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Brancato, Rocky

Rocky Brancato - Tampa, FL

Attorney at Brancato Law Firm, P.A.

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Criminal Defense Lawyers in Tampa, FL

620 E Twiggs St Suite #205 Tampa, FL 33602

  • Free Consultation
  • 1 Super Lawyers®
  • 26 Years 
    Experience
813-773-3029 Call Now Email Website Website

Tampa Criminal Defense Lawyer

Updated: 03/02/2026

Areas of Practice

  • Criminal Defense
  • Criminal traffic
  • Homicide
  • DUI
  • Sex Crimes
  • Drug Crimes
  • Property Crimes
  • Cyber Crimes
  • White Collar

Litigation: 100%

Attorney Information

Overview

Rocky Brancato is one of Tampa Bay's most experienced and trial-tested criminal defense attorneys. Over a career spanning more than 25 years, he has defended clients facing the full spectrum of criminal charges — from DUI, drug possession, and domestic violence to sex crimes, child abuse, and first-degree murder. He is AV Preeminent-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, selected to Super Lawyers, and death-qualified to handle Florida capital cases.

Rocky served as Chief Operations Officer of the Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office, one of the largest criminal defense agencies in Florida. He led and mentored a staff of over 100 attorneys while continuing to personally try homicide and sex crime cases. His years in a specialized Major Crimes Unit — dedicated exclusively to homicide, sex offenses, and aggravated child abuse — gave him a level of case-specific experience that few defense attorneys in private practice can match.

That background shapes how The Brancato Law Firm approaches every case. Rocky is known for identifying the legal and factual weaknesses in the government's case before the State even recognizes them. He works alongside medical, forensic, and digital experts to challenge the prosecution's evidence at every stage — whether that means dismantling forensic conclusions, exposing flawed police procedures, or presenting alternative theories to a jury.

As a former police academy instructor, Rocky trained law enforcement officers on criminal procedure and courtroom testimony. He doesn't have to guess how officers are taught to investigate and testify — he taught the courses. That insider perspective drives his approach to cross-examination, Fourth Amendment challenges, and motions to suppress.

Rocky is a member of the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) and brings specialized training to breath test challenges, field sobriety defense, and CDL-related cases. He also has deep experience with Florida's mental health courts and diversion programs, having served on the 13th Judicial Circuit's Problem-Solving Court Committee to expand treatment-based alternatives to incarceration.

A respected voice in the criminal defense community, Rocky has trained and mentored hundreds of attorneys across Tampa Bay and lectured statewide at Florida Bar continuing legal education seminars on topics including sex offense defense, treatment court innovation, and the intersection of the opioid crisis and the justice system. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and all Florida state courts.

He is an active member of:

  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
  • Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL)
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA)
  • Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (HCACDL)

He is the author of How to Choose a Major Crimes Attorney — or Any Criminal Defense Attorney for That Matter, available on Amazon or as a free download at brancatolawfirm.com.

If you are under investigation or facing criminal charges in Hillsborough, Pinellas, or Pasco County, the attorney you choose will define how your case is fought.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

SuperLawyers

Rocky Brancato included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

  • Torchbearer Award, presented by the Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2024 - Present
  • AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale Hubbell, 2015 - 2025
  • Honor, Optimism, Leadership and Teamwork Award, presented by the Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office, 2012 - Present
  • Professional Attorney of the Year, Major Crimes Bureau, presented by the Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office, 2008 - Present
  • Litigator of the Year, Felony Bureau, presented by the Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office, 2005 - Present

Other Sources of Feedback About Rocky Brancato

Included on the 2026 Florida Super Lawyers list

Education

  • Legal Education

    • University of North Dakota School of Law, Grand Forks, North Dakota, 1998
      Juris Doctor

Current Employment Position(s)

  • Managing Shareholder, since January 1, 2025

Past Positions

  • Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office, Chief Operations Officer (Second-in-Command), Felony Bureau Chief, Training Director, Major Crimes Trial Attorney, Felony Division Chief, 2003 - 2025
  • Public Defender, 1st Judicial Circuit (Escambia County), Assistant Public Defender, 1999 - 2003
  • George Stone Police Academy, Legal Instructors, 2002 - 2003

