Overview

Rocco Cafaro is board certified in Construction Law by The Florida Bar. Generally, his practice involves litigation, arbitration, and transactional work.  More specifically, these areas of practice include construction defect, property damage, personal injury claims, lien foreclosure actions, payment and performance bond claims, design negligence and construction defects.  His practice also involves the preparation and negotiation of various contract documents related to the construction industry.

Before joining the firm, Rocco played professional baseball for the Baltimore Orioles organization and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization. Rocco and his wife, Katie, stay busy keeping up with their four children. He coaches multiple youth baseball teams and claims to be staying in shape for a future comeback. The firm is supportive, but skeptical.

Rocco and his family are active in their church and in various community organizations.

Honors

  • Florida Super Lawyers (2018-2024)
  • Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star (2010-2012)
  • Florida Trend’s Legal Elite (2010-2011, 2013-2016)
  • Florida Trend’s Legal Elite - Up and Comers (2007-2008)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2018-2025)

Credentials & Experience

Education

University of South Florida, B.A., 1997, magna cum laude

Florida State University College of Law, J.D., 2001, Honors

Bar Admissions

American Bar Association

The Florida Bar

Hillsborough County Bar Association

Court Admissions

All Florida State Courts

All Federal Courts in Florida

Experience

  • Lead trial counsel in successful representation of construction design professionals in a two-week jury trial that concluded with a favorable verdict.
  • Lead trial counsel successfully representing national restaurant chain in federal court against personal injury allegations.
  • Lead trial counsel representing national homebuilder in dozens of lawsuits and arbitration claims, including multiple matters that were successfully defended in arbitration through Final Hearing and Award. 
  • Lead counsel advising several local auto dealerships in negotiating and drafting contract documents for construction improvements to showroom and dealership facilities. 
  • Lead counsel advising local technology company on construction of new offices and testing facility.  
  • Lead counsel advising local restaurant owner on construction contracting for improvements to restaurant.

Professional & Civic

Community & Professional

  • Florida Independent Concrete & Associated Products, Inc. (FICAP): Associate Member
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association: Young Lawyers Division
  • Florida Transportation Builders Association

Newsroom

News & Insights

Articles & Publications

  • "From Chinese Ports to American Courts, and Beyond: An Overview of Chinese Drywall in the United States." (Emily Whelchel, Lara Tibbals, co-presenters). ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Annual Spring CLE and Leadership Forum, May, 2011. 
  • 2010: American Bar Association (Speaker and Author -- “Chinese Drywall Multi-District Litigation”)
  • 2012: National Business Institute (Speaker and Author – Construction Insurance)
  • 2012:  National Business Institute (Speaker and Author – Litigation Ethics)
  • 2015:  National Association of Credit Managers (Speaker)
  • 2016:  National Association of Credit Managers (Speaker)
  • 2018:  Visiting Lecturer at Florida State University College of Law (Florida Civil Procedure)
  • 2019:  National Association of Credit Managers (Speaker)

Published Decisions

  • JC Money Center v. Norris Systems, LLC
    Slip Copy (Table, Text in WESTLAW), Unpublished Disposition 2012 WL 209439 2D11-95
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. January 25, 2012
  • Acciard v. Whitney
    Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2007 WL 4557256 207CV-476-FTM-34SPC
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Fort Myers Division. December 21, 2007
  • Gottlieb v. Hansen Homes of South Florida, Inc.
    22 So.3d 79 (Table, Text in WESTLAW), Unpublished Disposition 2009 WL 3792457 2D09-2095
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. November 13, 2009
  • Acciard v. Whitney
    Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2009 WL 8174976 2:07-CV-476-FTM-99
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Ft. Myers Division. May 18, 2009
  • Mackillop v. Parliament Coach Corp.
    Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2009 WL 3430072 09-CV-1939-T-23TBM
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. October 21, 2009
  • Acciard v. Whitney
    Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2008 WL 5120772 2:07-CV-476-UADNF
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. December 04, 2008
  • Acciard v. Whitney
    Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2008 WL 5120820 2:07-CV-476UA-DNF
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. December 04, 2008
  • Acciard v. Whitney
    Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2008 WL 5120901 207-CV-476-UADNF
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. December 04, 2008
  • Acciard v. Whitney
    Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2011 WL 4552564 2:07-CV-00476-FTM-36
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Ft. Myers Division. September 30, 2011
  • Acciard v. Whitney
    Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2008 WL 5120898 207-CV-476-UA-DNF
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. December 04, 2008

Board Certified by the Florida Bar

Board Certified in Construction Law 

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