Gary Sasso on Diversity in Law

Gary Sasso on Diversity in Law
Gary Sasso discusses diversity issues in "The LCLD interviews," a video series featuring profiles of individuals who are making a mark in the area of legal diversity.

Gary Sasso discusses diversity issues in "The LCLD interviews."

education

University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D., 1977), magna cum laude
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (B.S., 1974), magna cum laude

related practices

related industries

clerkships

Judge Spottswood W. Robinson III, U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
Justice Byron R. White, United States Supreme Court

bar admissions

Florida
District of Columbia
Pennsylvania

court admissions

United States Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
Florida State Courts

Gary L. Sasso

President and Chief Executive Officer

gsasso@carltonfields.com

Tampa

T: 813.229.4256

F: 813.229.4133

vCard

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Gary Sasso represents business clients in securities fraud and consumer fraud class actions and other complex litigation at the trial and appellate level, in the financial services industry, energy sector, products manufacturing industry, and services sector. Mr. Sasso has tried cases in the areas of securities fraud, business contracts, products liability, professional malpractice, employment discrimination and termination, eminent domain, bankruptcy, construction, administrative law, and land use in Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Mr. Sasso has argued appeals on diverse issues including business fraud, federal and state constitutional claims, products liability, personal injury, insurance coverage, national bank regulation, employment discrimination, federal occupational safety and health regulation, eminent domain, county taxation, and public utilities law.

Before joining Carlton Fields in 1987, Mr. Sasso worked as a law clerk for Justice Byron R. White on the United States Supreme Court; and as a law clerk for Judge Spottswood W. Robinson, III, of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

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Representative Experience

Consumer fraud class action against information services firm for violation of consumer privacy rights (resolved through settlement).
Securities fraud case brought by former shareholders of a company acquired by the defendant (class certification denied and state claims dismissed as preempted).
Securities fraud class action against issuer for misleading disclosures and violation of accounting irregularities (resolved through settlement).
Securities fraud class action against financial services firm alleging stock analyst had conflict of interest (resolved through settlement).
Class action brought against a financial institution for aiding and abetting a “Ponzi” scheme (dismissed with prejudice).
Multiple, consolidated securities fraud cases brought by investors in a closed-end investment fund (class certification denied).
Environmental class action brought against various chemical manufacturers in state court by landowners situated near a Superfund site in Central Florida (resolved through settlement).
Professional liability claim brought on behalf of FDIC against law firm that represented failed bank (obtained $21 million jury verdict).
Multi-plaintiff products litigation brought by South American plaintiffs against European chemical manufacturers (case dismissed on grounds of forum non conveniens).
Kevin O’Halloran, et al., v. First Union National Bank of Florida, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Represented appellee defending dismissal of claims brought against national bank, alleging that the bank aided and abetted a faith-based “Ponzi” scheme.
Lee v. Russell County Bd. of Education, Eleventh Circuit. Represented appellant in discrimination case establishing standard for adjudicating mixed-motive cases under Title VII.
Sadlowski v. United Steelworks of America, AFL-CIO-CLC, District of Columbia Circuit. Represented appellant in OSHA case establishing workplace hazard communication standards.
Tampa Electric Co. v. Garcia, Supreme Court of Florida. Represented appellant in challenge to order by Florida Public Service Commission authorizing development of “merchant” electrical power plants in Florida.
Citizens National Bank and Trust Company v. Loue E. Stockwell, Jr., Supreme Court of Florida. Represented appellee in action brought to challenge action by national bank in terminating executive officers and abrogating employment contracts.
American Optical Corp. v. Spiewak, Supreme Court of Florida. Represented defendants in asbestos litigation seeking reversal of ruling that asbestos reform law may not be applied constitutionally to pending litigation.
City of Winter Park v. Florida Power Corporation, Supreme Court of Florida. Represented appellant in challenge to ruling by intermediate appellate court upholding permanent injunctive relief requiring utility to pay “franchise” payments to local government previously paid under expired agreement.
Walter Goldberg v. Florida Power & Light Company, Supreme Court of Florida. Represented appellee in lawsuit in which jury awarded $30 million to parents of decedent killed in intersection accident attributed to interruption of power to traffic signal.
Home Shopping Network, Inc. v. Jovon Broadcasting, Florida Second District Court of Appeal. Represented appellee in defending summary judgment terminating option agreement.
Fernandez v. Union Carbide, Florida Third District Court of Appeal. Represented appellee in appeal from defense verdict in asbestos personal injury case.
Inter-Tel, Inc. v. Executone of Florida, Inc., Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal. Represented appellant on appeal from $7 million jury verdict for breach of contract.
Nuko Holdings I, LLC v. Mobile Mini, Inc., Florida Second District Court of Appeal. Represented appellee in appeal from $14 million jury verdict for tortuous interference with business acquisition contract.

