Salgado, a litigation partner at Dentons, the world's largest law firm, gained appreciation for the struggles and value of diversity growing up as a half-Colombian child of a single mother, moving at least 16 times before sixth grade and spending various periods homeless, living out of a car or in shelters around Southern California. In part due to guidance from mentors he met through diversity initiatives, Salgado became the first member of his family to attend college and graduated law school at the top of his class.

His commitment to improving diversity both within the legal profession and outside of it has taken many forms. Most recently, he teamed with leading LGBT+ advocacy groups to file an amicus brief on behalf of former Obama-administration officials in the US Supreme Court's hearing of three cases involving workplace discrimination against LGBT+ people. He also maintains a significant pro bono practice representing a sometimes-overlooked segment of diversity: those with special needs and disabilities. 

At Dentons, Salgado serves on the firm's US Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

What is one thing law firms can do immediately to help improve diversity and inclusion within their organizations?

Law firms have been making great efforts on this recently, but to me one of the most important things firms can do is to make sure that diverse lawyers occupy true leadership roles among the partnership. Young diverse attorneys are smart and understand who has a voice within the firm management.  A lack of diversity among upper-management sends the message that diversity is not truly a priority and that there is a glass ceiling for them too. The result, unfortunately, is attrition of talented associates with a lot of potential and the perpetuation of the problem we all want to overcome.

What is one piece of advice you would give someone that you wish you had starting out?

Your unique mix of work ethic, intelligence, experience and talent make you every bit as capable as any other lawyer. Period.  The advantages others might have had growing up or even the name of the law school on their degree do not diminish what you bring to the table.  You're here because you belong and that is how you ought to carry yourself.

Name an important opportunity you got early in your career and what you did with it.

Right after graduation, I had the opportunity to clerk for a federal appellate judge on the Fifth Circuit.  For me, spending a year as a law clerk meant postponing working as an associate in a big firm—which also meant postponing a big-firm salary. It seems almost silly now looking back, but—having grown up very poor—putting off that income for another year was a really hard choice to make.  As it turns out, that year clerking was a formative part of my growth as a lawyer and has helped my career in countless ways since then.

An awards ceremony will be held on Sept. 18 at the Belo Mansion in Dallas. The Attorney of the Year award winner will be announced at the ceremony.

Click here for booking information. For information about sponsoring the event, contact Andre Sutton at 757-721-9020 or email [email protected].