Michael Lockman
Senior Litigation Counsel
Phone: 615-434-7004
Email: mlockman@sanfordheisler.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-lockman
Michael Lockman is a Senior Litigation Counsel at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight.
Michael’s practice focuses on matters involving discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, breach of contract, fraud, and human rights. Working with a team of Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight attorneys, Michael has represented:
- a longtime employee of Robert De Niro in her civil rights lawsuit against the actor and his company
- a chief technology officer of a multi-billion-dollar company terminated based on age
- a senior logistics officer terminated based on his disabilities
- a chief medical officer terminated for refusing to engage in fraud
- a saleswoman terminated for insisting on legal compliance
- a class of parents whose children’s personal data was stolen
- a healthcare-industry whistleblower alleging fraud by her employer
- a president of a non-profit terminated for disclosing legal violations
- numerous other executives and professionals terminated based on race, age, and gender
Michael received his law degree with High Honors from the University of Chicago Law School and his bachelor’s degree with Honors from the University of Chicago. In law school, Michael served as Comments Editor on The University of Chicago Law Review and received the Edwin F. Mandel Award for Exceptional Contributions to the Law School’s Clinical Education Program.
A member of the New York and Tennessee bars, Michael has been recognized as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star.”
Before joining Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, Michael completed a clerkship for the Honorable Jay S. Bybee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and worked for several law firms in New York, where he gained substantial experience in commercial litigation and arbitration.
Before law school, Michael worked as a translator overseas.
Education
- J.D., University of Chicago Law School, with High Honors
- B.A., University of Chicago, with Honors
Bar Admissions
- New York
- Tennessee
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
- New York Super Lawyers’ “Rising Star” Selectee – 2026, 2025, 2024, and 2023
- Top 100 Labor & Employment Verdicts in the United States for Robinson v. De Niro, et al. – 2023
- Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Star – 2026
Michael’s My Hero
“I am an executive with decades of management and sales experience. I cannot begin to recommend Michael Lockman and the team at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight highly enough. I initially felt confused and hopeless, navigating employment discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation is a deeply personal and stressful experience, but Michael was empathetic, compassionate, responsive, and a fierce advocate for my rights.
Michael’s my hero. From our very first meeting, Michael and the team listened carefully to the nuances of my situation, took the time to get to know me and understand the background and issues, then clearly explained the complex legal process, and helped me understand all of my options. They were always incredibly professional, proactive, prompt to return my calls and emails, and never made me feel like just another case.
Thanks to their strategic guidance, counseling, and sharp negotiation skills, my case reached a positive resolution that exceeded my expectations. If you are dealing with workplace discrimination and need someone who is highly knowledgeable, strategically skilled, and truly compassionate, call Michael Lockman and Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight.”
–Former Client
Calm, Diplomatic, and Laser-Focused
“Dealing with an employment issue with a big company for the first time, I quickly learned that it is nothing like a Hollywood courtroom drama. You need a lawyer with expertise, skill and good judgment. Michael Lockman was all of that and more: calm, diplomatic, and laser-focused on both the legal strategy and the personal strain the situation put on me. He was always reachable, gave clear, balanced advice, and steered us toward an outcome that was not only exactly what I’d hoped for, but reached swiftly—saving me months of needless stress. If you need counsel that treats you like a person, not just a case file, Michael is the lawyer for you.”
–Tech Executive in California
Incredible Dedication and Support
“I cannot thank Michael Lockman and Kevin Sharp enough for the incredible dedication and support they provided during an extremely challenging case against a large company. From the very beginning, both Michael and Kevin believed in me and worked tirelessly to fight for my rights. They never backed down, even when the opposition was relentless, and their commitment to my case never wavered. Thanks to Michael and Kevin’s expertise, perseverance, and unwavering determination.
Even though I ultimately decided not to move forward with my case, I am incredibly grateful for everything Michael and Kevin did for me during a very challenging time. Their dedication, professionalism, and genuine care made a difficult situation so much more manageable. I would highly recommend Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight to anyone looking for a strong advocate who truly stands by their clients.”
