Joe Tacopina

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.[3][4][5] Cosmo sold packing boxes, while Josephine was an accountant with the New York City Fire Department.[6]

Tacopina was raised in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn. He attended Poly Prep in Brooklyn[7] and Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York,[8] before graduating in 1991 from the University of Bridgeport law school (now Quinnipiac University School of Law).[9]

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.[10] Tacopina’ clients have included New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez;[11] Joran van der Sloot,[12] the suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, an American high schooler in Aruba;[13] Michael Jackson;[14] Italian sailor Chico Forti;[15] actor Lillo Brancato;[16] New York state senator Hiram Monserrate;[17] and Kimberly Guilfoyle.[18] He has also represented NFL team Washington Commanders and team owner Daniel Snyder.[19]

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.[20]

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 had died the next day of a stroke. Khater was sentenced to 80 months in prison.[21]

Tacopina has appeared on several US television networks. He has been a commentator for Fox News, CNN, Newsmax, MSNBC and has served as "legal correspondent" for ABC in Perugia following the Amanda Knox case.[24] Tacopina has also appeared regularly on WABC Radio's "Bernie & Sid Morning Show" in New York.[25] He has also appeared as an attorney on the American reality television court show, You the Jury.[26] Tacopina made headlines for 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 but that Trump's actions were legally correct due to the nature of the non-disclosure agreement.[2][27] He was also named on Billboard's most influential people in hip hop list.[28]

Joe Tacopina as chairman of S.P.A.L. in 2022

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.[29]

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.[30][31] On November 17, 2014, Joey Saputo was appointed chairman.[30] Tacopina maintained his role as president until he resigned in October 2015.[30]

He purchased Italian football club Venezia F.C. in October 2015.[32] He sold his shares and resigned in January 2020.[33]

On August 13, 2021, he became president and owner of Italian football club S.P.A.L.[34]

He is a resident of Westport, Connecticut.[9]