Carmen Manrara Cartaya is an experienced trial attorney who focuses her practice on employment matters and complex commercial litigation. She also leads the firm’s Labor & Employment practice group.

Prior to joining the firm, Carmen was a trial attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Miami District Office. At the EEOC, she counseled staff on investigations including ones with multiple allegations of sexual harassment against a single individual.

Carmen’s successful high-profile cases include winning summary judgment against UPS in a disability discrimination case; negotiating a $2.5 million settlement to 17 black Haitian dishwashers against SLS Hotel South Beach (sbe) in a discrimination lawsuit; and securing a $2.85 million settlement in a nationwide class age discrimination lawsuit against Seasons 52, part of the Darden family of restaurants.

Carmen’s experience includes working for a global law firm, where she focused on complex civil litigation and international arbitration matters. She also served as a Judicial Law Clerk for Judge Federico A. Moreno, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida.

Carmen serves as Chair of the Alumnae Networking Committee of her alma mater, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy. Serving on the board of directors of The Underline Conservancy, Carmen contributes to the mission of maintaining Miami’s 10-mile urban park and negotiated its management agreement. Additionally, she is an Underline Community Ambassador for Coral Gables, liaising between the community and The Underline. Carmen also serves in a judicial capacity as a hearing magistrate for the City of Coral Gables’ red light camera program and traffic violations.

Carmen is an active member of the Federal Bar Association’s South Florida Chapter. She has led several FBA programs including the “Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions” program and the 2024 FBA Law Day program, which allow high school students to visit a federal courthouse and learn to debate and have civil discourse.

Carmen is fluent in Spanish.