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Eric Schlabs

Senior Managing Associate
New York
T.
646.777.0044
liamE

Eric focuses his practice on high-stakes litigation, bringing extensive experience managing teams in complex commercial, trade secret, and employment matters. Eric works closely with his clients to understand their business needs so he can tailor creative, aggressive, and efficient strategies that nimbly balance risk and restraint.

Eric’s experience spans state courts from New York to California, federal courts across the country, and arbitration forums including AAA, JAMS, and the HKIAC. His career has encompassed all phases of litigation, taking cases from pre-suit investigation through trial and beyond, and he routinely handles expedited matters such as restraining orders, injunctions, and attachments. Eric has represented a diverse array of technology and pharmaceutical startups, as well as world-renowned consumer electronics, energy, and telecommunications companies. He proudly appears on each side of the “v” at almost exactly the same rate and particularly enjoys leveraging his engineering background to confront thorny technical issues and make them accessible to lay audiences.

Prior to joining Benesch, Eric was an associate at BraunHagey & Borden LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where he handled bet-the-company disputes, including trade secret, trademark, patent, antitrust, breach of contract, class action, corporate governance, financial fraud, unfair competition, digital assets, securities, and founders’ disputes. After graduating from law school, he clerked in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, where he worked on dozens of intellectual property and commercial cases.

In addition to his primary practice, Eric dedicates significant time to his impact and pro bono work, seeking justice for clients in individual and class action civil rights litigation and immigration cases. He is also an active member of the firm’s LGBTQ+ ERG and serves on its New York Hiring Committee.

*Matter completed prior to joining Benesch.

Representative Experience

  • Representing decision science technology and research firm in trade secret theft dispute against former customer.
  • Representing pharmaceutical startup in breach of contract dispute with overseas business partner.
  • Represented multinational digital communications technology company in contract dispute with supplier, coordinating technical expert reports that helped secure favorable resolution.
  • Represented investor in fraud and trade secret dispute against former portfolio company, deposing key fact and expert witnesses and arguing dozens of motions. Helped secure favorable settlement on the eve of trial.*
  • Represented food startup in trade secret and patent dispute against a competitor, obtaining summary judgment on all patent claims.*
  • Represented departing employee in lawsuit against former employer related to restrictive covenants. Successfully defeated two motions for temporary restraining order.*
  • Represented direct purchaser class in antitrust lawsuit against telescope manufacturers and distributors, deposing numerous key witnesses.*
  • Represented classes of attorney and incarcerated plaintiffs in lawsuit against department of corrections related to faulty drug tests. Helped win preliminary injunction and secure favorable settlement.*
  • Litigation
  • Intellectual Property
  • Trade Secrets, Restrictive Covenants & Unfair Competition
  • University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, J.D.
    • magna cum laude 
    • Order of the Coif
    • Senior Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review
    • Managing Editor, The Regulatory Review
    • Political Director, Lambda Law
    • President, Penn Intellectual Property Group 
    • Wharton Certificate in Management 
  • The George Washington University, B.S. in Civil Engineering
    • summa cum laude 
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • Member, New York State Bar Association
  • Former Member, New York City Bar Association LGBTQ Rights Committee
News
July 29, 2024
Eric Schlabs Mentioned in Crain's New York People on the Move
Beyond the Office
Favorite Quote
“What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?” – George Eliot (Middlemarch)
Favorite Hobbies
Reading (literary fiction and sci-fi), hiking, skiing, live music, local politics and news
Favorite Vacations
Honeymoon trekking in New Zealand, island hopping in the Philippines
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