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Sandra D. Hauser

Sandra D. Hauser

Partner

Sandra D. Hauser

Partner

New York

D+1 212 768 6802

Local time

Sandra Hauser is the head of Dentons US Commercial Litigation practice and serves on the Firm's Global Litigation and Dispute Resolution Leadership team. A leading lawyer in the financial services sector, Sandy is both part of the Firm's Chambers-recognized Insurance Litigation team and is ranked by The Legal 500 as a Leading Lawyer for Securities Litigation: Defense -- one of only 47 recognized nationally, and 1 of only 8 women.

Sandy leads the defense of companies facing class actions and complex commercial cases in trial and appellate courts across the US as well as in challenges before Federal and State regulators. Sandy is praised by clients for her "strategic thinking and effective advocacy," in recognition of both her courtroom achievements and her practical, creative and business-centered advice and exceptional client service. She was recently awarded “All-Star” status for Client Service, selected by her clients in response to BTI’s listing of lawyers recognized by in-house counsel.

Sandy’s clients include major global financial institutions and insurance companies, consumer products and services companies, and health care companies, and her practice spans numerous substantive areas including securities, consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices, privacy, antitrust, financial markets, health care and major insurance disputes (involving life and health, annuities, professional liability, workers' compensation, property, commercial general liability, self-insured trusts, cybersecurity, and most recently, disputes related to COVID-19 (coronavirus)).

Sandy has handled numerous federal court appeals, including several cases for which clients sought her out for her appellate advocacy skills.

