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Practice Areas

Industries

Education

University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., 1970

University of California
Berkeley, California
B.A., 1967

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Energy Attorney

Past co-chair of Varnum’s Energy and Telecommunications Practice Team, Eric’s legal practice focuses on electrical retail wheeling, non-utility electric power marketing, cogeneration projects, waste to energy, utility scale natural gas and wind generating plants. His clients include large government and private development entities and generation hosts. Eric assists in the purchase of natural gas and  environmental permitting, as well as the negotiation of fuel, equipment, lease and power purchase agreements relating to electric generation projects. On behalf of his clients, Eric secured the first licenses to market electricity in the service territories of both Consumers Energy and Detroit Edison .

Eric served on the national Board of Directors for AARP for several year, serving as national president from 2016 to 2018. The 22-member board is the governing body of AARP and approves all policies, programs, activities and services for AARP’s 40 million members. Eric is a past AARP Michigan president and has devoted many years to public service. He was chairman of the Michigan Public Service Commission for six years and also worked for the state Housing Authority, Securities Bureau and Insurance Bureau.

Eric was named the Lansing “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of Energy Law in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America® since 2003

Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Energy Regulatory Law, 2020 and 2021

Leading Lawyers: Energy Law; Environmental Law; Mineral & Natural Resource Law

Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated

Professional Affiliations

Electric Power Supply Association

Ingham County Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan, Administrative Law Section

Community Involvement

AARP: national board member; president, 2016 – 2018; member, 2012 – 2018; Michigan state president, 2006 – 2012

Loaves and Fishes Homeless Shelter, volunteer

Michigan Insurance Bureau, deputy director for Policy and Consumer Protection

Michigan Public Service Commission: chairman; commissioner; director of policy

Michigan State Housing Development Authority, real estate attorney

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