Overview
Sandra Dawn Grannum, a former in-house Wall Street counsel, ensures that representation of financial and securities industry clients includes careful evaluation of litigation exposure, reputational risk and budgetary concerns. Sandy concentrates on the securities industry, including broker-dealer arbitration, litigation, mediation and regulatory defense. A Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, Sandy represents issuers, officers and directors in stock drop cases and financial services clients including banks, brokerage firms, investment banks and investment bankers and brokers in litigation in federal and state courts at the trial and appellate levels across the country. Clients turn to Sandy for complex securities litigation, including securities class actions, shareholder clawback adversarial proceedings, and takeover and business judgment rule litigations.
Commercial Litigation, Class Actions and Arbitrations
In addition to representing clients in commercial litigations and appeals in federal and state courts, Sandy represents issuers and their officers and board members in securities class actions alleging violations of the Securities and Exchange 1933 and 1934 Acts, and class actions alleging ERISA and other fiduciary duty violations.
Sandy has also tried more than 60 arbitrations before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), has tried arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and JAMS, and has handled appeals before the National Adjudicatory Council (NAC).
Regulatory Compliance
In an ever-changing regulatory environment, Sandy guides clients through compliance, policies and procedures, and is a leader of the firm’s regulation best interest compliance team, a multipractice group that assists financial services firms in complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) sweeping rule. She represents clients in reviews, interviews and investigations by the SEC, the Department of Justice, state securities and insurance regulators, and self-regulatory bodies, and also represents them in any resulting disciplinary hearings, trials and appeals.
Employment Litigation
Sandy also has a robust single-plaintiff employment claims defense practice, and frequently investigates employee complaints of discrimination, harassment and retaliation as well as whistleblower complaints. She represents corporate clients in federal courts across the country and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) as well as before state divisions and commissions of human rights.
Leadership and Rankings
A recognized leader, Sandy serves on the firm’s governing board, co-chairs the firm’s nationwide securities and financial services litigation practice group, and has been honored for her efforts to promote diversity in the profession and to advance the professional development of other female lawyers. She has been recognized by industry publications such as Chambers USA, New Jersey Law Journal, and the National Black Lawyers Top 100.
Related Services
Related Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
New Jersey
New York
Court Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Education
Harvard Law School
J.D.
New York University
B.A.
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
Leadership & Community
Professional Associations
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) — Industry Diversity Advisory Committee
- American Bar Association — Securities Litigation Committee (Co-chair of the Arbitration Sub-Committee)
- New York State Bar Association
- PLI, Securities Arbitration Seminar in New York — Chair, 2012-present
Civic Activities
- Rockland Economic Development Corporation — Member of the Board, 2004-17, Chair, 2013-16
- Bon Secours Charities — Member of the Board, 2011-present, Chair of the Audit Committee
Firm Leadership
- Board Member
- Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP — Managing Partner, 2018-20; Co-Chair, Commercial Litigation Team, 2017-20
Honors
- Chambers USA — New Jersey, Litigation: Securities, 2022
- Savoy Magazine — Most Influential Black Lawyers, 2022
- New Jersey Law Journal — Unsung Hero, 2021
- The National Black Lawyers Top 100
- American College of Trial Lawyers — Fellow, 2020
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section — 100 Women Who Inspire Us, 2019
- New York State Bar Association — Kay Crawford Murray Award, 2019
- The Network Journal — 25 Influential Black Women in Business Award, 2019
- NOAH NY — Distinguished Service Award
No aspect of these recognitions has been approved by the highest court of any state.