BRUCE AUSTIN
Bruce Austin is a 1975 graduate from the University of Florida, College of Business Administration, and a 1978 graduate of the University of Florida, College of Law. He has practiced civil trial law since 1978 and has been certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a Board certified civil trial lawyer since 1991.
The primary focus of Bruce’s practice is serving as a Circuit Court mediator, being selected by other attorneys to assist in settling cases for their clients. Bruce has been certified as a Circuit Court Mediator since 1992.
During his career, Bruce has tried numerous lawsuits involving personal injury, property loss and insurance coverage issues. He has had memberships in the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Defense Research Institute, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Palm Beach County Bar Association, St. Petersburg Bar Association and the Clearwater Bar Association. He is currently a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national association of experienced trial lawyers elected by their peers.
From 2008 to the present, Bruce has been recognized in Super Lawyers, a publication recognizing outstanding attorneys throughout the United States. Further, Bruce maintains an AV pre-eminent rating with Martindale Hubbell Attorney Rating Service.
Bruce began his professional career in 1978 in West Palm Beach with the firm, Paxton, Crow, Bragg & Austin, P.A. Bruce continues his practice in St. Petersburg, Florida, in the firm, Austin Roe Basquill P.A., which was formed in 1991 and provides services to clients throughout the Tampa Bay area.
MICHAEL A. ROE
Mike is the Managing Partner of the firm and a native of Tampa, Florida. He graduated from South Texas College of Law in 1983 and received his Social and Behavioral Science undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida in 1978. He is a graduate of the Class of 1974 from Plant City High School.
Mike began his legal career in 1983 as an Assistant District Attorney with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in Houston, Texas. During his six years at the District Attorney’s Office, he prosecuted and tried hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases including first degree murder, sexual assault and child abuse cases.
Mike returned to Florida in 1989 and continues his legal career as a Civil Trial Attorney in the law firm with his current partners, Bruce Austin and John C. Basquill.
In 1996 Mike became a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer as recognized by the Florida Bar. Less than 2% of Florida lawyers are Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyers. He is also Board Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy as recognized by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 1999. In 2012 he became Board Certified in Civil Pretrial Advocacy as recognized by the National Board of Pretrial Advocacy. Board Certification requires passing a comprehensive written examination, testing knowledge of Civil Trial law, peer review by lawyers litigated against, review by Judges appeared before and satisfying the jury trial requirements.
The main areas of Mike’s practice consist of personal injury, wrongful death, bad faith litigation and premises liability claims for both plaintiff and defense.
Mike has attained Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent Rating, which is the highest rating possible that an attorney can attain. This rating is based on confidential opinions of both lawyers and judges. The “A” attests to the individual’s legal ability, experience and qualifications. The “V” addresses the individual’s adherence to professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability and diligence.
The Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Top Trial Lawyers in America, of which Mike is a member, is one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States, limited to attorneys who have been awarded million-dollar verdicts. There are fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers who are members of this group.
Mike also serves as a Circuit Court mediator, being selected by other attorneys to assist them in settling their cases for their clients. He has been certified as a Circuit Court Mediator since 2001.
Mike has been recognized in Super Lawyers magazine and has been included in the magazine’s editions from 2007 through the present. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.
Bar Admissions
Florida (1983)
Texas (1984)
US Supreme Court (1991)
US District Court Southern District of Texas (1988)
US District Court Middle District of Florida (1989)
Professional Associations
Florida Bar Association
Texas Bar Association
Hillsborough County Bar Association
JOHN C. BASQUILL
John C. “JC” Basquill is a shareholder at Austin Roe Basquill P.A. Since joining the firm JC has handled and assisted in cases across the state of Florida including jury trials in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. JC handles and defends personal injury cases, premises liability cases and insurance claims in both State and Federal Courts.
JC graduated with Honors from The Florida State University College of Law in December 2004. He is a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, the Florida Bar and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
JC is married to his lovely wife, Ashley, and has four children, Cody, Dillon, Hudson and Lila. He is active in the community.
MARK E. FISCHER, JR.
