Of all his work, Erik is best known as a “notoriously tough” defamation lawyer, who companies turn to when their reputation and products have been unfairly attacked. He represented a beef producer in the $6 billion “pink slime” litigation against ABC. The case has been called the largest defamation case in U.S. history, and it was resolved favorably for Erik’s client after four weeks of trial. He is currently representing a voting machine company in multiple lawsuits stemming from defamatory statements made about the company after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, including a $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox. He is also currently representing one of the country’s largest oral care companies in a multi-billion-dollar defamation claim against NBC. From litigation to counseling, “there is a reason” companies caught in the media’s crossfire retain Erik.

Beyond defamation, Erik’s experience includes a variety of “bet the company” cases ranging from securities fraud to trade secret misappropriation to breach of contract. In these cases, Erik and his teams have prevailed in marathon length trials, secured precedent setting summary judgment rulings, defeated class certification in multi-billion-dollar cases, and obtained dismissal of complaints alleging nine and ten figure damages. For example, Erik and his teams:

• Won directed verdict for a “Big Four” auditing firm in a $7 billion breach of contract case after 100 days of testimony.
• Won summary judgment for an industry leading technology company in a $2 billion securities fraud case after two years of fact and expert discovery.
• Won summary judgment for an industry leading energy company in a $500 million trade secret misappropriation case after three years of fact and expert discovery.
• Won opposition to class certification for a Fortune 50 financial institution in a multi-billion-dollar market manipulation case after extensive fact and expert discovery.
• Won dismissal with prejudice for a Fortune 100 technology company in a $20 billion securities fraud case notwithstanding multiple amended complaints.

While Erik and his teams are always preparing to take cases to trial, and have done so in courtrooms across the country, they also understand the value of an early resolution when the stakes are high. Time and time again, Erik and his teams have found ways to win cases before going to trial, saving their client money and taking away the litigation risk.  

Erik’s industry experience is as varied as his subject matter experience. He has represented Fortune 50 banking and financial institutions in securities fraud and other market manipulation cases. He has represented Fortune 100 and 500 technology companies in consumer protection, fraud, breach of contract and trade secret cases. He has represented large publicly traded consumer product companies as well as privately held companies that are industry leaders in fields ranging from agriculture to precious metals to wealth management to accounting and auditing. Erik’s breadth of experience allows him to quickly understand business objectives, engage with business leaders on their terms, and give real “answers” instead of “overly conservative legal advice.” He and his teams “know what to do and how to navigate most anything.” They create the “perfect” outside counsel relationship.

In his matters, Erik balances a relentless pursuit of his client’s objective with an unwavering commitment to service and intentional focus on diversity and inclusion. Service is a bedrock to everything that Erik and his teams do. They never forget that companies and individuals can choose from hundreds of law firms and thousands of lawyers. When a client chooses them, Erik and his teams dedicate themselves to providing an outstanding and memorable experience. That means delivering on the client’s objective and doing so with the bottom line in mind. Erik’s attention to client service is “unmatched.”

Diversity and inclusion are likewise bedrock principles for Erik and his teams. Erik is fortunate enough to work with an incredible team of attorneys, paralegals, and professionals. They come from different backgrounds, have different experiences, and bring different perspectives to the challenging issues being handled. Individually, they are the best at what they do. Collectively, they are even better. For every client and matter, Erik assembles a team who provides the right mix of background and experience to deliver on the client’s objective. They are “second to none.”

Litigation is not easy. Erik’s goal is to make it easier for his clients and serve as their “secret weapon.” He and his teams have the experience, perspective, and dedication to simplify the most complex and challenging cases. It is an honor and privilege to represent companies and individuals in litigation, big and small. Erik and his teams do not take it for granted.