Eric B. Porter Partner

Eric Porter is a seasoned commercial litigator with experience across a wide range of practice areas. Previously serving as a Senior Counsel for the New York City Law Department and handling high profile cases involving civil rights issues, education law, ADA compliance and class action defense, Eric now represents commercial clients in state and federal court through all phases of litigation. His practice encompasses everything from intellectual property matters, contract disputes, insurance fraud investigations, and product labeling claims, to the recognition of foreign arbitration awards, corporate ownership disputes, construction litigation and personal injury. 

Eric regularly argues before the state and federal district courts of the state of New York, along with appellate courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He prides himself on taking a pragmatic and nuanced approach to each case, always focused on achieving the best possible outcome for his clients.

Representative Matters

• Secured a judgment from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and successfully defended that judgment on appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, in a matter brought on behalf of a firm client based in China to enforce a foreign arbitration award entered against a U.S. company
• Successfully defended multiple corporate and individual clients from fraud and fraudulent conveyance claims in a complex financial dispute
• Litigated and negotiated the successful resolution of a matter involving fraud against a publicly traded company by its in-house auditor
• Served as lead counsel for the New York City Department of Education (DOE) in a case challenging the DOE’s legal rights and obligations stemming from New York State’s recently enacted universal pre-kindergarten statute, and secured victories for his client in an administrative proceeding and on appeal of that proceeding in Albany Supreme Court
• Served as lead counsel for the City of New York in complex class action lawsuits challenging the provision of various types of public benefits to class members, and secured favorable results for his client

Recognition & Involvement

While with the City of New York, Eric received the New York City Department of Homeless Services’ (DHS) Legal Excellence Award in 2010, the highest award given to a DHS attorney. Eric also volunteers for the Humane Society of the United States, and during law school worked in the Humane Society’s Animal Protection Litigation Department.