Eric L. Barnum

He | Him | His

Partner

Atlanta
T +1.404.946.9780
F +1.404.459.5734

Overview

An experienced trial lawyer, Eric Barnum practices in all areas of employment law and litigation. He has extensive experience in multiparty complex civil litigation, as well as noncompete and trade secrets litigation, and administrative investigations and hearings. Eric also regularly litigates federal cases and advises clients on issues of employee classification and wage payments under the Fair Labor Standards Act, providing sophisticated and creative advice to help clients achieve business objectives. He is invested in his clients’ success, handling complex, high-value and high-exposure matters with ingenuity and practicality, while producing effective and sustainable solutions.

Eric is co-leader of the firm’s Litigation Associate Training Program, and frequently conducts training and educational seminars for lawyers and human resource professionals on various aspects of developing employment, trade secrets and noncompete law. He also has a background in career counseling and youth mentoring and motivation.

Select Experience

  • Lead counsel for automotive management consultancy company in seven-figure worker misclassification Georgia class action.
  • Employment counsel for a Fortune 500 telecommunications company in Georgia and the Southeast handling discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination and other workplace-related claims.
  • Lead employment counsel for a multinational e-commerce technology company in federal litigation alleging violation of Title VII and state anti-discrimination laws; handle administrative charges alleging discrimination.
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Experience

  • Lead counsel for automotive management consultancy company in seven-figure worker misclassification Georgia class action.
  • Employment counsel for a Fortune 500 telecommunications company in Georgia and the Southeast handling discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination and other workplace-related claims.
  • Lead employment counsel for a multinational e-commerce technology company in federal litigation alleging violation of Title VII and state anti-discrimination laws; handle administrative charges alleging discrimination.
  • Lead counsel for global innovator focusing on digitalization and automation for the process and manufacturing industries, power generation and distribution.
  • Lead employment counsel for local television affiliate of publicly held media and marketing services company.
  • Lead employment counsel for multiple Atlanta professional sports teams.
  • Represents the world's largest audio entertainment company in employment matters.
  • Lead counsel on behalf of transportation and logistics company in multiple million-dollar worker misclassification California class actions.
  • Lead trial counsel in successful defense of fraud and unfair business practices act claim for the nation’s largest pool equipment and supply company. Resulted in unanimous jury verdict on behalf of corporate and individual defendants.
  • Lead counsel for large financial institution in federal FLSA collective action leading to successful motion to dismiss, compelling individual arbitrations of claims.
  • Represents major quick-service industry food retailer and franchisees in all manner of employment law disputes, including FLSA wage-hour litigation, U.S. Department of Labor audits, and review of personnel policies and procedures.
  • Trial counsel on behalf of food and dairy manufacturer alleged to be in breach of employment contract action.
  • Lead trial attorney and outside general counsel for the Martin Luther King, Jr., Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the nation’s foremost civil rights and social justice policy institutions.
  • Conducted internal investigation into allegations of race discrimination and unfair hiring practices for major Division I/FBS college athletics department.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • Chambers USA: Labor & Employment in Georgia (2009, 2010, 2017 to 2022)
    • Band 2 (2021 to 2022), Band 3 (2019 to 2020), Band 4 (2017 to 2018)
  • College of Labor and Employment Lawyers (2020 Inductee)
  • The Legal 500 United States (2017 to 2021)
    • Recommended in Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense (2017 to 2021)
    • Recommended in Workplace and Employment Counseling (2021)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2020 to Present)
    • Georgia: Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Lawdragon, 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers (2020 to 2021)
  • Georgia Trend Magazine, Legal Elite: Business Law (2012 to 2016)
  • Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2014
  • Minority Corporate Counsel Association: Outstanding Outside Counsel
  • Georgia “Super Lawyer” (2011 to 2013, 2015 to 2022)

Memberships

  • National Employment Law Council
    • Board of Directors
    • Treasurer (2008 to 2016)
  • American Employment Law Council
  • Litigation Counsel of America: Fellow
  • National Bar Association
    • Deputy General Counsel (2010 to 2011)
  • American Bar Association
    • Labor and Employment Law Section
      • Council Member-Elect (2020)
      • Annual Section Conference Committee
        • Co-Chair (2018)
        • Vice Chair (2017)
      • Trial Institute
    • Litigation Section
  • Gate City Bar Association
  • Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Community

  • Leadership Atlanta
    • Board of Trustees
    • Executive Committee
    • 2020 Program Chair
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta: Corporate Board of Directors, Class of 2020
  • Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission
  • Communities in Schools - Atlanta: Chair, Board of Directors
  • Smithsonian Institution Atlanta Regional Council
  • Just the Beginning – A Pipeline Organization (2014 to 2016)
    • Board of Directors
    • Board Secretary
  • Turner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church: Board of Stewards
  • 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc.

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Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia
  • Georgia
  • California

Education

  • J.D., University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, 1994; Order of Barristers; International Moot Court Honors Board; International Moot Court Jessup Competition Team, Top Oral Advocate and Captain
  • B.A., History, University of California, Los Angeles, 1991