David Sanford - New York, NY
Attorney at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP
Employment Lawyers in New York, NY
17 State Street Suite 3700 New York, NY 10004
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
29
Years
Experience
New York Employment Lawyer
Updated: 03/10/2026
Areas of Practice
- Employment
- Commercial Litigation
- Consumer Protection
Litigation: 100%
Attorney Information
Overview
David Sanford is a founding partner of the law firm Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP. Mr. Sanford received his law degree from Stanford Law School in 1995.
With his extensive class action and litigation experience, Mr. Sanford zealously and vigorously represents the interests of individuals across the United States in civil rights, wage and hour, commercial litigation and personal injury matters.
Mr. Sanford has brought numerous race and gender discrimination class actions on behalf of aggrieved employees throughout the United States. He has worked closely with the National Office of the NAACP, as well as with chapter and branch presidents throughout the United States, in investigating and litigating claims of race discrimination. He is currently class counsel in race discrimination class action matters against the United States Department of Commerce; the United States Federal Aviation Administration; Whirlpool; Nucor Steel; AK Steel; and Cinergy.
Mr. Sanford is also class counsel in a case involving entities fraudulently inducing low-income residents of Washington, D.C. into purchasing condominiums. The case concerns predatory lending, breach of contract and fraud claims against numerous defendants, including Countrywide Home Loans, one of the nation's largest residential mortgage lenders.
Before starting this firm in January 2004, Mr. Sanford opened and managed the Washington, D.C. office of the civil rights firm of Wiggins, Childs, Quinn & Pantazis from 1998 through 2003. He also helped open the Washington, D.C. office of Boies & Schiller in 1997, working with David Boies on antitrust matters and commercial litigation. Prior to that, Mr. Sanford worked in the appellate division of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, drafting petitions of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Sanford served as a law clerk for the Honorable Gladys Kessler of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia; as a law clerk in the White House Counsel's Office under President Clinton; and as a judicial intern for the Honorable Dorothy Nelson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Pasadena, California.
Mr. Sanford is an active member in good standing with the bar of both the District of Columbia and state of Maryland. Prior to his life in the law, Mr. Sanford taught in the department of philosophy at Williams College and Oberlin College. He regularly serves as a guest lecturer at the American University Justice Program, and has been a member of the William B. Bryant Inn of Court since 1996.
Recent Successful Resolutions Yielding Millions Of Dollars In Back Pay And Damage Awards Include The Following:
- as lead trial attorney, Mr. Sanford secured a jury verdict in Atlanta, Georgia, on behalf of a white employee of the Kroger Company who opposed race discrimination at Kroger and who suffered retaliation as a result of her opposition;
- a five million dollar settlement involving fraudulent dealings relating to a twenty million dollar investment in a hedge fund in New York;
- a medical malpractice settlement against Georgetown Hospital in Washington, D.C.;
- a class-wide settlement of a race discrimination case against Toshiba in Tennessee;
- a class-wide settlement of a race discrimination case against Goody's Clothing in Georgia;
- a class-wide settlement of a race discrimination case against Gulfstream in California;
- a class-wide settlement of a race discrimination case against TRW in Tennessee;
- a class-wide settlement of a race discrimination case against Cooker Restaurants in Florida;
- a multi-party settlement of a race discrimination case brought by African-American employees against a health care facility in Tennessee;
- a multi-party settlement of a race discrimination case brought by African-American employees against a manufacturing plant in Tennessee;
- a settlement of a race discrimination matter brought by an African-American employee against a food distribution chain in New York;
- a settlement of a race discrimination matter based on denial of service brought by African-American customers against Waffle House in Florida;
- a class-wide settlement of a wage and hour dispute against Wampler Foods in West Virginia;
- a class-wide settlement of a wage and hour dispute against TRW in Tennessee; and
- a settlement involving a claim of sexual harassment at a Washington, D.C. non-profit entity.
Race Discrimination Matters
Mr. Sanford has been co-lead counsel, with the NAACP, the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and other firms, in a race discrimination class action pending in Rome, Georgia, brought on behalf of African-American customers throughout the United States against Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores. (NAACP, et al. v. Cracker Barrel, Northern District of Georgia, Rome Division Case No. 4:01-CV-325.) Cracker Barrel has been accused of segregating, denying service to, or giving inferior service to, African-Americans at its restaurants in over 30 states. The Department of Justice recently entered into a consent decree with Cracker Barrel designed to end the pattern and practice of discrimination that led the Justice Department to file suit.
