Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP

10/12/2026

For more than 20 years, the Women’s Bar Association Foundation has worked to advance opportunities for women in the legal profession, supporting the next generation of women lawyers through philanthropy, mentorship, and community grants.

Again this year, Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is proud to be a VIP Sponsor of the Foundation’s annual W**e Tasting & Silent Auction, which will be taking place next Thursday, October 22nd.

We are looking forward to a wonderful event and celebrating and supporting the Women’s Bar Association Foundation’s meaningful work!

Event details can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wba-foundation-2026-wine-tasting-and-silent-auction-tickets-1986775348550?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawU6A8lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6zMVOJS2FO_K5dGm4gLk_47QtoOYRZ1CgxNIDm_BEWv1pbZWTNtWI5qJCVpQ_aem_OEsJF9uGgDcG73PntfRMbw

WBA Foundation 2026 W**e Tasting & Silent Auction

10/09/2026

Our firm is proud to announce that three attorneys from our San Diego office have been recognized on the 2027 San Diego Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists!

2027 Super Lawyer: Charles Field

2027 Rising Stars: Denise Choung and Cara Van Dorn

Super Lawyers is an annual ranking service that identifies outstanding attorneys across more than 70 practice areas, state by state, as a resource for people looking for legal counsel. The selection process is peer-driven and research-based, with no fee for inclusion and no self-nominations. The final lists represent the top 5% of attorneys in each state, and the top 2.5% for Rising Stars, which is limited to attorneys 40 or younger or in practice for 10 years or fewer.

Congratulations to Charles, Denise, and Cara on this well-deserved recognition! We look forward to seeing the impact of your excellent work.

10/07/2026

We’re proud to share that Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight Partner and Whistleblower and Qui Tam Practice Group Co-Chair John McKnight will be featured in an upcoming CLE webinar addressing one of the most significant emerging areas of False Claims Act enforcement: customs and tariff fraud.

On October 8, John will join Russell Kornblith of Wigdor LLP and Zach Williams of White & Case LLP for “Customs Fraud Whistleblower Cases: Building the Tariff-Evasion Qui Tam After the $549 Million Settlement.”

As federal enforcement of trade and customs fraud continues to expand, companies face increasing scrutiny over how they classify, value, and import goods into the United States. For whistleblowers and their counsel, these developments create new opportunities to identify and pursue cases involving unpaid tariffs and duties. For businesses, they underscore the importance of getting customs compliance right.

John and his fellow panelists will discuss the practical and legal issues shaping this developing area, including tariff classification, customs valuation, transshipment, antidumping and countervailing duties, whistleblower investigations, and the False Claims Act.

We’re pleased to see John contributing his experience to this important conversation and helping shape the discussion around the next generation of whistleblower cases.

The webinar will take place October 8th from 12:00 to ~2:00 p.m. (ET) and offers 2 hours of CLE credit. Registration information is available through the link in the comments.

10/06/2026

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is proud to participate in the 78th Annual NYU Conference on Labor & Employment Law: Policy & Practice, taking place October 15–16 at NYU School of Law.

On Day 1, Kate Mueting, Firm Administrative Partner and Co-Chair of our Discrimination and Harassment Practice Group, will introduce Hon. Jonathan Berry, U.S. Solicitor of Labor, for the conference’s morning keynote address.

Hosted by the Center for Labor and Employment Law, the conference brings together leading practitioners and experts to discuss emerging issues and developments in labor and employment law, including workplace investigations, AI in employment decision-making, discrimination and harassment, labor law developments, and more.

We look forward to being part of this important forum for conversation and the exchange of ideas in labor and employment law.

Event details and registration information are available through the link in the comments.

10/05/2026

We are delighted to welcome Emily Given to Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight as a Partner in our Washington, D.C. office.

Emily joins the firm after nearly a decade as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, where she handled complex employment matters involving workplace discrimination, hostile work environments, discriminatory hiring practices, and unequal pay.

At Sanford Heisler, Emily will represent workers in complex litigation and mediation, with a particular focus on employment discrimination, workplace civil rights, and other employment disputes. She will also contribute to the firm’s work addressing emerging issues at the intersection of artificial intelligence and employment law.

Emily told Law360, reflecting on her time at DOJ and her commitment to advancing workers’ rights, that she sees her new role at Sanford Heisler “as very much a continuation . . . of those values."

We are thrilled to have Emily’s experience, perspective, and commitment to civil rights advocacy on our team.

Read more about Emily’s arrival at Sanford Heisler in Law360: https://www.law360.com/pulse/daily-litigation/articles/2524759/sanford-heisler-hires-ex-doj-litigator-as-partner-in-dc

09/22/2026

For more than 20 years, the Women’s Bar Association Foundation has worked to advance opportunities for women in the legal profession, supporting the next generation of women lawyers through philanthropy, mentorship, and community grants.

