Andrew H. Schapiro is the former United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic, serving from 2014 to 2017 during a pivotal period for transatlantic relations. As Ambassador, he worked to strengthen US–Czech ties in areas ranging from trade and cybersecurity to education and law enforcement, emphasizing the shared democratic values that were central to Václav Havel’s vision.

A Chicago native with family roots in Prague—his mother and grandparents fled the Nazis in 1939 and arrived in the US as refugees—Ambassador Schapiro brought a deeply personal connection to his diplomatic service. His tenure in Prague reflected not only his professional expertise but also his enduring commitment to civic renewal and international cooperation.

Before and after his ambassadorship, Ambassador Schapiro built a distinguished legal career as a partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, where he earned recognition as a leading trial lawyer in intellectual property and complex commercial litigation. Earlier, he clerked for Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun and served as a federal public defender, experiences that shaped his understanding of law’s role in protecting individual rights and democratic institutions.