Battaglia, Ross,
Dicus & McQuaid, P.A.
St. Petersburg’s oldest full-service law firm — since 1958.
Founded in 1958 by Anthony S. Battaglia. For more than sixty years, thirteen attorneys on Central Avenue have handled the things that actually happen to people here — crashes, arrests, denied claims, contracts, closings and estates.
5858 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg Free case evaluation, every practice area
1958
Founded by Anthony S. Battaglia
60+
Years serving Tampa Bay
13
Attorneys across seven practice groups
Tier 1
U.S. News “Best Law Firms” metro ranking
Ten attorneys named to Best Lawyers in America
The firm's 2027 list honorees — one of the deepest benches of any firm headquartered in St. Petersburg.
Tampa Bay Times “Best of the Best”
Voted a Best of the Best law firm by Tampa Bay Times readers for the eighth consecutive year.
U.S. News “Best Law Firms” — Tier 1
Ranked Tier 1 in its category among metropolitan law firms.
Board-certified specialists on staff
Including certification in Business Litigation Law and Civil Trial Law, held by about 7% of eligible Florida Bar members.
The same corner of Central Avenue since long before the beaches got busy
Anthony S. Battaglia opened the doors in 1958. Today five practice divisions work out of the same building — injury, property damage, criminal defense, estate planning and real estate — so a client with three problems does not need three firms.
- Free on-site parking, walk-ins welcome during business hours
- Free case evaluation in every practice area
- Injury matters on contingency — no recovery, no fee
- Offices in Riverview, Lakewood Ranch, Wesley Chapel and Parrish
Eight practice groups under one roof
A genuine full-service firm — and if a matter isn't theirs, they'll point you to the lawyer whose it is.
Personal Injury
Contingency-fee representation for people hurt by someone else. No fee unless they recover.
- Car, truck and commercial vehicle accidents
- Motorcycle, scooter, moped and golf cart crashes
- Bicycle and pedestrian injuries
- Uber / Lyft and drunk-driving collisions
- Boating accidents and dog bites
- Hit-and-run and wrongful death
Criminal Defense
State and federal defense in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, from first arrest through trial.
- DUI and traffic offenses
- Assault, battery and domestic violence
- Drug possession, sales and trafficking
- Firearm and weapons charges
- Injunctions and restraining orders
- Leaving the scene, VOP and white collar
Property Damage & Insurance Disputes
When the carrier underpays, delays or denies — hurricane, flood, roof, water and fire claims.
- Hurricane and windstorm claims
- Denied, delayed or underpaid claims
- Bad-faith insurance litigation
- Roof, water and mold damage
- Business interruption losses
- Commercial property claims
Business & Corporate
Formation through exit for Pinellas small businesses, startups and established companies.
- Business formation and entity maintenance
- Contracts and operating agreements
- Buying and selling a business
- Investor and partnership disputes
- Registered agent services
- Corporate and commercial litigation
Real Estate & Title
Residential and commercial closings, title insurance and property disputes across the county.
- Residential and commercial closings
- Title insurance and title defects
- Landlord / tenant and HOA disputes
- Construction and contractor litigation
- Foreclosure defense
- Boundary, easement and quiet-title actions
Estate Planning, Wills & Probate
Plans that hold up in Florida, plus the administration and litigation when they're contested.
- Wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts
- Lady Bird deeds and homestead issues
- Medicaid eligibility planning
- Special / supplemental needs trusts
- Probate and trust administration
- Will, trust and probate litigation
Civil & Commercial Litigation
An extensive trial practice with a record in high-profile, complicated cases.
- Business and corporate litigation
- Employment contract disputes
- Construction litigation
- Intellectual property disputes
- First Amendment and administrative law
- Appeals and alternative dispute resolution
Labor & Employment
Both sides of the table — employers writing the policy, employees challenging it.
- Wrongful termination
- Non-compete and severance agreements
- Wage and hour claims
- Discrimination and retaliation
- Employee handbooks and policies
- Executive employment contracts
Five steps, no invoice for the first one
The part most people are nervous about is the first phone call. Here's exactly how it goes.
You call or send the form
Reach a real person at (727) 381-2300, or submit the contact form and pick the area of law. There is no charge to ask.
Free case evaluation
An attorney in the right practice group reviews what happened — the crash report, the arrest report, the denial letter, the contract.
You hear the honest version
Whether you have a case, what it's realistically worth or what you're facing, and what it costs. If they're not the right firm, they'll tell you who is.
They handle the paperwork
Insurers, opposing counsel, the clerk, the adjuster. Injury cases run on contingency — no fee unless they recover for you.
Resolution or trial
Most matters settle. The firm's extensive trial practice is exactly why the other side settles fairly.