Mark was born in El Paso, Texas. As the son of a U.S. Air Force pilot, Mark spent much of his childhood traveling across the nation. He earned his J.D. in 2014 from Barry University School of Law and his B.A. from the University of South Florida in 2011.
While in law school, Mark received the Book Award in Motions and Depositions and clerked for a firm in the practice area of family law. Prior to joining Austin Roe Basquill P.A., Mark represented the interests of insurance companies in the defense of bad faith claims. Mark is a member of the Florida Bar and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
M. ALEX ROE
Alex Roe is an attorney in the Tampa office of Austin Roe Basquill P.A. Alex’s practice focuses on personal injury cases for both plaintiff and defense. Prior to joining the firm, Alex worked at Shutts & Bowen LLP, one of the largest firms in the State of Florida, and interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Middle District of Florida.
At his prior firm, he represented developers, owners, contractors, suppliers, and design professionals in the preparation and negotiation of agreements and other documents for projects of all types and sizes, including health care facilities and commercial, retail, and residential developments. He also represented companies and entrepreneurs in all aspects of general business, corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, business contracts, business transactions, business formation and structuring, and corporate governance. In addition, he represented companies and individuals in the negotiation and resolution of tax liabilities with the Florida Department of Revenue.
Alex graduated first in his class, summa cum laude, at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and served as a Managing Editor, Tutoring Chair, and Community Service Chair of the Florida Law Review. He earned a Community Service Certificate of Outstanding Achievement and Book Awards in Appellate Advocacy, Legal Drafting, Legal Writing, Evidence, Civil Procedure, Secured Transactions, and Accounting for Lawyers. He also earned the Irving Cypen Freshman Award, the DT Smith Outstanding Associate Editor Award, and the W.D. Macdonald Prize. He also earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree and Master of Accounting degree at the University of Florida Fisher School of Accounting, where he received the Richard E. Darby Fellowship and William E. Crown Family Fellowship for Outstanding Performance in Accounting.
In his spare time, Alex enjoys watching Florida Gator Football, playing guitar with his wife, barbecuing, tasting bourbon, strength training, traveling, and spending time with his family, including his daughter and two dogs.
BRUCE AUSTIN
Bruce Austin is a 1975 graduate from the University of Florida, College of Business Administration, and a 1978 graduate of the University of Florida, College of Law. He has practiced civil trial law since 1978 and has been certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a Board certified civil trial lawyer since 1991.
The primary focus of Bruce’s practice is serving as a Circuit Court mediator, being selected by other attorneys to assist in settling cases for their clients. Bruce has been certified as a Circuit Court Mediator since 1992.
During his career, Bruce has tried numerous lawsuits involving personal injury, property loss and insurance coverage issues. He has had memberships in the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Defense Research Institute, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Palm Beach County Bar Association, St. Petersburg Bar Association and the Clearwater Bar Association. He is currently a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national association of experienced trial lawyers elected by their peers.
From 2008 to the present, Bruce has been recognized in Super Lawyers, a publication recognizing outstanding attorneys throughout the United States. Further, Bruce maintains an AV pre-eminent rating with Martindale Hubbell Attorney Rating Service.
Bruce began his professional career in 1978 in West Palm Beach with the firm, Paxton, Crow, Bragg & Austin, P.A. Bruce continues his practice in St. Petersburg, Florida, in the firm, Austin Roe Basquill P.A., which was formed in 1991 and provides services to clients throughout the Tampa Bay area.
MICHAEL A. ROE
Mike is the Managing Partner of the firm and a native of Tampa, Florida. He graduated from South Texas College of Law in 1983 and received his Social and Behavioral Science undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida in 1978. He is a graduate of the Class of 1974 from Plant City High School.
Mike began his legal career in 1983 as an Assistant District Attorney with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in Houston, Texas. During his six years at the District Attorney’s Office, he prosecuted and tried hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases including first-degree murder, sexual assault and child abuse cases.
Mike returned to Florida in 1989 and continues his legal career as a Civil Trial Attorney in the law firm with his current partners, Bruce Austin and John C. Basquill.