Classes and Seminars

  • Juvenile Justice Guest Lecturer, University of South Florida, Criminology Class, 2023 - 2024
  • Public Records, Building a Better Defense, FPDA, 2023
  • Treatment of Opioid Addition through Problem Solving Courts, Hillsborough County Opioid Summit, 2023 - Present
  • Police Interrogation of Children on School Campus, Hillsborough County Public School District, 2020 - Present
  • Implicit Bias Panel, 13th Judicial Circuit of Florida, 2018 - Present
  • Gathering Evidence: Searches and Seizures, Confessions and Errors in the System, The Mechanics of Criminal Procedures, National Business Institute, 2013 - Present

Published Works

Articles

Bar Admissions

  • Florida, 2000
  • Supreme Court of the United States of America
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

Other Affiliations

  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP, 2019 - Present (Life Member)
  • DUI Counterattack, 2014 - Present (Board of Directors)
  • Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (HACDL), 2010 - Present (Board of Directors)
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), 2000 - Present (Member)
  • Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL), 2000 - Present (Member)
  • Circuit 13 Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, 2022 - 2024 (Board Chair)
  • Problem Solving Courts Oversight Committee, 13th Judicial Circuit, 2012 - 2023 (Member)
  • Pace Center for Girls, Hillsborough, 2015 - 2021 (Vice Chair)
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA) (Member)
  • Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (HCACDL) (Member)

Fraternities and Sororities

  • Sigma Chi

Reviews

Customer Reviews for Rocky Brancato

5.0 out of 5
2 Reviews
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2 Reviews
  • 5
    100%
  • 4
    0%
  • 3
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  • 2
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  • 1
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Highlights

  • 5.0 Value
  • 5.0 Quality of Service
  • 5.0 Professional Competence
  • Related to:
    • Criminal Defense
    By Keelie C. on Feb. 24, 2025
    Verified Client
    Hired Attorney 2025
    Attorney Brancato was so polite, so professional, overall such a great individual to work with! I have been fighting this specific case for about 4 years now, and he was able to get the charges dismissed in less than a week. If I could give him 1000 stars instead of 5 I would. I would recommend him to any and everybody who ever ran into some legal troubles. Thank you again Mr Brancato! My family and I thank you so much for everything.
    Value: 5.0 out of 5
    •
    Quality of Service: 5.0 out of 5
    •
    Professional Competence: 5.0 out of 5
    Brancato, Rocky
    of Brancato Law Firm, P.A.
     • 
    Feb. 27, 2025
    Thank you, Ms. Carr, for your review. I am happy that you stumbled upon our blog post that led you to us. I am even happier that we were able to serve you and get the charges dismissed.
  • Related to:
    • Criminal Defense
    By Molly G. on Feb. 03, 2026
    Hired Attorney 2025-2026
    Recommends this Attorney
    Rocky is the best lawyer. He believed in me when no one else did. He fought hard, and did not stop working until he found the evidence we needed to win my case and clear my name. When he took on my case, it had been already ongoing for quite some time, many other lawyers turned me away due to it being "too late in the case." I was seeking other counsel after being told by my previous attorney "you have a 50/50 chance of going to jail on the day of trial" based on the limited evidence she had dug up at that time (for something I did not do). I was told that "nothing else can be done." Rocky was able to see in between the lines, and took me on when no one else would. He went above and beyond with effort, dug up the evidence my other lawyer told me was a "waste of time and not going to work," and truly saved my future from a horrible wrongful arrest situation. He was consistently responsive and communicative throughout the entire process. He always responded to my texts, emails, and calls right away. If you are looking for an attorney that will hear you, support you every step of the way, make time for you, and will take a consultative approach, Rocky is 100% your guy. He is a family man that actually cares - this is extremely hard to come by these days. I highly recommend Rocky Brancato to anyone in need of an attorney.
    Value: 5.0 out of 5
    •
    Quality of Service: 5.0 out of 5
    •
    Professional Competence: 5.0 out of 5
    Brancato, Rocky
    of Brancato Law Firm, P.A.
     • 
    Feb. 03, 2026
    HI Molly, Thank you so much for the 5-star review! It was a pleasure to serve you!

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Tampa, FL

620 E Twiggs St
Suite #205
Tampa, FL 33602

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Phone: 813-773-3029

Email: Send a message

Websites:

Hours: 24/7

  • Credit Cards Accepted
  • Free Consultations
  • Payment Plans
  • Telephones Answered 24/7
  • Virtual Appointments

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