Thirteen attorneys, mostly Stetson-trained, all local
Several have been practicing on Central Avenue longer than some of their clients have been alive. Tap any attorney for their full profile.
Sean McQuaid
Personal Injury, Criminal Defense
Joined as an associate in 2000, shareholder by 2006, named partner in 2013 and now the firm's President — the fastest rise in its 60-plus year history.
Attorney profile
Aubrey Dicus
Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, Litigation
Stetson Law, 1971–1974. Joined founding partners Anthony S. Battaglia and Howard P. Ross in 1974 and has tried cases in Pinellas courtrooms ever since.
Attorney profile
Jonathon Douglas
Personal Injury, Property Damage
A Florida native — Northeast High in St. Pete, then dual honors degrees at the University of Florida and trial advocacy at Stetson University College of Law.
Attorney profile
Robert Kapusta
Real Estate, Estate Planning, Business Law
Handles closings, title work, business formation and estate planning for clients across Pinellas and the surrounding counties.
Attorney profile
Hunter Rawls
Wills, Trusts and Estates; Litigation; Administration
Builds and administers Florida estate plans — trusts, homestead planning and probate for Pinellas families — and litigates contested estates.
Attorney profile
Alexander Lewis
Personal Injury, Civil Litigation
Represents injured clients and civil litigants throughout the Tampa Bay area, from first demand through trial.
Attorney profile
Ranger Jackson
Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, Civil Litigation
Stetson J.D., 2013. Interned with the State Attorney's Office for the Sixth Judicial Circuit and the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida.
Attorney profile
Bruce Marger
Estate Planning, Probate, Elder Law
A long-tenured shareholder whose work spans estate planning, probate administration and elder law for Pinellas families.
Attorney profile
Lama Alqasemi
Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Administration
Works with families on wills, trusts and the administration of estates and trusts after a loss.
Attorney profile
Alec Waid
Civil Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense
Defends criminal and traffic matters in the Sixth Judicial Circuit and handles commercial disputes for the firm's business clients.
Attorney profile
Samara Ballard
Civil Litigation, Criminal Defense
Handles civil litigation alongside criminal defense matters in Pinellas courtrooms.
Attorney profile
Jon Mayhugh
Business Law, Real Estate
Advises business owners on formation, contracts and commercial real estate transactions along the Gulf beaches and in St. Petersburg.
Attorney profile
Zachary Lynch
Business Law, Civil Litigation
Supports the firm's business and litigation practice across contract, property and commercial disputes.
Attorney profileOne building, five front doors
The firm runs dedicated practice divisions out of 5858 Central Avenue, each with its own team.
McQuaid & Douglas
St. Petersburg personal injury
5858 Central Ave, Suite A, St. Petersburg
www.727injury.comJonathon W. Douglas
Property damage & insurance claims
5858 Central Ave, Suite B, St. Petersburg
www.tampabayclaim.comEstate Planning & Probate
Wills, trusts and administration
5858 Central Ave, Suite D, St. Petersburg
Ross & Pardun
Real estate and title
5858 Central Ave, Suite E, St. Petersburg
www.727realestatelaw.comQuestions people actually ask
What does the consultation cost?
Nothing. Every practice group at the firm offers a free case evaluation, and personal injury matters are handled on a contingency fee — no recovery, no fee.
My bike / golf cart was stolen. Is that a lawyer matter?
The theft itself is a police report. What often is a lawyer matter is the insurance side — a denied or underpaid theft or property-damage claim, or an injury caused by an uninsured cart or scooter.
Someone I know was just arrested in Pinellas. What now?
Find them on the Sheriff's inmate inquiry, then call the firm before first appearance. Bond arguments happen within 24 hours of booking and having counsel there matters.
My hurricane or water claim was denied. Is it over?
No. Denied, delayed and underpaid claims are a core practice for the firm, including bad-faith litigation against carriers. Bring the denial letter and the policy.
Do they only take St. Pete cases?
They represent clients throughout Pinellas — Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Oldsmar and the beaches — plus Tampa, Brandon, Bradenton and Sarasota.
How long has the firm been around?
Founded in 1958 by Anthony S. Battaglia. It is St. Petersburg's oldest full-service law firm.
Six offices, all of Tampa Bay
Headquartered on Central Avenue, with satellite offices across the bay and down to Manatee.
Send the details privately
Fill this out once and the firm's intake desk gets the whole picture — no cost, no obligation.
Tell them what happened. It costs nothing to find out where you stand.
Crash, arrest, denied claim, contract, closing or estate — the free case evaluation is the same for all of it. Injury matters are contingency: no recovery, no fee.
5858 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33707
(727) 381-2300 · Fax (727) 343-4059
Free parking on site
stpetelawgroup.comThis page is sponsored content produced by Pinellas Podcast about Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A.. It is information, not legal advice, and contacting the firm through it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Hiring a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertising.