Spotlight on Michael Ecker

June 10, 2019

Michael Ecker joined the firm’s Philadelphia office in 2008. Originally from Pittsburgh, Michael grew up in Squirrel Hill. Today, he lives in a suburb of Philadelphia in Eastern Montgomery County with his wife of 33 years. He and his wife have three children, ages 22, 25, and 27.

Michael Ecker has an MBA and more than 30 years of experience as a business lawyer. He focuses his practice on corporate matters such as emerging growth and technology, financial institutions, and health law. He also provides counseling to closely held and family-owned businesses, and has particular experience with assisting in the buying and selling of businesses, including complicated transactions involving multi-level financing, mergers, equity arrangements and earn-out provisions. He also does lending work, including traditional asset-based loans as well as those with fine artwork as collateral. Michael also serves as general counsel for a number of clients, fulfilling what is virtually an in-house counsel role.

Q&A

What led you to pursue a career in law?

My grandfather, father and uncle were all well-known trial lawyers in Pittsburgh. Growing up my father would tell me I could be a lawyer or (pause) dig ditches or flip burgers. Wanting to do something different from them, I pursued an economics degree at Northwestern University, then a JD/MBA at Emory University. Although I secured jobs as a corporate associate in Atlanta and Chicago, and Dad lined up jobs for me in Pittsburgh, I obtained a position as a corporate associate with a mid-sized law firm in Philadelphia, a city where my only contact was my college roommate’s parents, as opposed to starting my career as a third generation attorney of a prominent family of attorneys, having attended an exclusive Pittsburgh prep school and grown up playing golf at a local club. In other words, starting my career without the built-in network I had in Pittsburgh. Corporate lawyer in Philly, the black sheep of the family.

What do you enjoy most about your practice?

Helping people with my advice.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A corporate lawyer.

Who song instantly puts you in a good mood?

Almost any James Taylor song.

Tell us something on your bucket list.

Play Augusta National, Carnoustie, Pebble Beach, and St. Andrews. Visit New Zealand. Learn how to fly fish and learn to scuba drive, then dive at the Great Barrier Reef.

What’s a book that you think everyone should read?

Anything by Ron Chernow or David McCullough.

What’s a movie that you can watch over and over again?

Young Frankenstein.

What’s your most memorable trip/vacation?

Amsterdam, Barcelona, or Italy with my wife. Well, just about any vacation with my wife.

What’s the best piece of advice that you have ever received?

More than one come to mind: “Be thorough, thoughtful, and persistent.” “Don’t ask, don’t get.” “You can disagree without being disagreeable.” “Personal connections with friends, colleagues, and opposing counsel are critical, because while we all have a job to do, we are all people too.”

Who/what inspires you?

People who overcome adversity and are persistently resourceful. Historic figures, Alexander Hamilton, John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, guys who started with nothing, no network, and were fabulously successful. James Harrison is one of my favorite football players. Star at Kent State went undrafted. Tried out for the Steelers, and was cut three times, and once by the Ravens. During his career with Pittsburgh he won defensive player of the year, and has the longest interception in a Super Bowl (100 yards with seconds to go in the first half). One of my favorite quotations is “Never, never, never give up.” – Winston Churchill.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I was born in South Carolina, and was such a bad speller in elementary school, they would put me on the stronger team to even out the talent.

 

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