Experience

Defeated class certification on behalf of a major global insurance company in a California federal court challenge to allegedly wrongful terminations of life insurance policies under California law.
Won full dismissal, affirmed by the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, of five consolidated class actions filed against a major global insurance company, in which plaintiffs had claimed that the insurer misrepresented its financial condition through the use of captive reinsurance, claiming $billions in damages and penalties.
Successfully defended a global, Canadian-based bank in a rate-setting Antitrust and Commodities Exchange Act class action in the Southern District of New York, prevailing on a motion to dismiss. Currently defending this client in a claimed securities/market manipulation suit raising allegations of spoofing.
Defeated class certification on behalf of a major financial institution and its investment advisory group facing a federal 10b-5 securities fraud class action that alleged misrepresentations and omissions regarding the placement of client assets in mutual funds and related mutual fund fees. The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the victory. In a related matter, secured a permanent injunction in the District of Connecticut after trial had commenced against former employees of the same client, for the misappropriation of trade secrets and client information.
Successfully represented major financial institutions and their officers and directors in securities litigation, regulatory investigations and other high profile disputes involving mortgage portfolios and/or residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), including numerous matters against Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, federal and state financial regulators, and class action and other plaintiffs in courts across the US.
Defeated a putative nationwide class action against a long term care insurer seeking the return of hundreds of millions of dollars in premiums, based on the filed rate doctrine.
Successfully defended a nationwide class action against a leading global life insurer in the Central District of California raising breach of contract and violations of California Business & Professions Code Section 17200 (“UCL”) for allegedly excessive charges at lapse and reinstatement of universal life insurance policies. Favorable and bespoke nationwide class settlement finally approved in June, 2020.
Representing a global food company in an M&A dispute with the seller in the Southern District of New York, relating to alleged contract breaches and torts committed by the seller.
Representing a major global technology company to defend a putative class action in the Northern District of California that seeks to hold our client responsible under California Bus. & Prof. Code 17200 and the CLRA for certain content of third party game developers that plaintiff claims is illegal gambling.
Obtained early exits for several large consumer product companies facing consumer fraud/false advertising class actions that challenged product labels and content/function claims, in New York, California, and jurisdictions across the US.
Represented media industry clients in securing dismissals with prejudice of consumer privacy class actions brought under the federal Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) or similar Michigan and Rhode Island state statutes (VRPA).
Representing a prominent insurer defending a New York Department of Financial Services Part 500 Statement of Charges regarding alleged cybersecurity violations.
Won full dismissal of cases in New York State against a global insurer seeking business interruption coverage for COVID-19 related losses, including affirmance on appeal.
Trial and national coordinating counsel for a global property and casualty insurer in insurance coverage disputes across the United States that arose following the insolvency of a US carrier, involving numerous state insurance guaranty funds.
Won full dismissal of a putative securities fraud class action against a major global pharmaceutical company, in a case filed against our client following a severe drop in stock price following certain disclosures related to the release of a new product.
Represented a major global financial services company in a putative securities fraud class action in the Southern District of New York concerning the planned and then delayed partial initial public offering (IPO) of an Australian subsidiary.
Successfully defended a global insurance brokerage firm in litigation brought by a key New York State regulator raising allegations of misconduct and contractual breaches relating to the administration of self-insured trusts.
Successfully defended a major national retail pharmacy against a putative Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act class action alleging that the average wholesale price of pharmaceuticals was fraudulently inflated. Secured dismissal with prejudice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, affirmed on appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Defended a hospital system in putative antitrust class action litigation charging wage suppression and unlawful information exchange, through successful class resolution.
Defeated class certification, and achieved numerous additional dismissals with prejudice, of consumer fraud and product liability class-action suits brought against a pharmaceutical manufacturer in multiple federal and state courts across the country, following a nationwide product recall by our client.
Successfully represented a life insurance/annuity company in a District of Connecticut putative ERISA class action alleging breaches of fiduciary duty to Plan and beneficiary plaintiffs, as well as various misrepresentations regarding the tax advantaged nature of certain annuity products. The case was resolved on an individual non-class basis.
Co-trial counsel for Royal Indemnity Co. in the highly publicized property insurance "occurrence" dispute over the World Trade Center, where Royal prevailed in the trial court and US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on a significant portion of its coverage. World Trade Center Props. LLC v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co. et al., 345 F.2d 154 (2d Cir. 2003).
Lead a nationwide team as lead trial counsel and national coordinating counsel for Fireman's Fund with respect to hundreds of claims arising from the sale of fraudulent and/or unlicensed health plans. After being brought in to handle the appeal, won complete reversal of a trial judgment in the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. American Automobile Insurance Company v. Valentine, et al. (4th Cir.).
Defended Prudential against allegations of improper life insurance sales practices, coordinated Prudential's multidistrict litigation in Newark, NJ, in which numerous class actions and individual actions were consolidated; handled key aspects of Prudential's successful class action settlement, appeal and alternative dispute resolution implementation processes; argued appeals and opt-out litigations in federal and state courts; handled whistleblower arbitrations in various districts; and assisted Prudential in related regulatory inquiries and corollary litigations.
Successfully represented indigent families in class action litigation and legislative battles over entitlement to federal income support and Medicaid benefits, including prevailing in class action litigation brought on behalf of elderly and disabled Medicaid recipients entitled to timely home health care services from New York State, and achieving class certification and a favorable settlement in 2022 in an ADA challenge to a New York county’s inadequate procedures for addressing reasonable accommodations for benefits applicants and recipients. Sandy and her team achieved broad relief, including in a ruling upheld by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and successfully opposed a Petition for Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court in 2013.

Recognition

Honors and Awards

The Legal 500 praises Sandy for her "strategic thinking and effective advocacy, "her “easy-to-work-with and efficient and effective team,” which was cast as “an increasingly credible alternative to Wall Street firms.” As one of one of only 47 recognized nationally, and only 1 of 8 women recognized, Sandy is ranked as a Leading Individual for Securities Litigation: Defense. She's also recognized for her work in:
- Insurance: Advice to Insurers, 2014-2024
- Securities: Litigation - Defense, 2014-2024
- General Commercial Disputes, 2015-2023
- Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action - Defense: Consumer Products, 2023
- Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense, 2018
Named a BTI Client Service “All-Star”, an annual listing of lawyers recognized by in-house counsel for superior client service, 2020, 2022, and 2023
Named to Crain's New York Business' 2022 Notable Diverse Leaders in Law, a recognition for individuals who excel in their practice at New York's leading law firms
Named to Crain’s New York Business’ third annual Notable Women in Law list, a celebration of women lawyers who have impacted New York City in major ways, 2020
Benchmark Litigation selected Sandy as a "Future Star" in New York, 2015
Recognized in Law360's "Class Action Group of the Year," 2014

Recipient of several pro bono commitment awards, including:

