William R. Sasso

Chairman Emeritus

wsasso@stradley.com

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William Sasso

Overview

William Sasso served as Chairman of Stradley Ronon’s management committee and board of directors for 27 years, ending on January 1, 2021. He currently serves as Chairman Emeritus of the firm. The transition to Chairman Emeritus took place as a result of his desire to spend more time with his clients, and in his political and community activities. As Chairman, he was responsible for oversight and management of more than 200 attorneys in the firm’s eight offices in Philadelphia and Malvern, Pennsylvania; Wilmington, Delaware; Cherry Hill and Newark, New Jersey; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; and New York.

During his 50-plus years of experience, he has counseled privately and publicly held companies and religious and nonprofit organizations in various matters, including general corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions, health care, education, medical devices, tax and real estate.

Given that Mr. Sasso recognizes the importance of fair, bipartisan and good government, as well as the fact that many of the firm’s clients operate in areas of heavy governmental regulation, he has been involved politically for several decades. For example, he was asked in November 2022 to become the Chairman of the Board of the Transition Team for the Governor-elect in Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro. In addition, after the November 2016 election Mr. Sasso was asked by then Attorney General-elect Josh Shapiro to serve as senior counsel to his transition team. He was also appointed by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf to serve on the board of Independence Blue Cross. He was appointed by former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure and Investment Authority (PENNVEST) and as a Commissioner of the Delaware River Port Authority, an office he held until 2015. He was asked in 2010 by then-Governor-elect Corbett to co-chair his Transition Team in preparation for taking office in January 2011.

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Results

Credentials

Bar Admissions
  • Pennsylvania
Court Admissions
  • Pennsylvania Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Tax Court
Education
  • J.D., Harvard Law School
  • B.A., La Salle University
Memberships

  • Advisory Board, Corporate & Foundation, Satell Institute
  • Board Member, The Fund for Girard College
  • Former Advisory Board Committee Member, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia
  • American Bar Association, Taxation and Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Sections
  • Board Member, Cancer Treatment Centers of America Global, Inc. and Former Board President, Cancer Treatment Centers of America- Philadelphia
  • Chairman of the Board, Redeemer Health
  • Board of Advisors, Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation
  • Board of Directors, CrossCurrent Business Analytics
  • Board of Directors, Fred's Footsteps
  • Board of Directors Member and Former Chairman of Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation
  • Former Board of Directors Member, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
  • Board Member, Visit Philadelphia
  • Board Member, National Constitution Center
  • Board of Trustees, La Salle University
  • Chairman, Select Greater Philadelphia
  • Independence Health Group Board
  • Governing Board Member, Committee of Seventy
  • National Health Lawyers Association
  • Philadelphia Bar Association, State and Local Tax and Real Property Sections
  • Philadelphia Facilities Task Force
  • Stradley Ronon Diversity Committee
  • Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce

Publications

News

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Recognitions

  • Suburban Life Magazine, "Five-star Attorney"
  • Philadelphia Business Journal, Best of the Bar: Hall of Fame
  • The Philadelphia Inquirer, Influencers of Law – Lifetime Achievement
  • Saint Martin de Porres Award
  • South Jersey Biz, Top CEOs/CFOs
  • South Jersey Biz, Most Successful Executives
  • Philadelphia Business Journal, “Power 100”
  • City & State Pennsylvania, “Power 100”
  • City & State Pennsylvania, “Power 100: Law”
  • Philly Biz, “Top CEOs and CFOs”
  • The Legal Intelligencer, Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Philadelphia Business Journal, “Most Admired CEOs”
  • Philadelphia Business Journal, “Most Influential Business People in Philadelphia” 
  • Philadelphia Business Journal, “2015 Outstanding Directors”
  • Philadelphia Business Journal, “Power 76”
  • Philly Biz, “Power 50”
  • Philly Biz, “Best Business Lawyers”
  • City & State Pennsylvania, “Top 10 Titans: Power Players You Need to Know”
  • Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, William Penn Award 
  • Anti-Defamation League, Americanism Award 
  • USO of Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, Chairman’s Award 
  • American Jewish Committee, Judge Learned Hand Award 
  • American Diabetes Association, Father of the Year Award 
  • Fox Chase Cancer Center, Reimann Honor Award
  • Philadelphia Academies, Stand and Deliver Award 
  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business
    • "William Sasso is noted for his breadth of expertise in areas ranging from corporate and securities law to healthcare. One source notes: 'He is the kind of person you can bring any problem to and will offer amazing guidance and practical hands-on tactics.'"
  • The Best Lawyers in America 
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers 
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent rating
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In The Community

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Sasso is widely recognized as a community leader in the Delaware Valley. He previously served as chairman of the board of directors of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, where he oversaw the Chamber’s executive committee and its board of directors, which included advancing the business community’s agenda. He continues to serve on the Chamber’s board and executive committee, and he is also a member of the Paradigm Award Committee, which honors the outstanding business woman of the year. He also serves as Chairman of Select Greater Philadelphia, one of the four divisions of the Chamber. 

Mr. Sasso previously served on the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau board and executive committee, and previously served on the board of Visit Philadelphia.

Mr. Sasso is especially interested in charitable activities in the areas of education and health care. His private life is noteworthy for the leadership roles he has taken in so many areas, including: 

  • Advisory Board, Corporate & Foundation, Satell Institute
  • Board of Advisors, Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation 
  • Former Board of Directors Member, Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation 
  • Former Board of Directors Member, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
  • Board of Trustees, La Salle University 
  • Chairman of the Board, Redeemer Health
  • Founding Trustee, Leo Niessen, Jr. Charitable Foundation, which benefits inner-city youth and working women in need and meets health care and educational needs 
  • Former Board President, Cancer Treatment Centers of America – Philadelphia
  • Recipient of a Papal Knighthood from Pope John Paul II as a Knight of St. Gregory the Great 
  • Special Counsel, Montgomery County Higher Education and Health Authority
  • Former Board of Directors of the Children's Scholarship Fund
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