Attorney Profile

John AthanaselosAttorney at Law

John Athanaselos is the founder and principal attorney at Athanaselos & Associates, P.A., a Pasco County law firm concentrating in the areas of criminal defense, business law, and real estate.

Professional Background

John is a cum laude graduate of the Florida State University College of Law, graduating with Honors in the top third of his class. He was named to the Dean’s List in two separate semesters and received the Distinguished Pro Bono Award while in law school as well. His undergraduate degree comes from the University of South Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.

While in law school and prior to devoting the bulk of his law practice to criminal defense, John worked extensively in the areas of business law and real estate, first as a summer Associate at Fidelity National Information Services and then as a Law Clerk for the Florida Department of Financial Services, Legal Services division, and as an Extern for the Honorable Judge Simone Marstiller of the First District Court of Appeal. In these capacities, John worked in the corporate headquarters of a publicly traded Fortune 500 corporation, gaining significant experience in commercial law and contract issues. He negotiated settlement stipulations with insurance agents and agencies on behalf of the state of Florida and gained abundant experience working for the court on a wide variety of civil and criminal cases.

After being admitted to the Florida Bar, John spent several years as an Assistant State Attorney in the State Attorney’s Office for the Sixth Judicial District in Pasco, Florida. During this time he served as the lead attorney on a large number of criminal law cases ranging from real estate fraud to attempted first-degree murder. He successfully litigated cases in the office’s Dependency, Misdemeanor and Felony Divisions. Here he often found himself negotiating complex plea deals including terms of incarceration and financial restitution, setting the stage for a career as a criminal defense lawyer capable of handling the full range of state and federal misdemeanor and felony offenses in Florida.

These broad and varied experiences led John to open his own legal practice in 2020, where he began handling general business matters, real estate, title insurance, and mergers & acquisitions, while at the same time building up a successful practice in criminal defense. John continues to practice in all of these areas today, using his unique set of skills and experience to be the one to turn to when you have a problem that needs fixing in Pasco County.

An Attorney, Husband and Father With Deep Ties and Commitment to Pasco County

John is a native of West Pasco. He and his wife both grew up in West Pasco and continue to reside here as the place they want to live, work and raise their family. John met his wife when he was working at the State Attorney’s Office in Pasco, where his wife continues to work to this day, currently as a Senior Prosecutor. John’s strong ties to the community show in both his professional and personal life. He is a member of the Florida Bar Association, the West Pasco Bar Association, the New Port Richey Rotary, and the Rough Riders of Tampa. John and his wife together use their legal backgrounds and professional relationships to support the community in any way they can.

You can reach John at Athanaselos & Associates, P.A., by calling 727-810-8405 or contacting us online to schedule a free consultation. We look forward to meeting you and helping you reach your goals and meet your important legal needs.