Sharon L. Barbour
Counsel, New York
Sharon L. Barbour
Counsel, New York
Sharon L. Barbour’s practice focuses on litigation, cross-border investigations, and white collar defense. She has experience in disputes involving securities, international, and commercial law before a number of U.S. and foreign regulatory authorities and U.S. Courts. Prior to joining the firm, Sharon was an associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.
Sharon has been recognized by the Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch guide for white collar criminal defense and commercial litigation in New York. Super Lawyers has recognized Sharon as a Rising Star since 2020.
Sharon is a graduate of New York University School of Law, where she served as the developments editor for the Journal of International Law and Politics. She received her B.A., cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis, where she was the senior editor of the Enquiry Philosophy Journal. Sharon is proficient in French.
Sharon received Sanctuary for Families’ Above & Beyond Pro Bono Achievement Award in November 2019 for her work obtaining a special form of immigration relief for a survivor of human trafficking. Additionally, Sharon received the 2016 LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York Leadership & Initiative Award for her leadership role in creating the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York’s LGBTQ Youth Clinic.
Sharon L. Barbour’s practice focuses on litigation, cross-border investigations, and white collar defense. She has experience in disputes involving securities, international, and commercial law…
Education
New York University School of Law (J.D., 2013); Washington University in St. Louis (B.A., cum laude, 2010)
Bar Admissions
New York State; U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Activities and Affiliations
Co-Chair, Sanctuary for Families Pro Bono Council (PBC)
Former Member, New York City Bar Association International Human Rights Committee
Former Member, Steering Committee of the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York LGBTQ Youth Clinic
Super Lawyers once again named C&G co-founder Mark S. Cohen and partner Jonathan S. Abernethy to the Super Lawyers list of the Top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area.
Super Lawyers and Rising Stars are annual lists of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of the lawyers in each state are selected as Super Lawyers, and only 2.5 percent are selected as Rising Stars.
The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Super Lawyers list are:
- Jonathan S. Abernethy, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Kwaku Andoh, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Luke Appling, Civil Litigation: Defense
- Elizabeth Bernhardt, Business Litigation
- Karen H. Bromberg, Intellectual Property
- Jason Brown, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Joanna K. Chan, Securities Litigation
- Mark S. Cohen, Business Litigation
- Gale Dick, Business Litigation
- Christian R. Everdell, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Robert J. Gavigan, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Lawrence T. Gresser, Business Litigation
- Oliver S. Haker, Business Litigation
- Johannes Jonas, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Nicholas J. Kaiser, Real Estate
- David F. Lisner, Business Litigation
- Ellen Paltiel, General Litigation
- Douglas J. Pepe, Business Litigation
- Matthew V. Povolny, Business Litigation
- Bonnie J. Roe, Securities & Corporate Finance
- Stephen M. Sinaiko, Business Litigation
- Mark Spatz, Civil Litigation: Defense
- Daniel H. Tabak, Business Litigation
- Scott D. Thomson, Business Litigation
- Alexandra Wald, Business Litigation
The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Rising Stars list are:
- Sharon L. Barbour, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Randall W. Bryer, Business Litigation
- Shannon A. Daugherty, Business Litigation
- Drew S. Dean, General Litigation
- Christine M. Jordan, General Litigation
- William Kalema, Business Litigation
- Phoebe King, Business Litigation
- Sri Kuehnlenz, Civil Litigation: Defense
- Marvin J. Lowenthal, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Barbara K. Luse, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Alexandra Theobald, Business Litigation
- Myia Williams, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Benjamin Zhu, General Litigation
Five C&G attorneys are recognized by their peers as “Best Lawyers” in their respective practice areas:
- Mark S. Cohen – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Lawrence T. Gresser – Commercial Litigation
- Jonathan S. Abernethy – Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement
- Jason A. Brown – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Mark Spatz – Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Seven C&G attorneys are recognized as “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” in their respective practice areas:
- Luke Appling – Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Securities
- Sharon L. Barbour – Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- William E. Kalema – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Phoebe King – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Barbara K. Luse – Commercial Litigation and Corporate Law
- Alexandra K. Theobald – Commercial Litigation and Corporate Law
- Benjamin Zhu – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Super Lawyers named C&G cofounder Mark S. Cohen one of the Top 10 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area. Partners Jonathan S. Abernethy and Karen H. Bromberg have also been named to the Super Lawyers list of the Top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area. Additionally, Karen has been recognized as one of the Top 50 women lawyers within the same region.