Publications

12.31.2012	“Attributes of Success,” Carlton Fields Web article (December 31, 2012).
12.31.2012	“Embracing Diversity: Beyond Statistics,” Carlton Fields Web article (December 31, 2012).
12.30.2012	“Even if merger isn't in cards, agencies should work together more to better region,” The Tampa Tribune (December 30, 2012).
12.28.2012	Co-Author, “Key to bay area transit is cooperation,”Tampa Bay Times (December 31, 2012).
12.09.2012	“Moving forward on the region's transportation needs,” The Tampa Tribune (December 9, 2012).
11.05.2012	"The Key to Time Management—and Achieving Work/Life Balance," Carlton Fields Web article (November 5, 2012).
01.04.2012	“Budgets,” Carlton Fields Web article (January 4, 2012).
12.08.2011	“Alternative Fee Arrangements,” Carlton Fields Web article (December 8, 2011).
09.08.2011	“Gary Sasso keeps Carlton Fields focused on continuous improvement,” cover feature, Smart Business Florida (September 2011).
09.01.2011	“Toward a New Understanding of Loyalty,” ABA Litigation, Volume 38, Number 1 (Fall 2011).
04.01.2011	Chapter Co-Author, “Class Action Litigation,” in Successful Partnering Between Inside and Outside Counsel, Thomson/West and Association of Corporate Counsel Treatise (2011 edition).
02.01.2010	Chapter Co-Author, “Class Action Litigation,” in Successful Partnering Between Inside and Outside Counsel, Thomson/West and Association of Corporate Counsel Treatise (2010 edition).
07.01.2006	Co-Author, "Defense of Federal Question Class Actions," 744 PLI/Lit 389 (July 2006).
06.01.2005	“Class Actions – de Minimis Curat Lex?,” Litigation (Summer 2005).
05.01.2005	Co-Author, “Revisiting Garner and the ‘Fiduciary’ Exception to the Attorney-Client Privilege in Shareholder Litigation,” Corporate Counsel Newsletter, Vol. 19, No. 2 (Winter 2005).
10.28.2004	Co-Author, “Defending Federal Question Class Actions,” PLI Manual on Class Actions (July 2004).
12.01.2003	“Defending Securities Class Actions,” Class Actions & Derivative Suits, Vol. 12, No. 3 (Winter 2003).
08.01.2003	Co-Author, “Misapplication of Section 48(a) of the ICA as a ‘Controlling Person’ Provision,” The Investment Lawyer, Aspen Pub., Frederick, Md. (Aug. 2003).
05.01.2003	“Preserving the Record, An Exercise in Trial Advocacy,” The Appellate Advocate, Issue 2 (2003).
11.01.2002	Co-Author, “Circumventing Intent,” Securities News, Vol. 12, No. 3 (Fall 2002) (federal preemption of state securities class actions).
06.01.1994	“Appellate Oral Argument,” Litigation Magazine, Vol. 20, No. 4 (Summer 1994).
04.01.1989	“Anatomy of the Written Argument,” Litigation Magazine, Vol. 15, No. 2 (Spring 1989).

