Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is a national litigation firm with offices in New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, Baltimore, San Diego, and Nashville. The firm is known for its high-profile, high-impact employment cases, including class actions and individual matters involving discrimination, harassment, whistleblower retaliation, and wage-and-hour violations.

About the Role

We are seeking experienced Plaintiff-Side Employment Attorneys to join our New York City office. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in representing employees in complex employment litigation, including class actions, collective actions, and individual cases. This role involves all phases of litigation, from investigation and pleadings through discovery, motion practice, trial, and appeal.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a diverse caseload of employment matters, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, and wage-and-hour cases.
• Handle all aspects of litigation, including drafting pleadings, motions, and discovery requests; taking and defending depositions; and preparing for trial.
• Develop and execute case strategies in collaboration with firm partners and colleagues.
• Conduct legal research and draft memoranda on complex employment law issues.
• Engage in settlement negotiations and mediations on behalf of clients.
• Represent clients in court hearings, arbitrations, and trials.
• Mentor and supervise junior associates and support staff.
• Participate in business development activities, including client meetings, speaking engagements, and writing articles.

Requirements

• J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to the New York Bar.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in plaintiff-side employment litigation, with a focus on discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage-and-hour cases.
• Proven track record of managing complex litigation, including class actions and collective actions.
• Strong research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
• Experience with all phases of discovery, motion practice, and trial preparation.
• Commitment to representing employees and advancing workers' rights.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment while also managing independent caseloads.

Skills

• Expertise in federal and state employment laws, including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, NYSHRL, NYCHRL, and NYLL.
• Proficiency in drafting complaints, motions, briefs, and other legal documents.
• Strong deposition and trial skills, with experience taking and defending depositions and presenting cases in court.
• Ability to analyze complex legal issues and develop creative legal strategies.
• Excellent negotiation and mediation skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple cases and deadlines.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Firm Recognition & Competitive Landscape

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is ranked #4 among 37 firms in New York City for plaintiff-side employment law, with an 8.7% response mention rate (±2.4% margin of error) across AI legal research tools. The firm is cited by 2 of the 4 major AI assistants (Claude and ChatGPT) and is classified as mid-tier with 48 recorded citations.

The firm excels in "Decision" and "Validation" prompts, where it is frequently cited alongside top competitors such as Outten & Golden LLP, Wigdor LLP, and Vladeck, Raskin & Clark, PC. However, it is less visible in 80 out of 100 ranking-layer buyer prompts, where competitors like Terc Law Offices, P.C., Joseph Law Group, P.C., and Phillips Nizer LLP are more frequently cited.

Peer firms in the New York City plaintiff-side employment law space include:

• Outten & Golden LLP (11.6% share, 2/4 AI)
• Wigdor LLP (10.3% share, 2/4 AI)
• Phillips Nizer LLP (8.9% share, 3/4 AI)
• Vladeck, Raskin & Clark, PC (6.2% share, 2/4 AI)
• Joseph Law Group, P.C. (5.1% share, 3/4 AI)
• Terc Law Offices, P.C. (4.2% share, 3/4 AI)