Joe Tacopina

Joseph Tacopina (born April 14, 1966) is an American lawyer, media personality, and professional sports executive. He has served as a personal attorney for former U.S. president Donald Trump, representing him in a New York criminal case involving payments made to pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels, and in a civil case in which Trump was not found liable for the rape claim but was liable for sexually assaulting and defaming E. Jean Carroll.

Early life and education
Tacopina was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian immigrants. His father Cosmo (1917–2011) was originally from Rome, and his mother Josephine (née Oliva; 1924–2019) came from Montelepre in the province of Palermo. Cosmo sold packing boxes, while Josephine was an accountant with the New York City Fire Department.

Tacopina was raised in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn and attended the Yeshiva of Flatbush, where his parents thought that he would get a better education than at the local public school. He attended Poly Prep in Brooklyn, and Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, before graduation in 1991 from the University of Bridgeport law school (now Quinnipiac University School of Law).

Legal career
Tacopina is a name partner and lead trial attorney at his Manhattan-based law firm, Tacopina, Seigel & DeOreo. He began his career as a prosecutor in Brooklyn. After moving to private practice, he became known as an advocate for high-profile clients in high-profile cases. Tacopina' clients have included New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez; Joran van der Sloot, the suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, an American high schooler in Aruba; Michael Jackson; Italian sailor Chico Forti; actor Lillo Brancato; New York state senator Hiram Monserrate; rapper ASAP Rocky; and Kimberly Guilfoyle. He has also represented NFL team Washington Commanders and team owner Daniel Snyder.

Tacopina was the lead trial attorney in 2019 representing Nauman Hussain, who was charged with criminally negligent homicide in the previous year's Schoharie limousine crash. Tacopina represented Julian Khater, who had maced three police officers during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. One of the officers died the next day of a stroke. Khater was convicted and sentenced to 80 months in prison.

Represented Trump (2023–2024)
Tacopina began representing former U.S. president Donald Trump in early 2023. On March 14, 2023, he conceded publicly that Trump had lied in 2018 to reporters about the hush money paid about a sexual scandal because he had a non-disclosure agreement with the woman involved. On January 15, 2024, Tacopina notified the court that he would no longer represent Trump on cases, including Trump's appeal on the guilty verdict involving a sexual assault on E. Jean Carroll.

Media appearances
Tacopina has appeared on several U.S. television networks. He has been a commentator for Fox News, CNN, Newsmax, MSNBC. He has served as "legal correspondent" for ABC in Perugia following the Amanda Knox case. Tacopina has also appeared regularly on WABC Radio's "Bernie & Sid Morning Show" in New York. He has also appeared as an attorney on the American reality television court show, You the Jury. Tacopina made headlines about his defense of client Donald Trump on The Beat with Ari Melber on March 14, 2023, where he conceded to host Melber that Trump had lied in 2018 to reporters about the hush money Trump paid, but that he considered Trump's lies as legally defensible due to the nature of non-disclosure agreements that accompanied the payments. He was also named on Billboard most influential people in hip hop list.

Association football
Tacopina has held executive positions on four Italian football clubs. 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.

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. On November 17, 2014, Joey Saputo was appointed chairman. Tacopina maintained his role as president until he resigned in October 2015.

Tacopina purchased Italian football club Venezia F.C. in October 2015. He sold his shares and resigned in January 2020. On August 13, 2021, Tacopina became president and owner of Italian football club S.P.A.L.

Personal life
Tacopina is a resident of Westport, Connecticut.