Speaking Engagements

Presenter, “Diversity in All Things,” Greater Cincinnati Minority Counsel Program (GCMCP), Cincinnati, OH (May 10, 2012)
Presenter, “Appellate Advocacy,” Stetson Law School (March 2010)
Presenter, “Harnessing the Winds of Change to Bring Balance and Meaning to the Workplace,” ABA Litigation Section (August 2008)
Presenter, “Opposing Class Certification in the United States,” Barreau du Quebec, Montreal, Canada (October 2006)
Presenter, “Defending Class Actions,” Practicing Law Institute, New York (July 2006)
Presenter, Florida Supreme Court Advocacy Seminar, Government Law Section, The Florida Bar (June 2005, June 2006)
Moderator, “Energy Policy Act of 2005,” Emerging Issues Policy Forum, Orlando, FL (October 2005)
Presenter, “Preserving Error for Appeal in Civil Cases, Federal Practice and Courtroom Advocacy,” New Orleans, LA (April 2005)
Presenter, “Preservation of Error in Civil Cases,” 20th Annual Federal Practice & Advocacy Seminar, New Orleans, LA (April 7-8, 2005)
Core Faculty Member, Annual Program on Successful Appellate Practice sponsored by Stetson College of Law and Appellate Practice and Advocacy Section of The Florida Bar (presented demonstration oral arguments and lectured on appellate practice, brief writing, and oral advocacy) (2005, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999)
Presenter, Practicing Law Institute program, ”Defense of Federal Question Class Actions,” New York, NY (July 2005, 2004, and 2003)
Moderator, “Innovation and Investment in Telecommunications,” Emerging Issues Policy Forum, Orlando, FL (April 2004)
Presenter, “Preserving the Record on Appeal – An Exercise in Trial Advocacy,” 5th Circuit Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA (January 2004)
Principal Speaker, Florida Circuit Judges Conference, Class Action Litigation, Orlando, FL (June 2003)
Presenter, “Effective Oral Argument,” Practice Before the First District Court of Appeal (presented demonstration oral argument) (January 1999)
Presenter, “Effective Oral Argument,” Third Annual Liability Claims Institute (presented demonstration oral argument) (July 1999)
Presenter, “Appellate Ethics,” Annual Meeting of The Florida Bar (1998)

Professional Recognition

AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Selected as “Lawyer of the Year” in The Best Lawyers in America (Appellate Practice) (2013)
Recipient, Tampa Connection’s Tampa Citizen of the Year Award (2010)
Recipient, Diversity Best Practices' CEO Diversity Leadership Award (2008)
Listed in Best Lawyers in America (recognized for Bet-the-Company Litigation, Business Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation, Appellate, and Professional Liability) (2005-2013)
Listed in Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Business Lawyers (Litigation) (2006-2012)
Selected for inclusion in Florida Trend's Florida Hall of Fame (top 100 lawyers), Florida Legal Elite (2004-2012) (representing the top 1.6% of all attorneys practicing in Florida), and as one of Florida Legal Elite's "Top Managing Partners: Head of the Firm" (2006 and 2007)
Selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers 2010-2012 (listed among top 100 lawyers in Florida)
Listed in Lawdragon's 100 Lawyers You Need to Know in Securities Litigation
Editor-in-Chief, University of Pennsylvania Law Review
Awarded Peter McCall Prize for attaining the highest grades in law school graduating class
Awarded Carrye G. Barkenkopf Scholarship at Penn Law School for first in class ranking

Professional and Civic Activities

American Bar Association, Death Penalty Steering Committee (2008-2010)
American Bar Association Section of Litigation
Jury Innovation Task Force (2009-2010)
Council Member (2003-2006)
Task Force on Independence of the Judiciary, Co-Chair (2006-2007)
Task Force on Vision Implementation (2006)
Editor-in-Chief, Litigation (published by the ABA Section of Litigation) (2001-2002)
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
Member, Board of Directors
Talent Development, Vice Chair (2012)
Federal Bar Association, Governing Board, Tampa Bay Chapter (2002-2006)
International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
(membership limited to 500 trial lawyers, by invitation only)
American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, Fellow
(membership limited to 500 appellate lawyers, by invitation only)
American Law Institute, Fellow (and member of Consultative Group Aggregate Litigation Project)
American Bar Foundation, Fellow
The Florida Council of 100 (2010-present)
American Law Institute (ALI) Council (2011-2016)
Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation
Tampa Bay Partnership
Chair, Board of Directors (November 2009-November 2010), Executive Committee (2008-present)
Creative Kids Count, Inc.
Chair, Board of Directors (2001-present)
United Way Suncoast
Board Chair (2012)
United Way
Board of Trustees, Vice-Chair (2011-2012)
Tocqueville Society, United Way of Tampa Bay
Chair (2010)
Straz Performing Arts Center
Board of Trustees (2008-present), Vice-Chair (2012-present)
Chair, Broadway Ball (2011)
American Heart Association
Chair, 2008 Heart Ball
Hyde Park Preservation, Inc.
President and Director (1990-1991)
University of Pennsylvania Law Alumni Society
Board of Managers, Member (1994-1996)
H. B. Plant Museum in Tampa
Vice President and Director (1992-1998)

Background

Bredhoff & Kaiser, Washington, D. C.
Litigator (1979-1987)
The Honorable Byron R. White, United States Supreme Court
Law Clerk (1978-1979)
The Honorable Spottswood W. Robinson, III, United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
Law Clerk (1977-1978)