Business Services | Law
Managing partner
Amundsen Davis | Milwaukee
Larry Schechtman was among the founding partners of Chicago law firm SmithAmundsen in 1997 and has served as its managing partner since 1999. In November, he assumed the role of managing partner of Amundsen Davis LLC following SmithAmundsen’s merger with Milwaukee-based Davis|Kuelthau s.c. The new entity comprises more than 230 attorneys and operates 12 offices throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana and Ohio. It is now among the largest 200 law firms in the U.S., based on domestic attorney count.
Education: Bachelor’s, Illinois State University; J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
Favorite Wisconsin restaurant: “I know it’s not technically a restaurant, but my favorite place to eat is at Summerfest! I have attended Summerfest every year for 30 years, and it’s such a highlight of my summer that I would classify the various food offerings there as my favorite place.”
As you enter your office, what would you choose to be your walk-up or theme song: “Anyone who knows me knows the answer to this is ‘Sweet Caroline.’ It has been my theme song for years, and I tend to sing it any chance I get. Our partnership might say they’ve heard me sing it one too many times.”
First car: “A ’67 Mustang convertible, and I drove it for about two years until the back floor became rusted out.”
Biggest risk you’ve ever taken: “Deciding to leave a comfortable legal practice to help start the SmithAmundsen firm with a handful of other attorneys and long-time staff. There was much insecurity and uncertainty at that time, but my partners and I truly thought there was a market for a firm that did things differently than all of the others.”