Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

Partner

A formidable litigator whose persuasive advocacy and pragmatic counsel effectively protect her clients’ interests before and after litigation or claims arise, Sandra Musumeci represents a diverse clientele of businesses, individuals, educational institutions, and not-for-profit organizations in a wide range of matters.

Sandy leverages extensive trial experience, a prosecutorial and government background, and credibility earned among adversaries, investigators, and adjudicators to diffuse contentious situations or find favorable resolutions to complex contested matters.

Sandy focuses her practice on commercial litigation, government and internal investigations, white-collar criminal defense, civil rights claims, and general corporate counseling. Quick on her feet while serving as a steady hand, Sandy helps her clients manage crises and claims that pose substantial financial and reputational risks.

She understands her clients’ priorities and pressures while also appreciating those of opposing parties, investigators, or prosecutors. This allows her to develop strategies that align with her clients’ goals and bring matters to a conclusion with minimal cost and disruption. Her clients value her most for the careful thought, experienced practicality, and true commitment she brings to them and their matters.

Though her experience extends to a broad spectrum of commercial issues and disputes, Sandy is particularly well-versed in the unique challenges faced by employers and educational institutions. Sandy’s clients include corporations looking to uncover and remediate employee misconduct, organizations managing crises and responding to media fallout, and colleges and universities defending their processes in discrimination and Title IX litigation. She also proactively counsels clients to manage and mitigate risk, including compliance issues related to employment, sexual harassment, and discrimination issues. Sandy has represented organizations in complex commercial disputes and class actions and advised companies and individuals in criminal, governmental, and internal investigations and proceedings. She also has experience in cutting-edge legal issues, such as those surrounding the cryptocurrency market.

Prior to entering private practice, Sandy was an Assistant District Attorney, Criminal Court Supervisor, and member of the Sex Crimes Unit at the New York County District Attorney’s Office under Robert M. Morgenthau. As a prosecutor, Sandy tried 18 criminal jury trials, including two homicides, and conducted scores of pre-trial hearings and grand jury presentations.

Sandy also served as founding Deputy Inspector General at the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the New York City Police Department (NYPD) within the City of New York’s Department of Investigation. As Deputy Inspector General, she developed protocols and managed a staff of investigators, analysts, attorneys, and auditors to investigate, evaluate, and issue reports and recommendations about NYPD’s policies and operations, all amidst the competing voices of community advocates, unions, city government, and the media.

This government experience informs her work helping companies and individuals navigate the challenges of complex government investigations and court proceedings. She also leverages the insights she gained in these roles to represent clients before criminal and regulatory authorities, such as the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York District Attorney’s Office, and other law enforcement and regulatory agencies.

Committed to using her skills and experience to do justice and aid underserved communities, Sandy maintains a diverse pro bono practice. She has successfully represented inmates in civil rights cases, counseled victims of abuse and exploitation subpoenaed in criminal investigations, defended a disabled person wrongly accused of a crime, and helped domestic violence survivors obtain lawful immigration status.

Harvard Law School, J.D., 2000

Princeton University, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, A.B., 1994 magna cum laude