Robert Shapiro - Biography

Robert Leslie Shapiro (born September 2, 1942) is an American civil litigator and senior partner in the Los Angeles-based law firm Glaser Weil Fink Jacobs Howard Avchen & Shapiro, LLP. Shapiro is most recognized for being part of the defense team which successfully defended O.J. Simpson in 1995 from the charges that he murdered his ex-wife Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman in 1994. Shortly after the O.J. Simpson trial, Shapiro steered his practice away from criminal defense toward the civil litigator arena.

Personal life

Shapiro was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, United States.

Shapiro graduated from UCLA in 1965. He obtained his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in 1968.

Shapiro married Linell Thomas on March 8,1970 and have a son, Grant. Another son, Brent, was found dead by an apparent overdose of MDMA on 11 October 2005. The death of Brent Shapiro sparked the founding of "The Brent Shapiro Foundation", a non-profit organization with an aim to raise drug awareness, as well as Pickford Lofts, a rehabilitation facility.

Career

Shapiro has represented famous athletes Darryl Strawberry, José Canseco, and Vince Coleman, as well as other celebrities such as Johnny Carson, Christian Brando, Linda Lovelace, and the Kardashians. In 1998, Shapiro sued Strawberry over unpaid legal fees, which were eventually settled out of court.

Shapiro has been sued unsuccessfully by record producer Phil Spector for refusing to return a US$1 million retainer for legal services. Spector decided to drop all alleged charges against Mr. Shapiro.

On 30 April 2007, Shapiro was the subject of an unpublished appellate opinion involving allegations that he improperly removed US$6 million in cash from the apartment of a client, in violation of a judge's order freezing the client's assets. The Court of Appeal held that Shapiro's law firm, Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs and Shapiro, could be held liable for his misconduct, even though Shapiro holds no equity interest in the firm and is not a true partner.

In civil matters, Shapiro represents actress Eva Longoria, Occidental Petroleum Corporation, RockStar, Diamond Resorts and Cadeau Express.

Shapiro is the author of three books, The Search for Justice, Misconception and also helped create a character in a children's book with an anti-drug theme. The book is made free of charge to schools.

LegalZoom

Shapiro is one of the co-founders of LegalZoom.

Shoedazzle.com

Shapiro is one of the co-founders of Shoedazzle.com.

Films & TV

Shapiro is known as a "celebrity" lawyer, and as such is a celebrity himself. He has appeared as himself (or as a lawyer resembling his real-life self) in a number of films and television shows, including the movie Havoc (2005).