Diversity: Carlton Fields, P.A.

Carlton Fields' goal is to recruit, retain and promote attorneys of all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientation. Carlton Fields is equally committed to promoting a supportive, friendly work environment for all employees. We strive to create a climate of inclusion, grow our talent pool, foster innovation and creativity to compete in the global market, and to become the employer of choice for a diverse group attorneys and staff. We promote a work place that supports one's ability to balance one's professional and personal life.

Carlton Fields' commitment to fostering an environment of inclusion has resulted in forward thinking programs and initiatives including diversity training, mentoring, affinity groups, and fellowship and scholarship programs. The increasing number of minority and women lawyers who hold leadership positions in the firm reflects the value the firm places on diversity and the success of the initiatives implemented by Carlton Fields.

Initiatives

• The Diversity Committee is co-chaired by Miami shareholder Jason Murray and Tampa shareholder Nancy Faggianelli.
   
• The program was created in 2001 to further the firm's efforts to increase representation of minority lawyers in the firm, develop policies and practices that define and transmit the firm's commitment to diversity, and establish accountability standards and measure progress. 
   
• The 20-member Diversity Committee is comprised of shareholders and associates from all offices. In addition, the firm's President, its Directors of Professional Development, Attorney Recruitment, and Human Resources, and the firm's Chief Marketing Officer serve on the committee.
   
• A component of Carlton Fields' Diversity Program is the formation of affinity groups that were created to promote diversity within the firm and to provide a forum for individuals with common cultures and interests. The affinity groups meet regularly and promote social and professional development and assistance in identifying outside organizations that can facilitate career development and networking opportunities. In addition, the networks have designated pro bono projects on which the groups' members work together. The firm currently has three affinity networks: Minority Lawyer Network, Women's Initiative Network, and Gay and Lesbian Equality Network. 
   
• Carlton Fields proactively recruits minority students at law school job fairs and law schools with diverse student populations. 
   
• Carlton Fields co-sponsors events and provides scholarship funds for students selected by the George Edgecomb Bar Association, the Tampa chapter of the National Bar Association, and the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association in Miami-Dade County. 
   
• A number of our attorneys are members of the Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) and participate in judicial and legislative receptions, and we sponsor some of the association's major events. 
   
• Numerous firm attorneys participate in the Young Lawyers Division and Florida Bar Mentoring programs. 
   
• In 2004, Carlton Fields established the Carlton Fields Diversity Fellowship Program at Stetson University College of Law. The program is designed to attract students who have experienced barriers during their pursuit of a legal education and would be interested in the professional opportunities provided by the program. 
   
• Carlton Fields participates in and donates scholarship funds to the Professional Opportunities Program (POP), developed to provide black law students with summer internship and associate program opportunities in Florida. 
   
• Carlton Fields offers alternative work schedule programs to associates and shareholders.
   
• Shareholder Sylvia Walbolt served as Chair of the firm's Board of Directors for seven years (1999-2006). She was recognized by The National Law Journal as one of the nation's Top 10 Women Litigators. 
   
• Shareholder Edith Osman is a Past President of The Florida Bar. She was the second woman to be elected to The Florida Bar's top position in its 50-plus year history. 
   
• Women or minorities lead six of our firm-wide practice groups. 
   
• Four of the seven senior firm-wide Directors are women, and the firm's Chief Operating Officer is a woman. 
   
• Carlton Fields offers domestic partner insurance benefits.
  
  Awards and Commendations
   
• Carlton Fields received a perfect score (a 100 percent rating) on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) 2010 Corporate Equality Index.
   
• Carlton Fields received the following rankings in The Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms:
  
  
  • 1st in Overall Diversity
  • 1st in Diversity Issues with Respect to Women
  • 1st in Diversity Issues with Respect to Minorities
     
• Carlton Fields is listed among the 2009 Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity in MultiCultural Law. 
   
• Carlton Fields is ranked #20 overall on the Minority Law Journal 2009 Diversity Scorecard, and has ranked among the top 50 firms in the country since 2002. 
   

• Carlton Fields ranked 34th nationally in 2009 in The American Lawyers' Midlevel Associate Satisfaction Survey. The firm  ranked #65 nationally in The American Lawyers' Summer Associate Survey. 

• Carlton Fields was named one of "Florida's Best Companies To Work For 2009" by Florida Trend magazine.

• The Tampa Bay Business Journal recognized Carlton Fields as one of the top 10 businesses for Diversity and Inclusion in the Tampa Bay area in 2009. 

• Diversity Best Practices recognized Carlton Fields' President and CEO Gary Sasso as one of the winners of the prestigious 2008 CEO Diversity Leadership Award.
   
• In 2008, Carlton Fields was the first recipient of the George Edgecomb Bar Association Founder's Award.
   

• The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division selected Carlton Fields as the recipient of its 2008 Diversity Award. 

• Carlton Fields was presented with the Corporate Excellence Award in 2008 by the Black Law Students Associations for the University of Miami School of Law and St. Thomas University School of Law.
    
• The National Jurist ranked Carlton Fields 18th in the October 2007 publication of its "Best Law Firms to Work For" survey results.
   
• Carlton Fields was the recipient of the 2005 Fred G. Minnis, Sr. Bar Association Diversity Award.  
   
• The firm is the recipient of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division 2004 Michael K. Reese Quality of Life Award.

Additional information about Carlton Fields' tradition and culture of diversity is described in the 2008 Carlton Fields Annual Diversity Report:  http://www.carltonfields.com/files/upload/2008_Diversity_Report.pdf.

You are also invited to learn more about our commitment to diversity by visiting: ttp://www.carltonfields.com/aboutus/diversity/