In addition, Mr. Sanford represents an NAACP official in a matter arising out of defamatory claims made by a news reporter against the NAACP and against attorneys representing clients in a race discrimination matter.
Mr. Sanford has been and/or currently is lead or co-lead counsel in nationwide and regional race discrimination class action employment matters brought on behalf of African-American employees in the following:
- Howard, et al. v. United States Department of Commerce, EEOC Case No. 100 A1-7429X, Agency Case No. 95-55-0278 (in litigation)
- Williams, et al. v. United States Federal Aviation Administration, EEOC Case No. 100-2004-00491X; Agency Case No. 2-03-2191 (in litigation)
- Clemon, et al. v. Cooker Restaurants, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, Case No. 8:99-CV-2129-T-27C (settled)
- Jobe, et al. v. TRW, Inc., Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division, Case No. 00-CV-260 (settled)
- Smith, et al. v. Cinergy Corp., Court of Common Pleas, Hamilton County, Ohio, Case No. A0302263 (in litigation)
- Williams, et al. v. Gulfstream, Central District of California, Eastern Division, Case No. 02-CV-1200 (settled)
- Rhodes, et al. v. Cracker Barrel, Northern District of Georgia, Rome Division, Case No. 4:99-CV-217 (in litigation)
- Burton, et al. v. Toshiba, Middle District of Tennessee (Nashville Division), Case No. 3:01-CV-0021 (settled)
- Wade, et al. v. Kroger, Western District of Kentucky (Louisville Division), Case No. 3:01-CV-699-R (in litigation)
- Adkins v. Goody's, Middle District of Georgia (Albany Division), Case No. 1:99-CV-28-4 (settled)
- Bert, et al. v. AK Steel, Southern District of Ohio, Western Division, Case No. C-1-02-467 (in litigation)
- Cabell v. Merck, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Division, Case No. PA: 01-CV-1005 (in litigation)
- Bennet v. Nucor Steel, Western District of Arkansas, El Dorado Division, Case No.: 03-CV-1180 (in litigation)
- Armstrong, et al. v. Whirlpool Corp., Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division, Case No.: 3-03-1250 (in litigation)
Wage and Hour Matters
Mr. Sanford is, and has been, lead class counsel in numerous collective action Fair Labor Standards Act matters throughout the United States, and has also given lectures on the wage and hour laws of the United States. Fair Labor Standards Act actions are brought on behalf of employees, alleging violations of the wage and hour laws of the United States. Mr. Sanford has brought wage and hour matters against Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores (pending in Rome, Georgia); JP Morgan (pending in New York); TRW (settled in Tennessee); Wampler Foods (settled in West Virginia); and Merck (settled in Georgia).
Sexual Harassment, Personal Injury, And Other Matters
Mr. Sanford has successfully litigated sexual harassment matters and is currently counsel in sexual harassment cases in Maryland and Tennessee; has successfully litigated medical malpractice matters and is currently counsel in a personal injury lawsuit in Florida; and has successfully litigated domestic disputes involving custody and child support.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Elite Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame Inductee, The National Law Journal, 2015
- Attorney of the Year Finalist, The American Lawyer, 2018
- Labor & Employment Attorney of the Year, Benchmark Litigation, 2021 and 2019
- Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar, Law360, 2018 and 2014
- Employment MVP, Law360, 2018, 2016, 2015, and 2014
- Top Rated Employment Lawyer, Corporate Counsel
- Top Rated Employment Lawyer, The American Lawyer
- Top Rated Employment Lawyer, The National Law Journal
- Plaintiffs' Lawyer Trailblazer, The National Law Journal, 2018
- AV-rated every year since 2006 (highest rating given to an attorney by judges and attorneys nationwide), Martindale-Hubbell
- Top Rated Lawyer, Martindale-Hubbell
- 2021 Benchmark Inaugural Top 20 Labor and Employment Litigators List
- Labor & Employment Star – Northeast, Benchmark Litigation, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018
- Leader in the Field in New York for Labor & Employment: Mainly Plaintiffs Representation, Chambers and Partners, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in the field of “Employment Law – Individuals,” Best Lawyers, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019
- Washington, DC’s Best Lawyers: Employment Plaintiffs, Washingtonian, 2020, 2019, and 2018
- 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018
- Top 10 Wage & Hour Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association
- Top 25 Class Action Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers Association
- Top Rated Employment & Labor Attorney, Super Lawyers, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014
- Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
Other Sources of Feedback About David Sanford
Included on the 2026 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2024 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Washington DC Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Washington DC Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Washington DC Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Washington DC Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Washington DC Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Washington DC Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Washington DC Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Stanford Law School,
Stanford,
California, 1995
J.D.
