Attorney Melissa Wilson is Of Counsel with Darrigo & Diaz Personal Injury Attorneys, bringing with her more than 20 years of criminal & civil litigation experience. Melissa is a Tampa native and Triple Gator, having received her B.S., B.A., and J.D. degrees all from the University of Florida. Upon graduating from UF’s Levin College of Law, Melissa returned home and spent her first 9 years as an Assistant Public Defender for the 13th Judicial Circuit, with 4 of those years as a Felony Division Chief supervising 5 other attorneys in addition to her own strenuous case load. Though Ms. Wilson devoted the bulk of her legal career specializing in Criminal Defense Litigation, her practice evolved to include various aspects of civil law and complex family matters. She has also served as a consultant to other attorneys in assessing cases & motion writing, as well as conducting witness depositions and participating in court hearings and mediation conferences. Ms. Wilson prides herself on being an outside the box thinker with a unique way of viewing things, and after conducting nearly 70 jury trials, is also regarded as a formidable advocate with a proven record of success.
Ms. Wilson has served on the Board of Directors for the Hillsborough Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers since 2018 and is also a member of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In her spare time Melissa loves to travel, experience live music (& the Arts in general), and nerd out on Star Wars, Marvel, & Bond, James Bond. Additionally, she volunteers with the Tampa Theatre Historic Movie Palace where she has served in various roles on the planning committee for its annual WineFest signature fundraiser since 2018.
