David Sanford

Practice areas

Employment & Labor: Employee, Civil Litigation: Plaintiff, Employment Litigation: Plaintiff

Focus areas

Employment Discrimination, Employment Law – Employee, Labor Law, Sexual Harassment, Wage & Hour Laws, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination

David Sanford, driven by a strong commitment to advocating for clients against formidable entities, is a co-founder of Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP, a renowned legal firm with a notable presence in New York, California, Tennessee, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. At the helm of the firm as its chairman, he provides exceptional legal services across various domains, including:

• Employment law
• Combatting employment discrimination
• Addressing issues of sexual harassment
• Safeguarding whistleblower rights
• Advancing women’s rights
• Upholding workers’ rights
• Engaging in civil litigation
• Pursuing ERISA class actions
• Rectifying wrongful termination
• Tackling Medicare and Medicaid fraud
• Ensuring compliance with wage and hour laws

Mr. Sanford’s educational journey includes obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College in 1980, a master’s degree in philosophy from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1984, and a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 1995. His legal career commenced with a clerkship under Honorable Judge Gladys Kessler at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. He has been admitted to the state bars of New York, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

Having earned the privilege to represent clients before prestigious courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States and several U.S. District Courts and Courts of Appeals, Mr. Sanford exhibits an unwavering dedication to safeguarding his clients’ rights. He provides a supportive and confidential environment while offering skillful and composed legal representation. His clientele spans from high-ranking executives to hourly workers from diverse sectors across the nation. He has taken the lead in over 50 class actions and numerous qui tam cases nationwide.

Under Mr. Sanford’s visionary leadership, Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP, has experienced remarkable growth, expanding in size and opening new offices. The firm has garnered recognition from prominent legal publications, reflecting Mr. Sanford’s commitment to client well-being and firm advancement. His outstanding achievements have been acknowledged through various awards and accolades, including an AV Preeminent* rating by Martindale-Hubbell and recognition from The National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Benchmark Litigation, Corporate Counsel, Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Lawyers, and The National Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 10 Wage and Hour Trial Lawyers and Top 25 Class Action Trial Lawyers, among others.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished, and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® facilitates a peer-review rating process, with ratings reflecting the anonymous opinions of legal professionals and members of the judiciary. These ratings cover legal ability and general ethical standards.