Overview
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. Gary has tried cases in the areas of securities fraud, business contracts, product liability, professional malpractice, employment discrimination and termination, eminent domain, bankruptcy, construction, administrative law, and land use in Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Gary has argued appeals on diverse issues, including business fraud, federal and state constitutional claims, product 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 the firm in 1987, Gary worked as a law clerk for Justice Byron R. White of the U.S. Supreme Court and as a law clerk for Judge Spottswood W. Robinson III of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Experience
Prevailed in appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in insurance coverage policy case turning on application of the series qualifier canon.
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 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.
Represented appellee in upholding summary judgment against claim for insurance coverage and indemnification of Office Depot's fees and settlement of qui tam action brought under California False Claims Act on behalf of state purchasers of office supplies. Office Depot, Inc. v. AIG Specialty Insurance Co. (9th Cir.).
Represented hospital from trial through appeals in challenge successfully invalidating special law enacted by the Legislature that transferred control over hospital as violative of the Contracts Clause of the Florida Constitution. Citrus County Hospital Board v. Citrus Memorial Health Foundation, Inc. (Fla.).
Represented appellee defending dismissal of claims brought against national bank, alleging that the bank aided and abetted a faith-based Ponzi scheme. O'Halloran v. First Union National Bank of Florida (11th Cir.).
Represented appellant in discrimination case establishing standard for adjudicating mixed-motive cases under Title VII. Lee v. Russell County Board of Education (11th Cir.).
Represented appellant in OSHA case establishing workplace hazard communication standards. Sadlowski v. United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO-CLC (D.C. Cir.).
Represented appellant in challenge to order by Florida Public Service Commission authorizing development of "merchant" electrical power plants in Florida. Tampa Electric Co. v. Garcia (Fla.).
Represented appellee in action brought to challenge action by national bank in terminating executive officers and abrogating employment contracts. Citizens National Bank & Trust Co. v. Stockwell (Fla.).
Represented defendants in asbestos litigation seeking reversal of ruling that asbestos reform law may not be applied constitutionally to pending litigation. American Optical Corp. v. Spiewak (Fla.).
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. City of Winter Park v. Florida Power Corp. (Fla.).
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. Goldberg v. Florida Power & Light Co. (Fla.).
Represented appellee in defending summary judgment terminating option agreement. Home Shopping Network, Inc. v. Jovon Broadcasting Corp. (Fla. 2d DCA).
Represented appellee in appeal from defense verdict in asbestos personal injury case. Fernandez v. Union Carbide (Fla. 3d DCA).
Represented appellant on appeal from $7 million jury verdict for breach of contract. Inter-Tel, Inc. v. Executone of Florida, Inc. (Fla. 5th DCA).
Represented appellee in appeal from $14 million jury verdict for tortious interference with business acquisition contract. Nuko Holdings I, LLC v. Mobile Mini, Inc. (Fla. 2d DCA).
News & Insights
News
Publications
Speaking Engagements
"Corporate America Has Failed Black Lawyers — Time for Real Change — Empower the Black Partner," National Bar Association (November 12, 2020)
"C-Suite + PR Pro Panel," Public Relations Society of America, Tampa, FL (October 8, 2019)
"Forging Ahead: Tackling Challenges and Embracing Opportunities in Tampa Bay's Transport Sector," Tampa, FL (June 13, 2019)
"Lessons Learned From Leading Transportation Initiatives," Café con Tampa, Tampa, FL (February 16, 2018)
"May It Please the Court: Effective Appellate Oral Advocacy," American College of Trial Lawyers and American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, University of Texas at Austin School of Law, Austin, TX (June 23, 2017)
"Diversity in All Things," Greater Cincinnati Minority Counsel Program, Cincinnati, OH (May 10, 2012)
"Appellate Advocacy," Stetson University College of Law (March 2010)
"Harnessing the Winds of Change to Bring Balance and Meaning to the Workplace," American Bar Association Litigation Section (August 2008)
"Opposing Class Certification in the United States," Barreau du Québec, Montreal, Canada (October 2006)
"Defending Class Actions," Practising Law Institute, New York, NY (July 2006)
"Florida Supreme Court Advocacy Seminar," The Florida Bar Government Law Section (June 2006)
"Energy Policy Act of 2005," Emerging Issues Policy Forum, Orlando, FL (October 2005)