Super Lawyers and Rising Stars are annual lists of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of the lawyers in each state are selected as Super Lawyers, and only 2.5 percent are selected as Rising Stars.
The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Super Lawyers list are:
- Jonathan S. Abernethy, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Kwaku Andoh, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Luke Appling, Civil Litigation: Defense
- Elizabeth Bernhardt, Business Litigation
- Colin C. Bridge, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Karen H. Bromberg, Intellectual Property
- Jason Brown, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Joanna K. Chan, Securities Litigation
- Mark S. Cohen, Business Litigation
- S. Gale Dick, Business Litigation
- Christian R. Everdell, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Robert J. Gavigan, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Lawrence T. Gresser, Business Litigation
- Oliver S. Haker, Business Litigation
- Johannes Jonas, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Nicholas J. Kaiser, Real Estate
- Jeffrey I. Lang, Civil Litigation: Defense
- David F. Lisner, Business Litigation
- Ellen Paltiel, General Litigation
- Douglas J. Pepe, Business Litigation
- Matthew V. Povolny, Business Litigation
- Nathaniel P. T. Read, Business Litigation
- Bonnie J. Roe, Securities & Corporate Finance
- Stephen M. Sinaiko, Business Litigation
- Mark Spatz, Civil Litigation: Defense
- C. Evan Stewart, Securities Litigation
- Daniel H. Tabak, Business Litigation
- Scott D. Thomson, Business Litigation
- Alexandra Wald, Business Litigation
The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Rising Stars list are:
- Sharon L. Barbour, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Randall W. Bryer, Business Litigation
- Shannon A. Daugherty, Business Litigation
- Drew S. Dean, General Litigation
- Jesse Greenwald, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Christine M. Jordan, General Litigation
- William Kalema, Business Litigation
- Sri Kuehnlenz, Civil Litigation: Defense
- Marvin J. Lowenthal, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Barbara K. Luse, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Benjamin Zhu, General Litigation
Six C&G attorneys are recognized by their peers as “Best Lawyers” in their practice areas:
- Mark S. Cohen – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Lawrence T. Gresser – Commercial Litigation
- Jonathan S. Abernethy – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Colin Bridge – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Jason A. Brown – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Mark Spatz – Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Eight attorneys are recognized as “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” in their practice areas:
- Luke Appling – Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Securities
- Sharon L. Barbour – Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- William E. Kalema – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Phoebe King – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Barbara K. Luse – Commercial Litigation and Corporate Law
- Alexandra K. Theobald – Commercial Litigation and Corporate Law
- Eszter Vincze – Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Benjamin Zhu – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Six C&G attorneys have been recognized by their peers as a “Best Lawyer” in their practice areas:
- Jonathan S. Abernethy – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Thomas E. Bezanson – Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
- Jason A. Brown – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Mark S. Cohen – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Mark Spatz – Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
- C. Evan Stewart – Litigation – Securities
- Luke Appling – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Securities
- Sharon L. Barbour – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- William E. Kalema – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Alexandra K. Theobald – Commercial Litigation
Super Lawyers ranks outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only five percent of the lawyers in each state are selected as Super Lawyers, and only 2.5 percent are selected as Rising Stars.
