Eric B. Porter Counsel

Eric Porter focuses his practice on representing clients in all stages of litigation. He has extensive experience in both state and federal court in cases involving civil rights issues, education law, ADA compliance and class action defense.

Prior to joining White and Williams, Eric served as a Senior Counsel for the New York City Law Department. While with the Law Department Eric defended the City of New York, along with its agencies, officers, and employees, in a wide variety of lawsuits across all phases of litigation.

Representative Matters

• 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 before the New York State Department of Education 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
• 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

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.