St. Petersburg law firm Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A. is proud to announce that multiple firm lawyers have earned the title of “Florida Super Lawyers.” Super Lawyers is amongst the highest honors available to Florida lawyers. It’s a rating service that recognizes the most outstanding attorneys with the highest degree of peer recognition and professional development.

The law firm has six attorneys named a Florida Super Lawyer this year. Sean McQuaid, Aubrey Dicus, Howard Ross, Caitlin Szemotowicz, Andrew Pardun, and Robert Kapusta have all received this significant recognition.

Sean McQuaid, the firm’s president, has commented that the lawyers of Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A. “work hard to help our clients and give back to the community. We are proud that Florida Super Lawyers has noticed and rewarded our achievements.”

A Legacy That Lives On

Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A. is a mid-sized full-service law firm. Founded in 1958 by Anthony Battaglia, the firm is one of the oldest in the Tampa Bay area. The attorneys at the firm have continued Battaglia’s legacy for decades now, handling various cases and claims. The firm’s esteemed attorneys specialize in a broad range of practice areas, including:

• personal injury
• criminal defense
• real estate
• corporate and business
• commercial litigation
• labor and employment
• estate planning and probate
• property damage and insurance dispute
• general civil litigation

Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A. is recognized with a premier reputation not only in the courtroom but in the community as well. Since the firm’s creation, its philosophy has been for lawyers to create a healthy balance between the pressure of practicing law and donating time to the community. Today, the firm continues to honor Anthony Battaglia’s vision of putting its training, education, and experience into service beyond the courtroom. The firm’s active involvement in professional and charitable organizations is a testament to its commitment to excellence. All six of the Super Lawyers have given countless hours of their time to help serve the Pinellas County community.

It’s not only the Super Lawyers that give back to the community through service, but every lawyer at Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A. The firm strongly encourages every one of its attorneys to participate in some level of involvement with the community.

Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A.’s 2022 Super Lawyers

Sean McQuaid

Sean McQuaid is a recurring phenomenon, having been consecutively recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer since 2014. Sean has continued his track record this year as an elite Florida Super Lawyer.

Mr. McQuaid practices personal injury, representing people who have been hurt in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, as well as dealing with wrongful death claims, and criminal defense.

Sean McQuaid is not just a practicing attorney but also the president of the firm, and he manages a team of approximately 40 lawyers and staff.

In addition, Sean has quite a strong presence in the legal community, having served in numerous leadership positions. Sean has previously served as the president of the St. Petersburg Bar Association from 2020-2021. He is a former chair of the St. Petersburg Nuisance Abatement Board, a former member of the 6th Circuit Nominating Commission, and a former president of the Harbor Isle Homeowners Association. He has also served on the Make-a-Wish Foundation Executive Committee.

Aubrey Dicus

Aubrey Dicus is the former president and CEO of Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, PA., and a past president of the St. Petersburg Bar Association. He has been with the firm since 1974. With over 47 years of experience practicing law, Aubrey Dicus is recognized as one of the original Super Lawyers. Aubrey specializes in personal injury, commercial litigation, general civil litigation, and criminal defense.

Mr. Discus has received countless accolades and awards in his career. He was selected as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” by Woodward and White Publications. In addition, he previously held the title of President of the Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Furthermore, he continues to devote his law practice to more than just his clients. Mr. Discus continues his commendable legal career by devoting his law practice to helping the people of Tampa Bay.

Howard Ross

Howard Ross has been practicing law in St. Petersburg for 56 years and is recognized as one of the original Florida Super Lawyers. In addition, Mr. Ross is honored for his 50-year membership of the Florida Bar and the American Bar Association. Today he practices in litigation, business, corporate and real estate transactions.

Throughout Mr. Ross’ career, he has earned countless awards, to name a few: he was listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating, has been a recipient of the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, and American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Lawyer in Real Estate Law. He’s also been recognized by Lawyers of Distinction and he has an AVVO 10 rating.

Ross has served in the past as president of Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, PA, and is a former chairman of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce. Today, Mr. Ross is still actively practicing law and trying cases.

Caitlin Szematowicz (Rising Star)

Caitlin Szematowcz is a partner at Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A. and has earned the title as a Florida Super Lawyer Rising Star for the fifth year in a row.

As a partner and practicing attorney, Caitlin practices in the areas of: commercial litigation, general civil litigation, labor and employment, and appeals. Szematowicz previously served as president of the St Petersburg Bar Foundation, President of the Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association, and on the Executive Committee of the Barney Masterson American Inn of court. She also serves on the Sixth Judicial Circuit’s Professionalism Committee.

Andrew Pardun (Rising Star)

Andrew Pardun is a partner at Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A., practicing in real estate law, business law, and commercial litigation. This is Pardun’s fourth consecutive year being acclaimed as a Florida Super Lawyer Rising Star.

Andrew serves on the Executive Committee of the St. Petersburg Bar Association and formerly served as the Real Property Section chair.

He currently serves as chair of the City of St. Petersburg Nuisance Abatement Board. He is also a member of the Barney Masterson American Inn of Court.

Robert Kapusta, Jr.

Robert Kapusta Jr. has also been recognized as a 2022 first-time Florida Super Lawyer. Kapusta is a practicing attorney at Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, PA, specializing in Mergers and Acquisitions, Tax and Estate Planning, and Business and Corporate Law.

Kapusta’s scope of expertise does not end with the law. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, and he is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts.

Robert is a highly active leader in the community and volunteers much of his time to foster local business growth and economic vitality.

In addition, he’s passionate about improving school and educational programming opportunities in St. Petersburg. As a result, he has received several awards recognizing his dedication to community service.

Kapusta is the chair of the Executive Committee for the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, Committee Chair for Tampa Bay Innovation Center, on the Board of Governors for the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, and chair member of Bill Edwards Foundation for the Performing Arts. These are just a few of the countless civil activities that Mr. Kapusta commits his time to.

Kapusta has an AV rating in Martindale-Hubbell and has previously served as President and Treasurer of the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation.

Florida Super Lawyers

Florida Super Lawyers, run by Thomson Reuters, is an attorney rating system that recognizes the top lawyers in Florida. They use a rigorous, patented, multi-phase selection process. That process includes peer nomination, independent research, and peer evaluation.

With an exclusive selection process, only the top 5% of licensed attorneys can win the title “Super Lawyer,” and only 2.5% can be Rising Stars. To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less.The selection process is designed to find the top attorneys in their practicing fields. Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A. is honored to receive this recognition and will continue to pursue the ideals that led its lawyers to this level of achievement.