Collector spotlight: Robert L. Shapiro

~ An AmeriCollector.com Exclusive ~

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In a recent post (“The real deal: AmeriCollector is trademarked,” Aug. 19) I joked about getting our trademark with the help of “our high-profile L.A. attorney, Robert L. LegalZoom” – LegalZoom having been co-founded by Robert L. Shapiro, best known to Americans as a member of O.J. Simpson’s defense team as well as for his appearances on LegalZoom commercials.

The fact is, LegalZoom was fast and easy to use, it was very economical and the people who reviewed our trademark application were great: prompt, friendly and eager to help. (The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by contrast, moved slower than some high-latitude glaciers, but that wasn’t LegalZoom’s fault.) Collectors will certainly want to consider using LegalZoom when making out their wills, in order to ensure that their collections are properly divvied up or otherwise handled.

A litigation partner and head of the White Collar Criminal Defense Group of the law firm of Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs, Howard, Avchen & Shapiro, Robert Shapiro graduated UCLA and Loyola Law School. He has represented a host of celebrity clients (Johnny Carson, Christian Brando and Darryl Strawberry, to drop the names of a few) and is one of the nation’s most recognized attorneys. He is also a founder and chairman of the board of the nonprofit Brent Shapiro Foundation for Alcohol and Drug Awareness, in honor of his late son, and the founder of Pickford Lofts, a structured, court-approved transitional living facility in Los Angeles for people in recovery. Mr. Shapiro is the author (with Larkin Warren) of the New York Times best seller “The Search for Justice: A Defense Attorney’s Brief on the O.J. Simpson Case” and co-wrote (with Walt Becker) the legal thriller “Misconception.”

Having mentioned LegalZoom earlier, it occurred to me to ask Mr. Shapiro, who is originally from Plainfield, New Jersey, if he collected anything – I suspected possibly baseball memorabilia – and I was grateful and elated to receive his reply, especially because I’m a fellow boxing collector! Here are his replies to my questions …

AmeriCollector: What do you collect?

Robert Shapiro: I collect signed boxing gloves.

AC: How did you get interested in collecting gloves?

RS: I’ve always been a big fight fan and love the sport. So collecting autographed boxing gloves came naturally.

AC: What do you enjoy about collecting them?

RS: The history, the memorable fights that are represented by the gloves.

AC: How do you build your collection?

RS: I’m lucky in that I’ve had the privilege of meeting some of boxing’s greatest icons over the past years. So when I do meet them, I ask if they would sign a pair of boxing gloves for me.

AC: How do you go about selecting or acquiring new additions to your collection?

RS: I’m looking not just for established legends but also new up-and-comers.

AC: Are there any “holy grails” that you’re trying to find?

RS: I love to find gloves with history. Like the ones Muhammad Ali wore when he beat George Foreman during the “Rumble in the Jungle.”

AC: What would you say is the highlight of your collection?

RS: I have gloves signed by Muhammad Ali (but not the ones used in the Foreman fight). Ali’s the greatest of all time.

AC: Can you offer any advice to fellow collectors?

RS: Even though they are fierce in the ring, boxers are typically good-natured. So don’t be afraid to approach them for a signature.

 

LINKS

LegalZoom: www.LegalZoom.com
Brent Shapiro Foundation for Alcohol and Drug Awareness: www.BrentShapiro.org
Pickford Lofts: www.PickfordLofts.com

Robert L. Shapiro photo courtesy of Robert Shapiro and used with permission. Thanks to Brian Liu for his assistance.

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