Joe Tacopina

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Joe Tacopina
Joe Tacopina at VladTV interview 2025.png
Tacopina in 2025
Born (1966-04-14) April 14, 1966 (age 60)
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Education Skidmore College (BA)
University of Bridgeport (JD)
Occupations
  • Lawyer
  • media personality
  • sports executive

Joseph Tacopina (born April 14, 1966) [1] is an American trial attorney and legal commentator. Widely recognized for representing high-profile clients in some of the most closely watched criminal and civil cases in the United States, Tacopina has emerged as one of the nation's most prominent trial lawyers. [2] Forbes has recognized him among America's Top Lawyers, [3] while The Hollywood Reporter described him as "one of the world's most sought-after trial attorneys." [4] Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has become known for his courtroom advocacy, cross-examination skills, and involvement in nationally significant legal matters. Tacopina currently teaches trial advocacy at Harvard Law School. [5]

Contents

Early life and education

Tacopina was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian immigrants Cosmo Tacopina (1917–2019) and Josephine Tacopina ( née  Oliva; 1924–2019). His father, originally from Rome, sold packing boxes; his mother, originally from Palermo, was an accountant with the New York City Fire Department. [6] [7] [8] [9]

Tacopina was raised in Sheepshead Bay, a neighborhood in Brooklyn. He attended the private Jewish day school Yeshiva of Flatbush. [10] He later attended Poly Prep in Brooklyn, [11] then Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, [12] before graduating in 1991 from the University of Bridgeport School of Law. [13]

In addition to his trial practice, Tacopina has also been involved in legal education, teaching trial advocacy at Harvard Law School's Trial Advocacy Workshop. [14]

He resides in Westport, Connecticut. [13]

Tacopina is a name partner and lead trial attorney at his Manhattan-based law firm, Tacopina, Seigel & DeOreo. [15] Tacopina began his legal career as a prosecutor in Brooklyn before transitioning to private practice, where he represented clients in criminal and civil cases. [16] Tacopina's legal practice has included representation of Alex Rodriguez, [17] Michael Jackson, [18] President Donald Trump, A$AP Rocky, Meek Mill, Ne-Yo, YG, Wendy Williams, Sean Hannity, Don Imus, Senator Hiram Monserrate, Fat Joe and Kimberly Guilfoyle, [19] among others. [20] [21] [22]

He has also represented NFL team Washington Commanders and team owner Daniel Snyder. [23]

In 2019, he served as lead trial attorney for Nauman Hussain in a high-profile criminal case. [24] Tacopina represented Julian Khater, who had been accused of macing police officers during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

In 2023, Tacopina represented then-former U.S. President Donald Trump in criminal and civil matters in New York, including proceedings related to state investigations. [25]

In 2025, Tacopina served as lead defense counsel for rapper A$AP Rocky, who was acquitted of felony assault charges following a jury trial in Los Angeles. [26]

Media appearances and mentions

Tacopina has served as a legal commentator for numerous national television networks, including ABC, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and Newsmax. He provided legal analysis for ABC in Perugia, Italy, during coverage of the Amanda Knox case [27] and served as an on-air legal consultant for Good Morning America. He has also guest-hosted programs on MSNBC and appeared as an attorney on the American reality television court show, You the Jury . [28] In 2018, he was named on Billboard 's most influential people in hip hop list, recognizing his work with clients in the music industry. [29] Tacopina can be heard on WABC Radio's weekly show, Sid & Friends in the Morning, in New York. [30]

Association football

Tacopina during Bologna's promotion celebration in June 2015. Joe Tacopina celebrating Bologna's Serie B championship in 2015.jpg
Tacopina during Bologna's promotion celebration in June 2015.

In 2011, he was part of the American consortium led by Thomas R. DiBenedetto that purchased A.S. Roma, with Tacopina becoming vice-chairman of the board of directors, in October 2011. On September 8, 2014, he resigned from the board. [31]

A preliminary agreement to acquire Bologna F.C. 1909 was signed on September 17, 2014, and was formalized on October 8. On October 15, Tacopina officially assumed the post of president of the club. [32] [33] Joey Saputo was appointed as chairman [32] on November 17, 2014. Tacopina served as president until his resignation in October 2015. [32] As president of Bologna, Tacopina helped lead the club's return to Serie A following promotion from Serie B during the 2014–15 season.

Tacopina became president and co-owner of Venezia F.C. in October 2015. [34] Tacopina achieved three consecutive promotions, a feat that made Tacopina the first president [35] in Italian football history to oversee promotions in three consecutive seasons. He sold his shares and resigned in January 2020. [36]

On August 13, 2021, Tacopina became president and owner of Italian football club SPAL of Ferrara, in Serie B or second division at the time. [37]

Public Service

In 2025, the United States Army named Tacopina United States Army Ambassador, [38] recognizing his support for service members, veterans, and Army initiatives.