New York Legal Assistance Group 2014 Underwriter Award, presented to Dentons in recognition of Sandy's leadership of the litigation team advocating on behalf of elderly and disabled Medicaid recipients entitled to timely home health care services from New York State
Rothschild Award, class-action litigation team, 2011
Teri and Nick Letica Award for Outstanding Commitment to Pro Bono, Brooklyn Bar's Volunteer Lawyers Project, 2006
Commitment to Justice award from Her Justice (formerly, inMotion), an organization that finds counsel for women affected by domestic violence, 2004
Accepted for the Firm the Cornerstone Award from the Lawyers Alliance for New York (2016 and 2004), and received recognition from the 9/11 Project of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest as a key collaborating law firm

Insights

"Litigation Leaders: Sandy Hauser of Dentons Is Looking Forward to a ‘Very Busy Trial Year’ in 2022," The American Lawyer, December 14, 2021
"Second Circuit affirms dismissal of policyholder lawsuits challenging captive reinsurance disclosures," Dentons Client Alert, March 6, 2017
"Insurance Filed Rate Defense Wins Over The 2nd Circuit," Law360, August 26, 2015
"Growing Challenges to NY Shadow Insurance Transactions," Law360, May 16, 2014, with Matthew Gaul, Patrick Gennardo and Catharine Luo
Co-author, "Lessons Learned from the First Public CFPB Enforcement Action and Bulletin 2012-06," Consumer Finance Law Quarterly Report, Vol. 66, No. 3 & 4, June 2013

Activities and Affiliations

Presentations

“Class Action Trends,” Dentons Insurance Symposium, New York City, October 12, 2022 and October 25, 2018
Co-Chair, Property and Casualty Insurance Law 2022, full day PLI, October 27, 2022
“Cross-Border Class Action Trends - A Year in Review,” Dentons Global US-Canada Webinar, January, 2021
"Captive Reinsurance: Class Action Litigation and Policy Debate," presentation to the Association of Life Insurance Counsel (ALIC), May 19, 2015
"Class Action Trends and Predictions," Panel Presentation, Women Influence Power & Law Summit, September, 2014
"Shadow Insurance": A new wave of litigation on the horizon? NOLHGA 22nd Annual Legal Seminar, New York City, July 17, 2014
"Recent Developments in Class Action Practice: False Advertising and Privacy Risks," Marsh 2013 Retail/Wholesale Spring Fling, June 2013
"Residential Mortgages and the Capital Markets: The Way Forward/Clearing the Battlefield: Litigation and Enforcement," SNR Denton CLE, July 2011
"Cost of Insurance Litigation," American Counsel of Life Insurers Litigation Committee, October 2010
"Class Action Law and Practice," Client CLE, May 2008 and April 2006
"Anatomy of a Health Plan Scam: Health Insurance Fraud Schemes and Their Impact on the Industry," ABA Annual Meeting, TIPS Practice Section, August 2005
"New Rules, New Decisions: Impact on Class Action Strategy," The Class Action Litigation Summit, June 2003

Memberships

Chair of the Board of Directors, National Center for Law and Economic Justice (formerly the Welfare Law Center)
Events Committee, The New York Says Thank You Foundation (http://www.newyorksaysthankyou.org/)
Member of the Association of Life Insurance Counsel (ALIC)
Member of the New York City Bar Association, including past service on its Committees on New York City Affairs, Sex and Law, Civil Rights and the Project on the Homeless
Member of the American Bar Association
Member of the New York State Bar Association
Member of Dentons' US Region Board
Member of Dentons' Global and US Pro Bono Committees

Contact information

New YorkLocal time

D+1 212 768 6802

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Areas of focus

Education

Harvard Law School, 1991, JD, magna cum laude

University of Michigan, 1988, AB, with honors, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Irving R. Kaufman Fellowship. James B. Angell Scholar

Admissions and qualifications

New York

US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

US Court of Federal Claims

US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

US District Court for the Eastern District of New York

US District Court for the Southern District of New York

US Supreme Court

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Sandra D. Hauser

Sandra D. Hauser

Email me

Download vCard

Experience

Recognition

Honors and Awards

Insights

Activities and Affiliations

Presentations

Memberships

Litigation Against Financial Institutions

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