In 1996 Mike became a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer as recognized by the Florida Bar. Less than 2% of Florida lawyers are Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyers. He is also Board Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy as recognized by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 1999. In 2012 he became Board Certified in Civil Pretrial Advocacy as recognized by the National Board of Pretrial Advocacy. Board Certification requires passing a comprehensive written examination, testing knowledge of Civil Trial law, peer review by lawyers litigated against, review by Judges appeared before and satisfying the jury trial requirements.
The main areas of Mike’s practice consist of personal injury, wrongful death, bad faith litigation and premises liability claims for both plaintiff and defense.
Mike has attained Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent Rating, which is the highest rating possible that an attorney can attain. This rating is based on confidential opinions of both lawyers and judges. The “A” attests to the individual’s legal ability, experience and qualifications. The “V” addresses the individual’s adherence to professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability and diligence.
The Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Top Trial Lawyers in America, of which Mike is a member, is one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States, limited to attorneys who have been awarded million-dollar verdicts. There are fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers who are members of this group.
Mike also serves as a Circuit Court mediator, being selected by other attorneys to assist them in settling their cases for their clients. He has been certified as a Circuit Court Mediator since 2001.
Mike has been recognized in Super Lawyers magazine and has been included in the magazine’s editions from 2007 through the present. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.
Bar Admissions
Florida (1983)
Texas (1984)
US Supreme Court (1991)
US District Court Southern District of Texas (1988)
US District Court Middle District of Florida (1989)
Professional Associations
Florida Bar Association
Texas Bar Association
Hillsborough County Bar Association
JOHN C. BASQUILL
John C. “JC” Basquill is a shareholder at Austin Roe Basquill P.A. Since joining the firm JC has handled and assisted in cases across the state of Florida including jury trials in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. JC handles and defends personal injury cases, premises liability cases and insurance claims in both State and Federal Courts.
JC graduated with Honors from The Florida State University College of Law in December 2004. He is a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, the Florida Bar and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
JC is married to his lovely wife, Ashley, and has four children, Cody, Dillon, Hudson and Lila. He is active in the community.
MARK E. FISCHER, JR.
Mark was born in El Paso, Texas. As the son of a U.S. Air Force pilot, Mark spent much of his childhood traveling across the nation. He earned his J.D. in 2014 from Barry University School of Law and his B.A. from the University of South Florida in 2011.
While in law school, Mark received the Book Award in Motions and Depositions and clerked for a firm in the practice area of family law. Prior to joining Austin Roe Basquill P.A., Mark represented the interests of insurance companies in the defense of bad faith claims. Mark is a member of the Florida Bar and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
M. ALEX ROE
Alex Roe is an attorney in the Tampa office of Austin Roe Basquill P.A. Alex’s practice focuses on personal injury cases for both plaintiff and defense. Prior to joining the firm, Alex worked at Shutts & Bowen LLP, one of the largest firms in the State of Florida, and interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Middle District of Florida.
At his prior firm, he represented developers, owners, contractors, suppliers, and design professionals in the preparation and negotiation of agreements and other documents for projects of all types and sizes, including health care facilities and commercial, retail, and residential developments. He also represented companies and entrepreneurs in all aspects of general business, corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, business contracts, business transactions, business formation and structuring, and corporate governance. In addition, he represented companies and individuals in the negotiation and resolution of tax liabilities with the Florida Department of Revenue.
Alex graduated first in his class, summa cum laude, at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and served as a Managing Editor, Tutoring Chair, and Community Service Chair of the Florida Law Review. He earned a Community Service Certificate of Outstanding Achievement and Book Awards in Appellate Advocacy, Legal Drafting, Legal Writing, Evidence, Civil Procedure, Secured Transactions, and Accounting for Lawyers. He also earned the Irving Cypen Freshman Award, the DT Smith Outstanding Associate Editor Award, and the W.D. Macdonald Prize. He also earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree and Master of Accounting degree at the University of Florida Fisher School of Accounting, where he received the Richard E. Darby Fellowship and William E. Crown Family Fellowship for Outstanding Performance in Accounting.
In his spare time, Alex enjoys watching Florida Gator Football, playing guitar with his wife, barbecuing, tasting bourbon, strength training, traveling, and spending time with his family, including his daughter and two dogs.