Attorney Profiles
Elizabeth Martinez Strauss
Liz is a lifelong resident of Tampa, Florida and a third-generation lawyer practicing in Hillsborough County courts. Her grandfather, Dr. Victor J. Martinez, was a prominent surgeon, lawyer, and grand storyteller who rose to prominence from an immigrant family of Ybor City. His influence inspired her passion for helping others and bettering our community.
She attended the Academy of Holy Names and Plant High School. She graduated from the University of South Florida Honors College cum laude with a B.A. in Psychology and received her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law. In law school, she focused on trial advocacy and was a member of the renowned Stetson Trial Team.
She started her career as an assistant public defender in Tampa, successfully representing hundreds of clients in criminal cases. She would later serve as a deputy chief prosecuting violent crimes at the District Attorney’s Office in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2022 alone, Liz prosecuted six jury trials to verdict in high-profile murder and first degree rape cases. Even as a prosecutor, she has always respected the rights of people accused of a crime. Now, she continues to fight for each and every client who entrusts their case to her.
Liz lives in Virginia Park with her husband, Charles, two sons, Victor and “Baby” Charles, and their golden retriever, Patter.
Victor D. Martinez, Of Counsel
Born and raised in Tampa, Florida,Victor graduated from Jesuit High School in 1975, the University of Florida in 1979, and South Texas College of Law in 1982.
He began his career with the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office for two years. After leaving the State Attorney’s Office he worked for the Federal Public Defenders Office in the Southern District of Florida (Miami-Fort Lauderdale Divisions) for five years. He then returned to Tampa and has been in private practice for over thirty years.
Victor has represented judges, lawyers, doctors, entertainment figures, police officers, first time offenders and career offenders. Over the course of his career, he has tried over 200 jury trials.
He is a member of the American and Florida Bar Associations and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is also an invited member of the “National Trial Lawyers” a national organization composed of the top 100 trial lawyers from each state. He was also selected by the American Society of Legal Advocates (ASLA) as one of the Top 100 Criminal Defense lawyers in the State of Florida for 2015. He was included in Tampa Bay Magazines’ “Best Lawyers in Tampa” edition as well as having been selected a Florida “Super Lawyer” and a “Florida Legal Elite” by Florida Trend Magazine. Year after year he has received a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating. Recently, he was selected as one of the “Top Rated Lawyers in Litigation” among AV Pre-eminent rated attorneys.