Again this year, Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is proud to be a VIP Sponsor of the Foundation’s annual W**e Tasting & Silent Auction, which will be taking place on Thursday, October 22nd.

We are looking forward to a wonderful event and celebrating and supporting the Women’s Bar Association Foundation’s meaningful work!

Event details can be found here:

WBA Foundation 2026 W**e Tasting & Silent Auction

09/18/2026

We have filed a lawsuit against Pembroke Hill School and former teacher Michael Jones on behalf of a former student who alleges she was sexually abused by Jones during her fourth-grade year.

The complaint alleges that Pembroke had notice of prior allegations concerning Jones before hiring him, as well as additional reports about his conduct after the alleged abuse.

“What happened to my client was entirely preventable. Pembroke was on notice that this teacher was a danger to children, yet they allowed him unfettered access to children,” said Christine Dunn, Managing Partner of our Washington, D.C. office and Co-Chair of our Sexual Violence, Title IX, and Victims’ Rights Practice Group.

“As a result of Pembroke’s negligent failure to keep its students safe, a young girl endured extreme trauma and emotional distress that continues to this day - even years after the abuse.”

Christine Dunn and Jillian Seymour represent the plaintiff, alongside local counsel Jarrett Johnson.

Read more about the case and the allegations: https://sanfordheisler.com/case/sexual-violence-litigation/child-victim-allegedly-sexually-abused-by-teacher-at-pembroke-hill-school-alleged-pattern-of-sexual-misconduct-at-issue/.

Attorneys at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight today filed a lawsuit in Missouri state court against Pembroke Hill School (“Pembroke”), a private preparatory school in Kansas City, and former Pembroke teacher Michael Jones, on behalf of Jane Doe, a child victim who alleges she was sexually abused d...

09/15/2026

We are proud to announce that San Diego Partner Michelle Wasserman has been selected as a member of the 2026 Women Worth Watching in Leadership Class by Profiles in Leadership Journal—a recognition for “purpose-driven change-makers who inspire others [and mentor] the next generation, challeng[e] conventional ideas, and contribut[e] to a better world for all.”

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Michelle!

You can find Michelle’s Profile here: https://sanfordheisler.com/team/michelle-wasserman/.

09/15/2026

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is proud to congratulate Palo Alto and San Francisco Managing Partner Qiaojing Ella Zheng on her selection to the 2026 Asian Leadership Class by Profiles in Leadership Journal™.

The 2026 Asian Leadership Class recognizes distinguished leaders for their remarkable achievements and contributions to the legal profession. Ella’s selection reflects a career defined by exceptional advocacy, trailblazing leadership, and a commitment to advancing justice for historically underserved communities.

Ella is one of the nation’s leading plaintiff-side employment and civil rights litigators and Chair of the Firm’s Asian American Litigation and Finance Practice Group—the first and only dedicated practice of its kind at a national civil rights firm. She has led high-impact employment and whistleblower matters involving prominent Silicon Valley companies, including securing a significant verdict in the Innogrit litigation and recently filing Kim v. xAI, a whistleblower matter.

Beyond her litigation practice, Ella is a nationally recognized advocate for AANHPI communities and a leading voice on workplace rights, women’s leadership, and access to justice.

We are delighted to see Ella’s extraordinary leadership and contributions to the legal profession recognized through the 2026 Asian Leadership Class. Congratulations, Ella, on this well-deserved honor!

09/15/2026

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is proud to congratulate Partner and Trial Practice Group Co-Chair Meghan Heesch on her selection to the 2026 Legal Leadership Class by Profiles in Leadership Journal™.

The annual Legal Leadership Class recognizes accomplished attorneys whose careers reflect exceptional achievement, leadership, and impact in the legal profession. Meghan’s selection is a fitting recognition of a career defined by courtroom excellence, fearless advocacy, and a deep commitment to clients facing extraordinary circumstances.

Before joining Sanford Heisler, Meghan served as an Immigration Judge and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, where she presided over hundreds of contested trials and led complex international investigations, including Operation Trojan Shield, a landmark DOJ, FBI, and Australian Federal Police investigation that resulted in more than 1,000 arrests.

Today, Meghan brings that formidable trial experience—and the empathy and attentiveness that have defined her career—to advocating for employees in high-stakes matters involving discrimination, retirement security, and workplace misconduct.

We are delighted to see Meghan’s leadership and contributions to the legal profession recognized through the 2026 Legal Leadership Class. Congratulations, Meghan!