Brancato Law firm, P.A.

Rocky Brancato is a highly respected Tampa criminal defense attorney with over 25 years of experience handling serious felony cases, including homicide, sex crimes, and violent offenses. Before founding The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., Rocky served as second-in-command at the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, where he supervised more than 100 attorneys and 200 staff members and led litigation strategy in the region’s most serious criminal cases.

As a seasoned trial lawyer, Rocky has taken more than 100 criminal cases to verdict and previously served as a senior attorney in a major crimes unit that focused on sex crimes, child abuse, and other high-stakes prosecutions. He now brings that experience to his private practice, where he personally handles every case with a focus on trial readiness, forensic investigation, and expert-driven defense.

Rocky is the author of How to Choose a Major Crimes Attorney – or Any Criminal Defense Attorney for That Matter, available on Amazon and as a free download through The Brancato Law Firm’s website. The book offers practical guidance for anyone facing criminal charges in Florida.

Known for his courtroom skill and strategic use of expert witnesses, Rocky frequently defends clients in complex criminal matters involving digital forensics, DNA evidence, psychological evaluations, and contested medical findings. His approach ensures that judges and juries hear the full story—not just the version presented by the State.

Rocky also has deep experience with Florida’s mental health and specialty court systems and has served on the 13th Judicial Circuit’s Problem Solving Court Committee. He is frequently sought after as a mentor and lecturer, having trained hundreds of attorneys in Tampa Bay and presented CLE-approved programs across Florida. His peers have awarded him an AV Preeminent rating in criminal law and criminal defense from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available for legal ability and ethics.

Rocky Brancato is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He is an active member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA), the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL), and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL).

If you are facing criminal charges in Tampa, Hillsborough County, or the surrounding areas, Rocky Brancato has the experience, trial skill, and strategic insight to protect your rights and your future.