Awards

References

  1. ↑ BFC 1909 Lux SPV S.A. filing in Luxembourg Company Register
  2. ↑ "Joseph Tacopina". The National Trial Lawyers. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  3. ↑ "America's Top Lawyers". Forbes. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Courtroom Magician Joe Tacopina". The Hollywood Reporter.{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |access date= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ↑ Mohr, Ian. "Joe Tacopina takes his talents to Harvard Law School". Page Six. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  6. ↑ Eligon, John (June 11, 2009). "A Case That Will Test a Lawyer's Bond With the Police". New York Times . Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  7. ↑ Vitelli, M. (January 26, 2017). "Tacopina: "Venezia, prima la A e poi tra le big. Con uno stadio tutto nuovo"". Gazzetta.it . Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Joe Tacopina: "Baccaglini ha fatto fuori Cascio, che vergogna. Chi dietro di lui? Ho un'idea. Su Zamparini…"". Mediagol.it. March 21, 2017. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Josephine Tacopina - Marine Park Funeral Home" . Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  10. ↑ Leibovich, Mark. "A-Rod’s Defender Knows How to Tap Dance", The New York Times , September 20, 2013. Accessed December 24, 2023. "[Q] You grew up in Sheepshead Bay, and yet you went to Yeshiva of Flatbush for elementary school. [A] My mother and father quickly determined that the best education I was going to get as a young child was at Yeshiva, instead of getting beat up at P.S. 12. I still have my yarmulke."
  11. ↑ "Home". polyprep.org.
  12. ↑ "Home". skidmore.edu.
  13. 1 2 Eligon, John. "A Case That Will Test a Lawyer’s Bond With the Police", The New York Times , January 11, 2009. Accessed November 18, 2019.
  14. ↑ Mohr, Ian. "Joe Tacopina takes his talents to Harvard Law School". Page Six. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  15. ↑ Tacopina, Joseph. "Tacopina Law". Tacopina, Seigel & DeOreo. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  16. ↑ Tacopina, Joseph. "Joseph Tacopina". The National Trial Lawyers. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  17. ↑ Eder, Steve (August 17, 2013). "Lawyer Says the Yankees Misled Rodriguez About His Injuries". The New York Times.
  18. ↑ "Jackson to stand trial on abuse charges". TheGuardian.com . April 21, 2004.
  19. ↑ "'Rocky turned around and shot me': Rapper's childhood friend testifies about Hollywood shooting". The Daily Beast . November 8, 2023.
  20. ↑ Yang, Allie; Shapiro, Emily (November 20, 2019). "Natalee Holloway's disappearance remains unsolved nearly 15 years later: A timeline". ABC News. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  21. ↑ "The case against Enrico Forti: Is he the Italian Amanda Knox?". CBS News . December 7, 2019.
  22. ↑ "'Sopranos' actor Lillo Brancato cleared in murder of cop, convicted of attempted burglary". New York Daily News . December 23, 2008.
  23. ↑ "Dan Snyder's attorney raises conspiracy questions with defamation suit".
  24. ↑ "Schoharie limo operator pleads guilty, will serve no jail time".
  25. ↑ Haberman, Maggie (January 15, 2024). "Key Trump Lawyer Withdraws as Manhattan Criminal Trial Nears". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  26. ↑ The New York Times. February 18, 2025 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/arts/music/asap-rocky-not-guilty-assault-trial.html.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |acess-date= ignored (help)
  27. ↑ "Knox: 'I Am Innocent, I Will be Free'". ABC News .
  28. ↑ "You the Jury". IMDb . April 7, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Billboard's 2018 R&B/Hip-Hop 100 Power Players Revealed". Billboard . September 27, 2018.
  30. ↑ Rosenberg, Sid. "Joe Tacopina Defense Attorney". 77 WABC. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  31. ↑ "2013–14 Annual Report" (PDF) (in Italian). A.S. Roma. October 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 28, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  32. 1 2 3 Bologna F.C. 1909 bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2014, PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A. (in Italian)
  33. ↑ "Joe Tacopina è il Presidente del Bologna" (Press release) (in Italian). Bologna F.C. 1909. October 15, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  34. ↑ "U.S. lawyer Joe Tacopina buys Italian club Venezia FC". espnfc.us. October 9, 2015.
  35. ↑ [url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danieleproch/2022/11/08/dont-try-to-upset-the-apple-cart-us-lawyer-joe-tacopina-on-running-italian-soccer-clubs/ www.forbes.com/sites/danieleproch/2022/11/08/dont-try-to-upset-the-apple-cart-us-lawyer-joe-tacopina-on-running-italian-soccer-clubs/]
  36. ↑ "Venezia, nuova proprietà: via Tacopina, ecco Niederauer". Corriere dello Sport. February 19, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Spal, Tacopina ufficialmente nuovo presidente". ITA Sport Press. August 13, 2021.
  38. ↑ 77WABC https://wabcradio.com/episode/joe-tacopina-defense-attorney-10-17-25/ . Retrieved June 8, 2026.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  39. ↑ "Joseph Tacopina". New York Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  40. ↑ "At Annual Triumph Awards on October 9th, Rev. Al Sharpton and NAN to honor leading social justice and civil rights advocates from entertainment & corporate sectors". National Action Network. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Joseph Tacopina: Top rated White Collar Crimes attorney in New York, New York". Super Lawyers. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Joseph Tacopina". Forbes. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Billboard's 2018 R&B/Hip-Hop 100 Power Players Revealed". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  44. ↑ Cullins, Ashley. "Hollywood's Troubleshooters: Top 35 Lawyers for Death, Divorce and Other Disasters". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  45. ↑ "Il presidente Tacopina ha ricevuto il Premio Eccellenza Italiana a Washington D.C." S.P.A.L. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
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