Jonathan Shapiro(II)
- Producer
- Writer
- Additional Crew
As of 2020, Jonathan Shapiro has spent the last 20 years writing and producing some of television's most iconic shows. An Emmy, Peabody, and Humanitas Awards winner, he and David E. Kelley are the creators and executive producers of Goliath. In addition to his work in television, Shapiro is a playwright ("Sisters in Law," about Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg,) as well as the author of two books: the memoir "Liars, Lawyers, and the Art of Storytelling" (ABA Publishing) and the novel "Deadly Force."
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Jonathan was a federal prosecutor for almost a decade, working first in the Organized Crime & Racketeering Section of the U.S. Department of Justice (Main Justice) in Washington, D.C., and later, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California. He handled a wide-array of investigations and trials throughout the country involving organized crime, police brutality, public corruption, continuing criminal enterprises, and espionage. In 1995, he served as a special assistant to then Attorney General Janet Reno for her appearance before Congressional committees investigating the siege of the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco, Texas. In 2000, he testified before the U.S. Senate in open and closed sessions regarding efforts by the People's Republic of China to obtain classified U.S. military information. Between 2014-2016, he was Of Counsel at Kirkland & Ellis law firm, handling litigation against movie studios.
Shapiro taught criminal law and procedure, as well as rhetoric, as an adjunct law professor at Loyola Law School and the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. He teaches a law and film class at UCLA Law School. He is a past member and former chairman of the California Commission on Government Economy and Efficiency, as well as the former Chief of Staff to then Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante.
Beginning in 2006, Shapiro worked as a pro bono attorney for Public Counsel, representing immigrants who have applied for political asylum. In 2008, he became the founder and director of the Public Counsel Emergency Fund for Torture Victims, which provides financial assistance to immigrants seeking asylum. The Fund has assisted individuals and families from Ethiopia, the Sudan, the Congo, Cameroon, Guatemala, as well as other countries.
Shapiro grew up in Woodland Hills, California. In 1980, he was elected 35th President of the American Legion Boys Nation Program. In 1981, he was selected to serve a one-year term as the California State Board of Education Student Member. He is a graduate of Harvard University (BA, MA cum laude, history), a Rhodes scholar at Oriel College, Oxford University (M.St.), and the University of California, Berkeley Law School (JD).
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Jonathan was a federal prosecutor for almost a decade, working first in the Organized Crime & Racketeering Section of the U.S. Department of Justice (Main Justice) in Washington, D.C., and later, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California. He handled a wide-array of investigations and trials throughout the country involving organized crime, police brutality, public corruption, continuing criminal enterprises, and espionage. In 1995, he served as a special assistant to then Attorney General Janet Reno for her appearance before Congressional committees investigating the siege of the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco, Texas. In 2000, he testified before the U.S. Senate in open and closed sessions regarding efforts by the People's Republic of China to obtain classified U.S. military information. Between 2014-2016, he was Of Counsel at Kirkland & Ellis law firm, handling litigation against movie studios.
Shapiro taught criminal law and procedure, as well as rhetoric, as an adjunct law professor at Loyola Law School and the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. He teaches a law and film class at UCLA Law School. He is a past member and former chairman of the California Commission on Government Economy and Efficiency, as well as the former Chief of Staff to then Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante.
Beginning in 2006, Shapiro worked as a pro bono attorney for Public Counsel, representing immigrants who have applied for political asylum. In 2008, he became the founder and director of the Public Counsel Emergency Fund for Torture Victims, which provides financial assistance to immigrants seeking asylum. The Fund has assisted individuals and families from Ethiopia, the Sudan, the Congo, Cameroon, Guatemala, as well as other countries.
Shapiro grew up in Woodland Hills, California. In 1980, he was elected 35th President of the American Legion Boys Nation Program. In 1981, he was selected to serve a one-year term as the California State Board of Education Student Member. He is a graduate of Harvard University (BA, MA cum laude, history), a Rhodes scholar at Oriel College, Oxford University (M.St.), and the University of California, Berkeley Law School (JD).
