We help clients achieve what is most important for them.
David Levy is well-respected among judges and peers for being a smart and principled attorney representing his clients with integrity.
Representing clients in all areas of family and matrimonial law, David provides his time, experience and deep knowledge of the law to help clients achieve the best outcome. An experienced litigator, he regularly represents individuals in trials and appeals.
He is also a Certified Arbitrator and a well-respected child representative, which allows him to advocate for the best interests of children in contentious custody cases.
David is a founding partner of Berger Schatz and is also one of the principal authors of the new Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.
Approach
David takes a big-picture view of life after divorce and is constantly thinking about the implications of each element of the process. His principled approach guides clients to outcomes that will work for both parties and children in the long run.
Reputation
David is a member of the American Bar Association (Family Law Section) and the Illinois State Bar Association. He served for the latter organization’s Family Law Section Council for 20 years until 2024, and during that time, he held various roles as the council’s chairman, vice chairman and secretary.
David was also a member of the Supreme Court Rules Committee, the Special Task Force for Attorneys for Children Committee, the Standing Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law and the Special Committee on Cable TV Programming, where he hosted the Illinois State Bar Association’s television show, “Illinois Law, News You Can Use.”
At the time, David was the youngest member ever admitted to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and over the years, he’s held a number of leadership positions within the AAML. At the national level, he was elected to serve on the organization’s National Board of Governors for nine years. He previously served as treasurer and as a member of the Executive Committee. He has served as chairman of numerous AAML committees, including chairing the AICPA/AAML National Conference on Divorce for 14 years (a member of the committee for 18 years). He has chaired the Public Relations, Law Economics and Site Selection committees and has served on the Admissions Procedures and the National Written Test committees. He is also the past Editor in Chief of the Journal of the AAML and has been a guest lecturer at Loyola University, University of Chicago School of Law, and DePaul University.
David was selected by the Illinois Chapter of the AAML as the 2014 recipient of the prestigious Samuel S. Berger Award, which recognizes attorneys and judges who exemplify the highest standards of integrity, courtesy, knowledge of family law and the extraordinary ability to solve human problems. David is also a recipient of the Michael Cohen Award, given for continuing commitment and contributions to the professional education of matrimonial lawyers. In 2025, David received the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s Hon. Edward R. Jordan Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication, commitment and significant contribution to the practice of family law.
Professional Recognition
- Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s Hon. Edward R. Jordan Lifetime Achievement Award, 2025
- The Best Lawyers in America®, 2014 – Present
- Family Law
- Family Law: Arbitration
- Chicago’s Lawyer of the Year in Family Law Arbitration, 2022
- Illinois Super Lawyers, 2006 – Present
- Top 100 Lawyers in Illinois, 2006 — 2007, 2012 — 2018
- Leading Lawyers Network, 2003 – Present
- 10 Best Family Law Attorneys in Illinois, 2011 – 2015
- Top 100 Attorneys in Illinois, 2015
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent®
Publications & Presentations
- Guest Lecturer – February monthly seminar for Guardians Ad Litem and Child Representatives, discussing the trends and new case law regarding the relocation of children after divorce, Judge Dickler
- Dave’s Top Ten: The Need-to-Know New Cases – AAML/BVR National Conference on Divorce
- Annual Seminar on Business Valuation, Financial & Tax Issues on Divorce Conference – IICLE/AAML
- Ethical Conundrums – AICPA/AAML National Conference on Divorce
- Navigating the New Illinois Marriage & Dissolution of Marriage Act – Presented by the Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division of Cook County, Illinois
- Past, Present, and Future – Lawyers and Psychologists Working Together – Reconceptualizing Child Custody, ABA/APA National Conference on Child Custody
- Dating, Maintenance, and Miller- co-author, Illinois Bar Journal
- Successfully Analyzing, Negotiating and Trying Your Child Custody Cases – Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
Contact
dlevy@bergerschatz.comdownload vCard
Education
Illinois Institute of Technology / Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D.
Ohio University, B.G.S.
Bar Admissions
Illinois
United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
Professional Memberships
Illinois Bar Association
Illinois Bar Association Family Law Section
American Bar Association Family Law Section
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers