You have found the law firm that gets the results that no one else can. Criminal Defense Attorney Sean K. McQuaid is President and managing partner of Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, PA. The firm is a powerhouse in Pinellas County and is the oldest law firm in St. Petersburg. The firm and its lawyers have deep connections to the justice system and a reputation for being the best.

Sean is committed to getting the best possible case outcome for his clients. From felonies, misdemeanors, to traffic court cases, he can help reduce your sentence or keep you out of jail. Sean specializes in cases involving DUIs, drug possession, domestic battery, disorderly conduct and serious felonies.

As a compassionate defense attorney, Sean understands how important it is to keep your name and reputation clean. That’s why he works aggressively on all of his cases. Sean also gives personal attention to every client in order to ensure he provides a defense solution tailored to their specific needs. More importantly, his experience and expertise lends him the gift of crafting a strong defense to win the case, which is reflected by his successful track record. Clients consistently come back to thank Sean for his professionalism and tenacious efforts to protect their good name and their legal rights.

It’s not just the clients who respect Sean. He’s successfully handled countless cases and discreetly handled high profile cases. As such, he’s created close relationships with judges in the Pinellas County Courts.This gives his clients huge advantage – when he walks into a courtroom, judges and prosecutors show respect because they know who he is and that he means business.

Sean is not just an outstanding defense attorney, he’s also a leader and a role model in the community. was the Past President of the St. Petersburg Bar Association from 2020-21. The St. Petersburg Bar Association is a professional organization of 1,100 judges and lawyers in the Tampa Bay Area. Sean served on the Executive Committee of the Association for six years and gained many insights into our legal system during that time.

There are few, if any, attorneys in the area that can compare to Sean’s awards and accolades, including Best of the Bay’s Best Attorney 2022, Super Lawyer Designation for 2023, and the following awards:

Sean’s Awards

• Voted Best Attorney in Tampa Bay for 2022 by Creative Loafing
• Martindale Hubbel AV-rated
• Florida Super Lawyer by Thompson Reuters
• Florida Trend Legal Elite
• The Best Lawyers in America
• Perfect Ranking and Client Choice Award by avvo.com
• Florida Trend Legal Elite’s Notable Managing Partner
• Expertise Award for Best Criminal Defense Attorney in St. Petersburg

Sean’s Law Firm Awards

• Voted Best of the Best by The Tampa Bay Times from 2019-2023
• Tier 1 Law Firm by US News & World Reports
• Voted Best in Criminal Defense Law by The Tampa Bay Times for 2023

About Sean

Sean has been a resident of Pinellas County since August 1997 when he began his legal studies at Stetson University College of Law, eventually graduating with Juris Doctor and Masters in Business Administration degrees. During law school, he was a member of the Moot Court Board from 1998 through 2000, arguing in competitions across the country.

While at Princeton University from 1993-97, Mr. McQuaid was a 4-year varsity letterman and the captain of the Princeton University Baseball Team.

Community Involvement

In addition to his impressive legal practice and accolades, Mr. McQuaid has also been recognized for his service to the community. In August 2010, Governor Charlie Crist appointed him to the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Sixth Judicial Circuit covering Pinellas and Pasco counties. The Commission is responsible for nominating both county and circuit court judges to the Governor for appointment. The term of his appointment ran from August 20, 2010 through March 2015.

Mr. McQuaid also was appointed by St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster and City Council in October 2011 to serve on the City of St. Petersburg Nuisance Abatement Board where he served as Chairman of the Board in 2014 and 2016. Mr. McQuaid has also been on the Board of the Harbor Isle Homeowners’ Association in St. Petersburg from 2006-2020, where he served for 9 of those years as President. He remains extremely active in the community.