Lecturer Bios
Jason Goldman
Mr. Goldman started his career as a Brooklyn prosecutor, where he swiftly rose through the ranks by consistently taking to trial the most serious felony offenses. Born out of passion, Mr. Goldman soon began his criminal defense trajectory, moving seamlessly into private practice by leaning on that same trial experience and courtroom instinct to find quick success, securing a string of significant results for his clients.
With his ascent, Mr. Goldman has now transitioned from a talented and touted young trial attorney to one of New York City’s most prominent and in-demand. Over the last several years, he has been tapped for some of the most significant, high-profile, and meaningful cases in New York and beyond. Having tried over 25 cases to verdict, Mr. Goldman’s practice spans every phase of criminal litigation, from pre-arrest investigations, to trials, to a robust sentencing and appellate discipline. Mr. Goldman vigorously defends those who are being prosecuted at all levels of crime, ranging from traditional criminal defense matters such as homicide to complex, white-collar offenses. In turn, Mr. Goldman is now often tapped to provide representation on select, high-stakes civil matters, lending his litigation skills to areas such as civil rights, entertainment and business disputes.
While Mr. Goldman’s courtroom successes multiply, his reputation as a reliable, creative and sharp advocate continues to grow. Mr. Goldman's boutique firm has represented corporate executives in finance, real estate, and hospitality, as well as doctors, politicians, lawyers, athletes, celebrities, and individuals from all walks of life who find themselves in life-altering situations. Given his prosecutorial background, Mr. Goldman has also conducted and overseen an array of complex investigations on behalf of individuals and companies alike.
Mr. Goldman is a mindful advocate who realizes that a successful defense depends not only on what tactics are employed within the courtroom but also what prudent measures are taken outside of it. To that end, Mr. Goldman relies on a team of private investigators and forensic experts to counter-investigate accusations and put forth affirmative and aggressive defenses to exonerate clients. Similarly, on matters that capture the public’s attention, Mr. Goldman taps into his network of trustworthy journalists, public relations executives, crisis management specialists, and influential criminal justice advocates to engage the media strategically. At the same time, he has been able to lean on those same relationships to keep clients under the radar and out of the limelight during highly sensitive, intimate, and confidential investigations.
With his legal expertise, Mr. Goldman, regarded as one of the top state and federal criminal defense lawyers in New York City, is frequently asked to appear on major national news outlets and is regularly cited in national print media. Mr. Goldman is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the New York City Bar Association where he serves on the Criminal Courts Committee, and the New York City Criminal Bar Association. He has previously been named a New York Super Lawyers Rising Star, an honor given to attorneys who exhibit excellence in their respective practice.
Joseph Tacopina
Joseph Tacopina is the senior partner and lead trial attorney at Tacopina Seigel & DeOreo, and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s premier high-stakes litigators. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has successfully tried more than 100 cases, representing clients in complex civil, criminal, and commercial matters and consistently delivering exceptional results, including substantial monetary recoveries.
In addition to his courtroom practice, Mr. Tacopina serves on the faculty of Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop, where he teaches advanced trial skills and is known for his incisive and highly effective cross-examination techniques.
Mr. Tacopina began his career as a prosecutor in Brooklyn, where he prevailed in an extraordinary 39 of the 40 trials he led. After moving into private practice, his unmatched string of successful verdicts grew, as did his reputation as a savvy courtroom tactician and a go-to advocate for high-profile clients dealing with situations that capture the public’s attention. Known as a fierce litigator, he has zealously represented athletes, politicians, actors, executives, musicians, judges, law enforcement officials and other celebrities, including President Donald J. Trump, the NFL team Washington Commanders and its former owner Daniel Snyder, Michael Jackson, Alex Rodriguez, Meek Mill, YG, Sean Hannity, Don Imus, Swiss Beatz, American singer Ne-Yo, Emmy Award-winning television journalist Sarah Wallace, Kimberly Guilfoyle, executive director of the NFLPA DeMaurice Smith and Rapper A$AP Rocky.
Outside of the courtroom, Mr. Tacopina deftly defends his clients in the court of public opinion and is equally adept at keeping clients away from the media’s spotlight. His high-profile cases frequently make national headlines, including his successful effort to free rapper Meek Mill from prison, the investigation into the disappearance of Baby Lisa Irwin, Major League Baseball’s investigation of Alex Rodriguez, the acquittal of Sopranos actor Lillo Brancato on murder charges, and most recently, securing the acquittal of A$AP Rocky.
Mr. Tacopina frequently appears on major national media outlets, including CNN, FOX and Newsmax, and can also be heard on his weekly appearances on WABC Radio’s Sid & Friends in the Morning in New York.
Mr. Tacopina is a member of the Federal Bar Council, the New York Counsel of Defense Lawyers, and the Judicial Committee for the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. He also serves on the Legislative Committee for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Among his many accolades, Mr. Tacopina has been honored by the National Italian American Bar Association; been named Humanitarian of the Year by Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network; has received the Man of the Year award from New York State’s Commission for Social Justice; has been named to Billboard’s list of Top 100 Power Players in R&B and Hip-Hop; and has been named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s Top 35 Lawyers. He has also consistently been named a New York Super Lawyer, an honor given to attorneys who exhibit excellence in practice, and has earned Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent rating, the highest accolade an attorney can obtain from their peers.
