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