"Defense of Federal Question Class Actions," Practising Law Institute, New York, NY (July 2005)
"Florida Supreme Court Advocacy Seminar," The Florida Bar Government Law Section (June 2005)
"Preservation of Error in Civil Cases," 20th Annual Federal Practice & Advocacy Seminar, New Orleans, LA (April 7–8, 2005)
"Defense of Federal Question Class Actions," Practising Law Institute, New York, NY (July 2004)
"Innovation and Investment in Telecommunications," Emerging Issues Policy Forum, Orlando, FL (April 2004)
"Preserving the Record on Appeal: An Exercise in Trial Advocacy," Fifth Circuit Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA (January 2004)
"Defense of Federal Question Class Actions," Practising Law Institute, New York, NY (July 2003)
"Class Action Litigation," Florida Circuit Judges Conference, Orlando, FL (June 2003)
"Effective Oral Argument," Third Annual Liability Claims Institute (July 1999)
"Effective Oral Argument," Practice Before the First District Court of Appeal (January 1999)
"Appellate Ethics," The Florida Bar Annual Meeting (1998)
View less
Multimedia
Recognition
Honors & Recognitions
The Best Lawyers in America (2005–2027); Tampa "Lawyer of the Year," Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants (2018); Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants (2017); Appellate Practice (2013)
Most Admired CEOs, Tampa Bay Business Journal (2026)
Power 100, Tampa Bay Business Journal (2021–2026)
Florida Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2006–2026)
Legal Elite Notable Managing Partners, Florida Trend (2024–2026)
Florida 500: Florida's Most Influential Business Leaders, Florida Trend (2018–2026)
Chambers USA (2006–2018)
Top 50 Tampa Bay Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2013–2015)
Top 100 Florida Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2006–2014)
Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame, Florida Council on Economic Education (2014)
Top 10 Florida Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2013)
Top 50 North Florida Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2010)
Tampa Citizen of the Year Award, Tampa Connection (2010)
Legal Elite Hall of Fame, Florida Trend (2009)
CEO Diversity Leadership Award, Diversity Best Practices (2008)
100 Lawyers You Need to Know in Securities Litigation, Lawdragon (2008)
Top Managing Partners: Head of the Firm, Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend (2006–2007)
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. See Awards Methodology.
Professional & Community Involvement
Professional & Community Involvement
Gary has served in leadership roles in several national legal organizations. He is a council emeritus of the American Law Institute and is a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. In the American Bar Association's Litigation Section, he served on the council, co-chaired the Task Force on Independence of the Judiciary, and was editor in chief of the section's flagship journal, Litigation. He also served on the board of directors of LCLD and on the American Bar Association's Death Penalty Steering Committee.
In the community, Gary serves on the boards of the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, which he previously chaired; the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center Foundation; and the Florida Council of 100, where he is a past chair of the Economic Competitiveness Committee. He is a past chair of the Tampa Bay Partnership and served on the board and executive committee of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council and as its general counsel. Gary has also chaired the regional board of United Way Suncoast, the Tocqueville Society of United Way of Tampa Bay, and the American Heart Association's Heart Ball. He served as a trustee of the Tampa Museum of Art.
Beyond the Bio
Gary has led Carlton Fields as president and chief executive officer for two decades. After chairing the firm's litigation department, he became CEO in 2006 and has since built it into a national firm of more than 350 attorneys across 12 offices, guiding it into its 125th year. He has remained a working trial and appellate lawyer throughout and has passed on the craft as core faculty of the Program on Successful Appellate Practice, sponsored by Stetson University College of Law and the Florida Bar's Appellate Practice Section. Outside the firm, he has helped lead Tampa Bay arts, economic development, and charitable organizations.
Gary graduated first in his class at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, earning the Peter McCall Prize, and served as editor in chief of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review.
Related Capabilities
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
Clerkships
- Hon. Spottswood W. Robinson III, U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
- Hon. Byron R. White, U.S. Supreme Court
Education
J.D., magna cum laude, University of Pennsylvania Law School
B.S., magna cum laude, University of Pennsylvania
