Arthur Schechter
Senior Counsel, Mediator, Political Consultant, Business Consultant
Arthur Schechter has been practicing law since 1964, and since then he’s helped thousands of clients to successfully resolve their cases and begin new lives. He’s served clients from local seaman’s unions, the National Maritime Union, the Indian Seaman’s Union, the Pakistani Seaman’s Union, and individual seaman throughout the world. Over the years, his dedication to his clients and successes on their behalf have set him apart. Some have even named children, boats and businesses after him!
As a founding partner of Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, Mr. Schechter serves as Senior Counsel and litigator for personal injury cases. He has also previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, as Board Chairman of METRO, and as a partner in a major national litigation firm.
Mr. Schechter has received numerous awards for his work, including the highest civilian award given by the United States Coast Guard. He has also been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly Magazine, an honor only given to 5% of Texas attorneys. H Texas magazine has also recognized him as one of the Top Lawyers for the People.
Senior Counsel, Mediator, Political Consultant, Business Consultant
100% Personal Injury — Plaintiff
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Texas Trucking Accidents – Plaintiff
Houston Motorcycle Accidents – Plaintiff
Motor Vehicle Accidents — Plaintiff
Premises Liability — Plaintiff
Property Damage — Plaintiff
Railroad Accidents — Plaintiff
Slip and Fall — Plaintiff
Wrongful Death — Plaintiff
Products Liability Law
Professional Malpractice Law
Bad Faith
Insurance Subrogation
Insurance Malpractice
Jones Act
Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act
Maintenance and Cure
General Maritime Law
DOHSA – Death on the High Seas Act
Maritime Piracy
Public Vessel Act
Suits in Admiralty
Merchant Mariners Act
Admiralty Extension Act
OSCLA – Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
Military Sealift Command
FELA Claims – Plaintiff
Medical Malpractice
Personal Injury Trial Lawyer
State Bar of Texas Board Certified Trial Lawyer
Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Texas, 1964
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1976
U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1966
The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, TX, 1964, J.D.
Honors: Law School Dean’s Council, President’s Council
University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA, 1962, B.A.
Honors: Honor’s Program
Speaker, Rotary Club of East Nassau, 1998 – 2001
Martindale Hubbell “AV Rating”
Texas Super Lawyer – Top 5% of Texas Attorneys 2003-2013 (every single year of its existence)
Roscoe Pound Society Lifetime Fellow
Honorary President, American Men’s Club of Nassau, 1998 – 2001
Houston Trial Lawyers Board of Directors
American Trial Lawyers Association, Sustaining Member
Texas Civil Justice Foundation, Founding Sponsor
American Academy of Railroad Trial Lawyers
Texas College of the State Bar of Texas
William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity, Board of Directors
Anti-Defamation League Southwest Regional Board Nominating Committee, Legal Committee
Institute of International Education Southern Regional Advisory Board
S.E.A.R.C.H. Service to the Homeless, Board Member (Chaired First Fundraising Ball)
Serve Houston Board, Board of Directors (Local AmeriCorps Chapter)
University of Texas at Austin Notable Alumnus
“Tapestry Award” from Houston Interfaith Ministries (Meals on Wheels—Refugee Settlement)
“Top Lawyers in Houston”
“Starlight” Award—Council of Jewish Women
“Star of David” Award for Jewish Philanthropy
“President’s Award”: NAACP
“Houston Treasure”—Social Book of Houston
“Henry Morganthau Award” for Legal Excellence—National Dinner in New York—Israel Bonds
“Prominent Community Leader” by Top Ladies of Distinction
“Houston’s Most Fascinating” by Baylor College of Medicine
“Outstanding Community Leadership” Award—SEARCH (Homeless)Services
“Barrier Breaker Award”—Career and Recovery Resources (agency working to retrain and find employment for workers)
National United Jewish Appeal Prime Ministers Council
“Special Agents Award” from Drug Enforcement Administration
United States Marine Corp Award for Support in Nassau
“Distinguished Public Service” Award—United States Coast Guard
“Outstanding Public Service” Award—United States Custom Service
“David H. White Award” for Outstanding Leadership presented by Jewish Community Center
“Samuel E. Karff Leadership” Award—Outstanding Member of Congregation Beth Israel
“American Jewish Committee’s National Human Relations” Award (only other Texan to win was Ann Richards)
“Star of Texas” Award, 21st Century Democrats
“Benefactor” Award: Jewish Chautauqua Society
“Love Award” Honoree: Childrens Advocates, Inc. of Harris County
“Young Leadership” Award: United Jewish Appeal
Council of American Ambassadors
SEARCH (institution for homeless), Executive Committee
University of Texas Health Science Center (Medical School)
Congregation Beth Israel (Past President, Executive Committee)
American Jewish Committee (Past President, Executive Committee)
Jewish Federation of Greater Houston (Past President, Executive Committee)
Frost Bank Advisory Board
William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity Board –minority (runs a boys’ school, geriatric housing, and other programs)
Houston Area Parkinson’s Center
Career and Recovery Resources (helps physically disabled or disadvantaged train and find work)
Houston Holocaust Museum Executive Committee
AIDS Foundation Houston
Lillian Kaiser Lewis Charitable Foundation
Dayan Center for Mid-East and African Studies, Tel Aviv University
Greater Houston Convention Visitors Bureau
Who’s Who in the World
Who’s Who in America
Who’s Who in Houston
Who’s Who in Texas
Who’s Who in the Southwest
Who’s Who in American Law
Who’s Who in Society
Elegant “Millennium Maker” in book of 100 most prominent Houstonians by Evan Thayer
Social Book of Houston
Featured in Community Leaders of America, American Biographical Institute
American Association for Justice
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Harris County Democratic Lawyers Assoc.
Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialist
Association for Conflict Resolution
University of Texas: Law School Dean’s Council, President’s Council
Texas Bar Foundation
Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation
Texas Civil Justice Foundation: Founding Sponsor
American Academy of Railroad Trial Lawyers
Texas Trial Lawyers Admiralty Section: Chairman
Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists
United States Government, U.S. Ambassador to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, 1998 – 2001
Spanish
1939, Rosenberg, Texas, United States of America
Companies We Have Sued
Jonathan S. Harris and Matthew Shaffer are board certified personal injury trial lawyers prepared to take on your case.