Carolin Guentert, Senior Litigation Counsel

Carolin Guentert

New York Partner

Carolin Guentert is a Partner at Sanford Heisler Sharp and Co-Chair of the firm’s Sexual Violence, Title IX, and Victims’ Rights Practice Group.

At Sanford Heisler Sharp, Carolin’s practice has focused on the Discrimination and Harassment and Sexual Violence, Title IX, and Victims’ RIghts, representing both individuals and classes. Carolin’s representations have included:

  • Litigating a proposed pregnancy discrimination class action filed by female attorneys against Morrison & Foerster LLP
  • Representing three graduate students in a litigation against Harvard University, alleging that Harvard ignored a near-decade-long pattern of sexual harassment and retaliation by a professor
  • Litigating a proposed nationwide gender discrimination and sexual harassment class action filed against Schlumberger Technology Corporation on behalf of women who work on oil rigs in the U.S.
  • Litigating a proposed class action against Yale University and its all-male fraternities on behalf of students who were subjected to discrimination and a sexually hostile environment
  • Negotiating settlements on behalf of individuals alleging a broad range of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims under state and federal law, including claims brought by employees in the legal, financial services, tech, and consumer goods industries
  • Representing a lawyer who was discriminated against for being the primary caregiver to her children during the pandemic
  • Negotiating a settlement on behalf of a college student who was sexually assaulted by a professor
  • Representing a factory employee who was harassed because of her sexual orientation and gender

Carolin received her law degree from New York University School of Law, her LL.M. with distinction from Georgetown University Law Center, and her Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from The College of New Jersey. While at New York University School of Law, Carolin served as the Senior Symposium Editor for the Journal of International Law & Politics. She also served as the president of the Domestic Violence Advocacy Project and participated in the Reproductive Justice Clinic.

A member of the New York and District of Columbia bars, Carolin has authored/co-authored articles that appear in the Cardozo Law Review, the Federal Sentencing ReporterLaw360, and the New York University Journal of International Politics. Carolin is also a member of the Sanctuary for Families Pro Bono Council.

Before joining Sanford Heisler Sharp, Carolin completed a clerkship for the Honorable Jack B. Weinstein of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. After her clerkship, Carolin was a clinical teaching fellow in Georgetown University Law Center’s Domestic Violence Clinic, where she gained substantial experience in representing survivors of domestic violence, supervising law students in their representation of clients, and designing and teaching clinic seminar classes. As part of the fellowship, she completed the Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program at Georgetown. Carolin speaks German (native) and French (proficient).

Education

  • LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center, with distinction
  • J.D., New York University School of Law
  • B.A., The College of New Jersey, summa cum laude

Clinics

  • New York University School of Law: Reproductive Justice Clinic
  • New York University School of Law: EU Regulatory Policy Clinic

Clerkship

  • Honorable Jack B. Weinstein, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Bar Admissions

  • New York, 2015
  • District of Columbia, 2017

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Knowledgeable, Honest, and Hard-Working

“When you first seek legal help, it is natural to feel overwhelmed. In my experience, it is best to have a guide who is knowledgeable, honest, and hard-working. My legal team at Sanford Heisler Sharp – Russell Kornblith, Steve Kelly, and Carolin Guentert – navigated me through complex and difficult questions with steady assurance. As a survivor of sexual abuse, I had felt powerless before coming out against my abuser and the institution that employed him. My attorneys made me feel like I had the power to hold them to account for their actions. Russell and Carolin were consistently professional, communicative, and receptive to my needs during the legal process. As a team, we overcame legal hurdles and took steps towards a favorable resolution. With Sanford Heisler Sharp, I feel that I obtained the best possible outcome for my case. I give Sanford Heisler Sharp the highest recommendation to represent your legal needs and advocate for your rights.” – Former Client

Tireless advocates.

I wanted to sincerely thank you for all of the work that you did to help me. I am so grateful to you (and your team) for taking on my case, and for tirelessly advocating for me throughout the process. You were so supportive to me, and I really appreciated all the time that you took to explain things to me, and to make sure that I felt comfortable with every decision. I am really happy that you helped me to take action, and I consider myself so lucky to have had you on my side! – Former Client

Sexual Assaults Lawsuit Against Terry Richardson and Trump Model Management LLC

The lawsuit, brought under the New York State Adult Survivors’ Act, alleges that Ms. Portillo was sexually assaulted by Mr. Richardson during a photoshoot in 2004, and that Trump Model Management continued to send Ms. Portillo to work with Mr. Richardson even after she voiced her concerns about him.

FTCA Sexual Assault Complaints Against Army Doctor

Sanford Heisler Sharp is seeking to hold the Army responsible for failing to protect John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 from sexual abuse at the hands of an Army doctor who now stands accused of sexually assaulting dozens of victims. Further, the administrative complaints allege that the Army was negligent in its hiring, supervision, and retention of Dr. Stockin.

Title IX Lawsuit Against Harvard University

The Complaint, filed on behalf of three doctoral students in Harvard’s Anthropology Department, alleges Harvard’s deliberate indifference to a nearly decade-long pattern of sexual harassment and retaliatory threats by a prominent professor.

Schlumberger Technology Corporation Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Class Action

The Complaint documents a longstanding pattern of abuse in which Schlumberger knowingly permits women who work on male-dominated oil rigs to be sexually harassed, assaulted, and discriminated against by their male colleagues.

Yale University Gender Discrimination Class Action

According to the Complaint, the three student plaintiffs were groped at fraternity parties in their first semesters at Yale. The student plaintiffs know of other female students who experienced similar sexual harassment and assault during and after fraternity parties and at the hands of fraternity brothers.

Morrison & Foerster Gender, Pregnancy, and Maternity Discrimination Class and Collective Action

The Complaint, which is filed on behalf of three female associates currently employed at MoFo, alleges the international law firm practices systemic gender discrimination against female lawyers, particularly those who are pregnant or have children.