The Firm
The firm was founded in 1987 by John M. Fitzgibbons, a former Assistant United States Attorney in Tampa who served as the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s office for the Middle District of Florida. Mr. Fitzgibbons also served as a Trial Attorney in the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
The firm’s offices are located in downtown Tampa in the historic Tampa Theatre and Office Building.
Mr. Fitzgibbons is a Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Trial Law and is recognized in “The Best Lawyers in America” in both Criminal Defense: White Collar and Criminal Defense: General Practice. He has also been recognized as one of Florida’s Legal Elite and as one of Florida’s Super Lawyers in criminal defense. In addition, Mr. Fitzgibbons’ firm is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America, Best Law Firms in the United States” in both White-Collar and General Practice criminal defense. Mr. Fitzgibbons has also been named Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year in Tampa four times, in Criminal Defense, White Collar and Criminal Defense, General Practice.
The Firm’s Practice
The firm’s practice is limited to criminal defense law and related matters. Mr. Fitzgibbons has handled cases involving, but not limited to, healthcare fraud, defense contracting fraud, insurance fraud, whistle blower and False Claims Act/Qui Tam actions, money laundering, bank and mortgage fraud, public corruption, drug possession and trafficking, ITAR regulations, homicide, false allegations of sexual misconduct, physicians and pain medications, grand jury investigations and mail, wire and securities fraud. A detailed listing of the types of cases handled by Mr. Fitzgibbons can be found at Cases and Trials. Many of these cases also deal with parallel criminal and civil issues. Because many of Mr. Fitzgibbons’ cases require the services of expert investigators and forensic accountants, Mr. Fitzgibbons is often assisted by a number of former agents from the IRS and FBI as well as from other government agencies. Mr. Fitzgibbons devotes significant time to resolving criminal matters with prosecutors and other government officials at the pre-filing stage of a case, thereby resolving the matter without the need to go to trial. However, he is first and foremost a trial lawyer and is one of the few lawyers in the United States who is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. Membership in each of these prestigious organizations is by invitation only.
Service to the Legal Profession
Mr. Fitzgibbons was appointed by Senator Bill Nelson and Senator Marco Rubio to serve as Statewide Chair of the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for seven years, from 2009-2017. He was a member of the Commission for fourteen years. Mr. Fitzgibbons has been the president of the Goldburg-Cacciatore Criminal Law Inn of Court in Tampa and president of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association as well as chair of the Trial Lawyers Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association.
