President and Chief Executive Officer, Carlton Fields
Gary Sasso joined Carlton Fields in 1987 and has been active in the Tampa Bay business and nonprofit communities. He received the CEO Diversity Leadership Award from Diversity Best Practices in 2010 and was instrumental in the development of the LCLD Fellows Program. In the spring of 2016, Gary wrote an article for Best Lawyers magazine on ways to improve diversity in the legal profession.
As part of LCLD's Leaders at the Front initiative, Gary created a Leader's Pledge detailing his personal and organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Read Gary's pledge here.
Carlton Fields sees the diversity of its attorneys as a core component of firm culture. Diversity initiatives include a scholarship program for diverse law students and minority resource groups. In 2015, the firm was named the No. 2 Best Law Firm for Hispanic Attorneys and recognized as one of the top 10 firms for its percentage of minority partners.
Carlton Fields was also named an LCLD Top Performer in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020.
Joined LCLD 2009
Highlights of LCLD Participation
Board of Directors
Member, 2011-2017
Fellows Program
Hosted Leadership Lunch (2014)
Fellows nominated:
2023: Lauren Fenton-Valdivia; 2022: Vanessa Johannes; 2021: Daniel Enriquez; 2020: Yolanda Strader; 2019: Alana Zorrilla-Gaston; 2018: Kristin A. Gore; 2017: Radha V. Bachman; 2016: Christopher O. Aird; 2015: Shaunda A. Patterson-Strachan; 2014: Penelope A. Dixon, Fentrice Driskell; 2013: Lori Y. Baggett; 2012: Jin Liu; 2011: Derek Harris
Pathfinder Program
Pathfinders selected:
2023: Patricia Patino; 2022: Luigi Orengo; 2021: Roben West; 2020: Brian Porter; 2019: Eric Coleman; 2018: Gregory Boulos; 2016: Daniel Enriquez; 2015: Yolanda Strader
1L LCLD Scholars Program
Scholars hosted:
2017: Patrick Brathwaite, Brianna Donet, Michael Youn; 2016: Eman Lemu, Thomas Rucker, Raina Shipman; 2015: Vineeta Kamath, Marisol Ruiz, Aalia Taufiq; 2014: Darnesha Carter, Sean Johnson, Dorielle Obanor; 2013: Vanessa Lopez, Ron McKenzie, Samara Shepherd, Shekida Smith, Melanie Walker; 2012: Frederic Rushing, Elizabeth Scarola
Success in Law School Mentoring Program
Mentors provided: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012
Attendance
Annual Meeting (2021, 2020, 2016, 2015, 2014)
Leadership Summit (2021, 2018, 2016, 2015)
Member: Gary Sasso
Diversity Professional: Nancy Faggianelli
Communications: Cecelia Ampel