Law Review: Stanford Law and Policy Review, Symposium Editor, 1994 - 1995
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Stanford Law School,
Stanford,
California, 1995
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Non Legal Education
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Vassar College,
Poughkeepsie,
NY,
USA, 1980
B.A. -
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill,
Chapel Hill,
NC,
USA
M.A.
Major: Philosophy -
University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill,
North Carolina
ABD
-
Vassar College,
Poughkeepsie,
NY,
USA, 1980
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Chairman, since 2012
Past Positions
- Hon. Judge Gladys Kessler, U.S. District Court for District of Columbia, Law Clerk, 1995 - 1996
- Jones Day Reavis & Pogue, Washington, D.C., Associate, Appellate Division, 1996 - 1997
- Boies & Schiller, Washington, DC, Associate, 1997 - 1998
- Gordon, Silberman, Wiggins & Childs, Associate, 1998 - 2001
- Gordon, Silberman, Wiggins & Childs, Partner, 2001 - 2003
- Wiggins, Childs, Quinn & Pantazis, 1998 - 2003
- White House Counsel's Office, Law Clerk, 1994
- Honorable Dorothy Nelson, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Pasadena, California, Judicial Intern, 1993
Languages
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German
Classes and Seminars
-
Fair Labor Standards Act, Alabama Bar, 2002
-
Professor, Department of Philosophy, Williams College, 1988 - 1992
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Fellow, Department of Philosophy, Oberlin College, 1985 - 1986
- Guest Lecturer, American University Justice Program, 1999 - Present
Pro Bono Activities
- Board member of the Neighborhood Defender Services of Harlem since 2011
- Board member of CorpsAfrica since 2010
- Board member of the Stanford University Center on the Legal Profession since 2014
- Advisory board member of the Foundation for Advocacy, Inclusion, and Resources
- Advisory board of AerNos
Representative Clients
NAACP
Representative Cases
-
NAACP, et al. v. Cracker Barrel
- Court: Northern District of Georgia, Rome Division
-
Howard, et al. v. United States Department of Commerce
-
Williams, et al. v. United States Federal Aviation Administration
-
Clemon, et al. v. Cooker Restaurants
- Court: Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division
-
Jobe, et al. v. TRW, Inc.
- Court: Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division
-
Smith, et al. v. Cinergy Corp
- Court: Court of Common Pleas, Hamilton County, Ohio
-
Williams, et al. v. Gulfstream
- Court: Central District of California, Eastern Division
-
Rhodes, et al. v. Cracker Barrel
- Court: Northern District of Georgia, Rome Division
-
Burton, et al. v. Toshiba
- Court: Middle District of Tennessee (Nashville Division)
-
Wade, et al. v. Kroger
- Court: Western District of Kentucky (Louisville Division)
-
Adkins v. Goody's
- Court: Middle District of Georgia (Albany Division)
-
Bert, et al. v. AK Steel
- Court: Southern District of Ohio, Western Division
-
Cabell v. Merck
- Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Division
-
Bennet v. Nucor Steel
- Court: Western District of Arkansas, El Dorado Division
-
Armstrong, et al. v. Whirlpool Corp.
- Court: Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division
-
United States ex rel. Bennett v. AtriCure, Inc. (S.D.Tex.)
Bar Admissions
- New York
- Maryland, 1997
- District of Columbia, 1998
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2005
- U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, 2004
- U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 2016
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 2017
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 2010
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, 1998
- U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, 1998
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 2006
- U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 2006
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 2020
Other Affiliations
- William B. Bryant Inn of Court, 1996 - Present (Member)
Photo
Contact
17 State Street
Suite 3700
New York, NY 10004
Phone: 646-512-8609
Fax: 646-402-5651
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.sanfordheisler.com
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