Super Lawyers
Jonathan S Abernethy: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Kwaku Andoh: Mergers & Acquisitions
Elizabeth Bernhardt: Business Litigation
Thomas E Bezanson: Personal Injury – Products: Defense
Colin C Bridge: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Karen H Bromberg: Intellectual Property
Jason Brown: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Joanna K Chan: Securities Litigation
Mark S Cohen: Business Litigation
S Gale Dick: Business Litigation
Christian R Everdell: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Lawrence T Gresser: Business Litigation
Oliver S Haker: Business Litigation
Johannes Jonas: Mergers & Acquisitions
Nicholas J Kaiser: Real Estate
Jeffrey I. Lang: Business Litigation
Melissa H Maxman: Antitrust Litigation
Ellen Paltiel: General Litigation
Nathaniel P T Read: Business Litigation
Bonnie J Roe: Securities & Corporate Finance
Stephen M Sinaiko: Business Litigation
C Evan Stewart: Securities Litigation
Daniel H Tabak: Business Litigation
Scott D Thomson: Business Litigation
Alexandra Wald: Business Litigation
Ronald F Wick: Antitrust Litigation
Rising Stars
Luke Appling: Civil Litigation
Sharon L Barbour: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Drew S Dean: General Litigation
William Kalema: Business Litigation
Sri Kuehnlenz: Civil Litigation
Winnifred A Lewis: Securities Litigation
Marvin J Lowenthal: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Barbara K Luse: Criminal Defense: White Collar
Matthew V Povolny: Business Litigation
Benjamin Zhu: Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Jonathan S. Abernethy – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Thomas E. Bezanson – Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation: Defense
- Jason A. Brown – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Mark S. Cohen – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Evan Stewart – Litigation – Securities
- Sharon L. Barbour – Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Winnifred A. Lewis – Commercial Litigation
- Alexandra K. Theobald – Commercial Litigation
Mark S Cohen, Jonathan S Abernethy, Jason Brown, C Evan Stewart, and Thomas E Bezanson were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America‘s 2021 New York listings. Mark, Jonathan, and Jason were recognized for white collar criminal defense; Evan for securities litigation; and Tom for commercial litigation and product liability litigation defense. Additionally, Sharon L Barbour, Winnifred A Lewis, and Nicole Dhir were recognized in the New York list of The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch. Sharon was recognized for white collar criminal defense; Winnifred for commercial litigation; and Nicole for commercial litigation and securities litigation.
The court held that widespread and severe sexual misconduct within eXp World Holdings, Inc., a cloud-based real estate services company, can amount to “corporate trauma” sufficient to support claims for breach of fiduciary duty when leadership conceals, ignores, or fails to address it.
The case centers on allegations that, for years, two top eXp agents systematically drugged and sexually assaulted female agents at company-sponsored events, with other agents participating or looking the other way. Beginning in 2020, repeated and credible warnings, including a viral Facebook post, an 11‑page memorandum detailing multiple assaults, direct reports to executives, arrests of one of the perpetrators, and a whistleblower director’s persistent alerts, put eXp leadership on notice of pervasive sexual misconduct by their financially valuable “downline” agents. Despite this, the board and senior executives allegedly protected the perpetrators, concealed misconduct, denied victim requests for remedial action, ran insider‑controlled investigations, ignored outside counsel’s recommendations, and retaliated against the whistleblower. The complaint asserts that these failures allowed a violent culture to persist until public lawsuits and media reporting in 2023 forced action.
The court allowed claims that the CEO and board chair actively breached his duty of loyalty, finding it reasonably conceivable that he knew of the assaults, covered them up, retained and financially protected perpetrators because they were in his revenue downline, and retaliated against the whistleblower director. The court also found that the board’s inadequate action in the face of multiple “red flags” was sufficient to plead a Caremark oversight claim grounded in bad‑faith failure to act. The court further held that the plaintiff adequately pled demand futility because at least half of the demand board members faced a substantial likelihood of liability or lacked independence. However, the court rejected a novel claim that a control group of individuals could owe independent oversight duties merely because of their stockholder control.
Notably, the court declined to follow the reasoning of Credit Glory v. Lundgren, -- A.3d --, 2025 WL 3439671 (Del. Ch. Dec. 1, 2025), which reasoned that interpersonal misconduct like sexual harassment governed by employment law cannot support a claim for breach of fiduciary duty. The court distinguished Credit Glory on the ground that the claim at hand was not that sexual harassment itself constituted a breach of the duty of loyalty, but rather that the cover-up and retaliation of sexual misconduct amounted to active misconduct.
This is a pivotal moment for corporate governance. Beyond legal exposure, companies that ignore or minimize misconduct expose their employees, culture, and long‑term value to serious risk.
Affirmative steps boards and leadership teams can take now:
- Build robust reporting systems that ensure employees can raise concerns safely and anonymously, and ensure those systems are monitored at the board level.
- Respond decisively to red flags: Investigations must be prompt, credible, and independent. “Nominal” or delayed efforts are not enough under Caremark.
- Strengthen HR oversight at the top, including regular reporting to the board on culture, complaints, investigation outcomes, and systemic risks.
- Invest in prevention through consistent training, clear conduct expectations, and visible leadership accountability.
- Create a culture where misconduct cannot hide, and where leadership models respect, safety, and transparency.
The takeaway is clear: Taking steps to ensure a safe workplace is not just an HR priority—it’s a fiduciary obligation. Companies that treat it that way are better protected legally and better positioned to thrive.