Sarah Prather represents clients in complex commercial and mass tort litigation across federal and state courts. She guides clients through all phases of litigation, from early case strategy and risk assessment through discovery, expert development, and trial preparation, working closely with them to position cases for favorable resolution or success at trial. Sarah has handled matters involving breach of contract, indemnity disputes, environmental issues, tort claims alleging personal injury and property damage, and consumer protection claims. She has argued motions, taken depositions, and examined both expert and fact witnesses at trial. She also has served as a key member of several trial teams in high-stakes, multi-issue disputes.
Sarah has secured favorable outcomes for clients in a range of impactful pro bono matters. She was part of the trial team representing a class of transgender women prisoners in constitutional challenges against Illinois prison officials and she has successfully represented individual transgender clients in civil rights and immigration cases. Sarah also obtained positive results for a special needs student in multiple annual agency adjudicatory hearings and she favorably resolved a commercial arbitration for a mental health nonprofit.
Before law school, Sarah worked as a human capital consultant at a global professional services firm, where she advised clients on organizational design and workforce strategy.
Experience
- Major pharmaceutical company in multiple multimillion-dollar rebate disputes, including pre-litigation assessment of contract terms and counseling on settlement strategies. Secured favorable settlements without litigation.
- Major pharmaceutical company concerning royalty obligations following acquisition of assets from another pharmaceutical company under New York and Delaware law.
- Power generation portfolio company in prosecuting multimillion-dollar breach of contract and breach of warranty claims in New York.
- Power generation portfolio company in commercial litigation involving a real property dispute and easement rights in New York. Obtained injunctive relief and secured a favorable settlement soon afterward.
- Marine mutual liability insurer in defense of 50+ personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from a highly publicized collision between two vessels in the Strait of Singapore. Obtained favorable resolution of all claims under foreign law before trial, after prevailing on several key procedural motions.
- Power generation portfolio company in pre-litigation assessment of its contractual rights against a specialty equipment manufacturer concerning a manufacturing defect in equipment purchased under a multimillion-dollar contract.
- Energy-focused investment firm in litigation risk assessment in connection with contractual allocation of environmental liabilities and indemnities associated with purchase of industrial site.
- Fortune 100 company in defense of multiple permitting and tort actions brought by government entities and private landowners claiming that historic oil and gas activities in Louisiana have contributed to coastal land loss.
- Pharmaceutical company in defense against disclosure of trade secrets in connection with a state public records request. Obtained a favorable settlement.
- Pharmaceutical company in litigation assessment of RICO liability in connection with two lawsuits filed against pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
- Global pharmaceutical company in connection with a pre-litigation cease-and-desist letter concerning alternate funding vendor’s improper and unsolicited advertisements to healthcare providers to switch patients’ medications.
- Pharmaceutical company in negotiating a favorable settlement following termination of an advertising contract.
- Major pharmaceutical company in breach of contract dispute concerning royalty payments.
- Global pharmaceutical company in connection with breach of contract disputes involving claimed rebate underpayments.
- Biotechnology company concerning royalty issues in breach of contract dispute.
- Biotechnology company in assessment of its contractual rights following termination of a license and collaboration agreement.
- Biotechnology company in breach of contract dispute arising out of pharmaceutical collaboration agreement for clinical-stage product.
- Major pharmaceutical company in contract dispute concerning intellectual property rights to develop a pharmaceutical compound, leading to successful resolution.
- Major pharmaceutical company in connection with sublicensing of intellectual property rights to develop pharmaceutical compounds.
- Major pharmaceutical company concerning contractual rights under multiple contracts.
- Fortune 100 company, as a member of the trial team, in successfully defending against product liability claims brought by plaintiffs alleging personal injury from ingesting lead pigment in residential paint.
- Fortune 100 company in defending against multiple personal injury and property damage lawsuits brought by residents living near a former lead manufacturing facility. Obtained dismissal with prejudice or favorable resolution of all actions.
- Consumer product company in putative class action litigation related to an alleged product safety hazard following a product recall. Secured early and favorable resolution of lawsuit.
- Mental health nonprofit in an AAA arbitration contract dispute involving a software platform. Obtained favorable resolution of all claims.
- Family of special needs child in multiple agency adjudicatory proceedings. Obtained favorable resolution of all claims each school year.
Perspectives
Credentials
Education
- J.D., The George Washington University, 2017
- B.A., History, The George Washington University, 2012
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Activities
- Pathfinder, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
- Council Member, GW Alumni Council
- Member, Women in the Legal Profession Committee, New York City Bar Association
- Member, Litigation Committee, International Bar Association
- Member, Admiralty Law Section, Federal Bar Association
- Member, Maritime and Transport Law Committee, International Bar Association
- Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Federal Bar Association
- Former Member (2024-2026), Tort and Product Liability Committee, New York City Bar Association