Scott Carr, who has been with GBW since before graduating from law school, was 5 years old when his grandfather introduced him and his brother to his lifelong passion—trapshooting. Taking them under his wing, their grandfather shared his love for the sport, sparking an interest that would stay with Carr throughout his life.
“I have a photo of 5-year-old me holding a 12-gauge shotgun,” he says, “and my grandfather is standing right behind me, shoulder to shoulder, because the kick would have knocked me over.”
Carr began competing when he was 8 or 9. By 13, he was an All-American in the Maccabiah Games. At 17, he won a gold medal as part of the U.S. team and spent the summer at the Olympics training center in Colorado Springs. He qualified for the Olympic Trials but did not participate because his grandfather had just passed away.
Despite his success in competitions around the world, Carr says his joy in trapshooting was much more personal.
“I spent my summers in Ohio with my grandfather,” he says. “Although I competed in California, much of my trapshooting was in a shooting circuit through Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. It was a great experience growing up as I enjoyed the competitions. But I will always treasure the memories of sharing something special with my brother and grandfather.”
When asked to explain how he feels trapshooting has helped shape his auspicious law career, Carr doesn’t hesitate.
“Certainly, I would say competitiveness,” he says. “It’s about how you compete. I’m very competitive in the courtroom, but I’m also civil and respectful. It’s important to know how to win and lose with dignity, grace, and respect for your competitor or, in the courtroom, your opposing counsel. When you’re shooting, being highly focused is key. You have to be able to focus on the task in front of you and tune out everything else. It’s the same thing as practicing law. You need to be singularly focused on what’s in front of you.”
Carr expresses his appreciation for the hands-on training and mentoring he received during his early years with the firm.
“I learned from some amazing trial lawyers, the best,” Carr says. “I learned how to practice law, the thing they don’t teach you in law school. It’s the people who drew me to the firm and what’s kept me here for 35 years.”