David Sanford, Sanford Heisler Sharp’s Chairman, has recovered more than one billion dollars for individual clients and the United States 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, David 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.

The Baltimore office is managed by Deborah Marcuse, Co-Chair of the firm’s Discrimination and Harassment Practice. Ms. Marcuse is an experienced litigation attorney who represents employees in individual and class actions in a wide range of employment disputes, including suits alleging unlawful terminations, unlawful denials of promotions, unequal pay, wage and hour violations, and hostile work environments related to race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, pregnancy, and disability. She has negotiated and secured significant monetary awards for clients with discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims in the legal, pharmaceutical, financial, manufacturing and commercial real estate sectors, including corporate executives.

Partner and Criminal/Sexual Violence Practice Group Co-Chair Christine Dunn’s practice involves a range of matters, including criminal/sexual violence cases, whistleblower/qui tam matters, and employment discrimination actions. During her time at the Department of Justice, Ms. Dunn conducted extensive grand jury investigations and jury trials throughout the United States and prosecuted federal civil rights crimes involving official and police misconduct, racially motivated violence, and human trafficking, including sex trafficking.

Partner and Criminal/Sexual Violence Practice Group Co-Chair Steve Kelly represents plaintiffs, especially those from traditionally marginalized groups, who seek justice as victims of violence. He is one of a handful of lawyers in the country capable of fighting for a victim’s rights in both criminal and civil cases. Mr. Kelly has a lifelong commitment to improving the plight of crime victims and their families. He became a victim advocate at age 14, shortly after his older sister was sexually assaulted and murdered. His advocacy since then truly distinguishes him. In addition to representing crime victims, he has lobbied victims’ rights legislation before state legislatures and the U.S. Congress as well as provided training to victim advocates, prosecutors, and judges throughout the country. Mr. Kelly and the attorneys part of Sanford Heisler Sharp’s Criminal/Sexual Violence Practice Group are committed to giving crime victims a voice in court and our communities.