American attorney, well liked and respected with a famous string of high-profile clients from the movie and sports industries. Skilled at plea bargaining and an excellent strategist, he is meticulous and disciplined, and develops a close, very personal relationship with his clients. He had handled only ten homicide cases, including Christian Brando in 1990, when he was approached to take the O.J. Simpson case. A family man and a hands-on parent, he talked it over with his family before deciding. He stood to make some $2 million on the case but it would mean long days and hard work, a tough case.
The only child of a factory worker and a housewife, he moved to Los Angeles in 1943. Gregarious and a good dancer, he was flashy until he got into Loyola law school. In 1969 he began work as a Deputy D.A. in Los Angeles, then went into private practice in 1972.
Shapiro had a brief first marriage that ended in annulment. In 1969 he met model Linell Thomas and they married the following year; two sons, Brent, 1981 and Grant, 1984. They live well in Beverly Hills where he has a private gym in the garage to work out and keep in shape. Not a drinker, he prefers health drinks though he is a wine connoisseur. He wears Armani suits and when on a case, is a steady worker, living with a phone that rings 24 hours a day.
The Simpson defense team was composed of Shapiro, F. Lee Bailey and Alan Dershowitz. Their client was accused of murdering his wife, Nicole, on 6/12/1994. The sensational trial began on 9/17/1996. The public was riveted by the trial as it unfolded on TV for the following year and became, to many, a joke and parody, a gross use of tax-payers funds. America was glued to their seats, even up to the shocking conclusion of the trial, which resulted in his acquittal.
After representing Darryl Strawberry in a contract settlement in 1994, Shapiro has slapped the baseball player with a lawsuit 8/19/1998 for $100,000 of fees remaining unpaid. Strawberry denies the claim.
Link to Wikipedia biography