–Former Client
Timely, Thoughtful, and Thorough Communication
“I had the privilege of working with Kevin Sharp, Jon Tepe, and Michael Lockman on a complex employment matter involving my role within the healthcare industry. From the outset, I was struck by their responsiveness—where every inquiry I made was met with timely, thoughtful, and thorough communication. Their attention to detail was exceptional, and it was clear they had a firm grasp on the nuances of my case.
What impressed me most was their unwavering commitment, even as the opposing side attempted to delay and slow-walk the process. I repeatedly relied on frequent communication with Jon and Michael and their promptness helped alleviate frustration during a prolonged, antagonistic situation. Despite these challenges, they remained focused and steadfast in moving the case forward, ensuring that my voice was heard and my position was well represented.
Given the complexity of the situation and the power imbalance that often exists when going up against an employer, especially in a healthcare setting, I truly appreciated their professionalism, insight, and advocacy. I would wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone seeking to have their situation justly corrected after being wronged by an employer. Their team delivered not just legal support, but a sense of reassurance that justice would be pursued with integrity and diligence.”
–Former Client
Consistently Responsive and Compassionate Throughout
“The collaboration with the entire team—most notably Michael Lockman—exceeded my expectations. He was accommodating of my unusual schedule, consistently responsive, and compassionate throughout the process. Zora Young’s contributions further elevated the experience; she did an immense amount of work behind the scenes, served as a thoughtful sounding board, and brought genuine passion to my case.
I deeply appreciate my team’s “human” touch and candor, balanced so effectively with their expertise, strategic thinking, and commitment to rectifying the injustice I experienced. I truly could not have asked for a better team. I would wholeheartedly recommend Sanford Heisler—and this team in particular—to anyone considering a similar case.”
–Former Client
Exceptional Guidance and Expertise
“I had a recent opportunity to work with Jon Tepe, Michael Lockman, and Leigh Anne St. Charles from Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight on a discrimination case. I want to express my gratitude and heartfelt thank you for their guidance during a very difficult time. They provided exceptional guidance and expertise during this case leading to a satisfactory outcome. I would highly recommend them.”
–Former Client
Always Somone I Could Trust
“I really appreciate all the hard work that Michael Lockman put in and that he never gave up on me. As much as I may have been hard-headed, challenging, and probably frustrated him at times (my apologies), he did a fantastic job of making me feel comfortable and he was always someone that I could trust.”
–Former Client
Both Objectively and Subjectively the Best Plaintiff’s Employment Firm
“I had the privilege of being represented by three excellent attorneys for my case, Kevin Sharp, Michael Lockman, and Kate MacMullin. Michael expressed so much empathy for me throughout, which came across extremely genuine and is rare I think for lawyers who do this type of thing every day. Kate too was brilliant and listened to and took my own suggestions, which was very open minded of her and made me feel heard. Kevin took control of the mediation in a way that pushed hard for the outcome I asked for and that was so appreciated as well. Overall, the team was fantastic. This is both objectively and subjectively best plaintiff’s employment firm in the nation (trust me, I’m a good researcher… and a lawyer). I’m very, very happy with the result they obtained for my case. For such a traumatic time in my life, it a was pleasure to work with lawyers who are smart, ethical, and most importantly, working every day to make the workplace a more fair place for all. The worlds needs more lawyers like them!”
–Former Client
Leonard Peltier Clemency Petition
Representation of Leonard Peltier, a political activist for Indigenous rights, accused in 1977 of murdering two FBI agents in 1975 during a shoot-out at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. President Biden granted clemency on January 20, 2025, commuting the remainder of his life sentence to home confinement. Clemency petitions highlighted significant violations of Mr. Peltier’s constitutional rights during his trial.
Robert De Niro Lawsuit
The lawsuit alleged that actor Robert De Niro and his company, Canal Productions, subjected their longtime employee, Chase Robinson, to retaliation and gender discrimination.
- VP’s Sex Discrimination Suit Against De Niro Partially Tossed, Law360, May 26, 2023