Leonard Silvio Villafranco, Esq., Attorney at Law
Leonard Silvio Villafranco received his Bachelors of Science degree in Education from the State University of New York at Oswego in May 1982. After completing his undergraduate studies, Mr. Villafranco taught junior and senior high school students the industrial arts at Minerva Central School in upstate New York. He went on the practice the industrial arts in the printing, publishing and advertising business in New York City. After moving to Florida in 1985, he continued his career in printing and publishing, where he oversaw complete graphic and print production of publications, annual reports, brochures and other printed material for advertising, retail, travel and other professional business clients.
During a successful, non-legal career, Mr. Villafranco fulfilled his lifelong dream by studying law in the evening while working full time and raising his children as a single father. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center in Ft. Lauderdale in 2001. There he attended the Alternative Resolution Clinic, where he accepted the concept that many parties may and should settle their disputes short of prolonged and costly litigation.
After law school, Leonard Silvio Villafranco began his legal career as an Associate Attorney with the law firms of Rozelle & Call, P.A. and Flanagan, Maniotis & Berger, P.A., of West Palm Beach. There he gained valuable litigation experience defending litigants involved in serious accidents, product liability and wrongful death cases. in 2004, he opened his own law practice, Leonard S. Villafranco, P.A., right here on the Treasure Coast. He is an experienced trial attorney, fighting for families going through divorce, custody and property disputes, defending the rights of those accused of crimes, litigating business disputes, and now prosecuting for litigants injured in serious accident, product liability and wrongful death cases.
Leonard Silvio Villafranco was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2002 and to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida in 2011. He is a member of the St. Lucie and Martin County Bar Associations, as well as the Port St. Lucie Bar Association where he served as President in 2009/2010 and Vice President in 2008/2009. He is the proud recipient of Recognition for Exceptional Pro Bono Service by the Florida Supreme Court, Florida Pro Bono Services Coordination Association in 2012, the Pro Bono Service Award given by Florida Rural Legal Services for 2009/2010, and the Business & Industry Appreciation/Expansion Award by the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce in 2006. Mr. Villafranco is also quite proud to say that he has been voted "Best Lawyer" in St. Lucie County by the readers of the Hometown News in 2012.
Leonard Silvio Villafranco gives back not only to the legal community, but to the community at large by serving as a Major Gift Chair on the capital campaign for St. Bernadette's Catholic Church in St. Lucie West. He serves on the board of directors for MISS, Inc. of the Treasure Coast, a non-profit organization providing housing and support services to single women who are homeless with children, where he was Chairman of the Park Committee, insuring that these children have a safe place to play. He supports the Sunrise Theatre in Ft. Pierce Florida, and in the late 1990's, served as a voluntary President for the Parkwood VI Homeowner's Association in Coconut Creek, Florida.
Mr. Villafranco resides in St. Lucie West with his wife, Tonya and his stepdaughter, Mary Elizabeth Carota. He is the proud father of his three children Nancy Elizabeth Sulzer, Michael Andrew Villafranco and Brittany Rose Villafranco, and his grandchildren, Olivia Patricia Sulzer and Logan Dennis Sulzer.
To serve the legal needs of the citizens of the treasure coast and Florida
