Heisler Sharp negotiated a $99 million settlement which resulted in over 7,000 sales reps receiving settlement payments.
Sanford Heisler Sharp represented a former employee turned whistleblower who alleged that Navistar, a defense contractor, overcharged the Government in the MRAP vehicle purchase. The case settled in 2020 for $50 million, $11 million of which was awarded to the whistleblower.
Sanford Heisler Sharp secured a $28 million settlement for AT&T managers who had not been paid overtime by the telephone giant. The settlement benefited thousands of employees and resolved multiple class action and collective action lawsuits filed in California, Connecticut, and Georgia.
Sanford Heisler Sharp filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging that medical device company Medtronic violated the False Claims Act by engaging in an illegal kickback scheme. Working with the Department of Justice and the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, Sanford Heisler Sharp negotiated a $23.5 million global settlement.
Sanford Heisler Sharp has filed claims that through the use of a long and confusing set of Terms and Conditions issued to each sales representative with his or her compensation plan, Oracle unlawfully and retroactively reduced the commissions of sales representatives based on grounds, criteria, and methods not defined in a signed commission contract. The case is currently in discovery and continuing investigation.
Sanford Heisler Sharp represented thousands of AT&T employees in three class and collective action cases involving the telephone giant's failure to pay overtime to its "First-Level Managers." The cases settled for a combined $28 million, among the largest recent wage and hour settlements.
Sanford Heisler Sharp has law offices across the country and our attorneys may practice in all jurisdictions in the U.S. to better serve clients in a range of discrimination and harassment, wage and hour, whistleblower/qui tam, criminal/sexual violence, financial services litigation, and other public interest litigation matters. Our nationally-recognized attorneys work together across offices to offer representation that is tailored to meet each of our client's unique legal needs. To learn more about the types of cases we handle and our leadership in a particular office, please follow the links below.
Sanford Heisler Sharp has particular expertise representing corporate executives and attorneys. In many cases, we negotiate new contracts or exit packages. Work at this level requires discreet and nimble legal representation, as many of these negotiations are conducted confidentially. As a result, some of our biggest successes are never exposed to the press or public scrutiny.
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- Senior Legal Assistant
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- of Counsel
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- Senior Legal Assistant
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York Team
- Senior Legal Assistant
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nashville Team
- Legal Intake and Operations Specialist
Job Titles:
- Baltimore and Washington, DC Partner
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Francisco Team
- Litigation Fellow
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Diego Team
- Senior Legal Assistant
Job Titles:
- Member of the San Francisco Team
- Senior Legal Assistant
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant
- Member of the San Francisco Team