Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Class Actions and Mass Torts

Partner - Litigation and Investigations

Eric Rieder helps clients solve some of their most difficult litigation problems. He is co-leader of the firm's Shareholder Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions litigation team. His national practice focuses on securities, mergers and acquisitions, contract disputes, and other complex litigation. He has tried and won important cases in courts and arbitrations around the country and successfully litigated others to resolution through motions and settlements. He advises clients on the duties of both public and private company directors and officers and has extensive experience handling SEC investigations and audit and special committee investigations. He writes and speaks regularly on securities law and M&A issues.

In his 30 years as a litigator, Eric has amassed a wealth of diverse experience in other areas of litigation in federal and state courts. He has represented non-profits, including private foundations; business people in partnership disputes and struggles for control of closely held corporations; and parties in fraudulent transfer claims in both Bankruptcy Court and other courts. A former journalist, he has represented companies in the communications and media field in copyright and related licensing disputes over television rights, as well as defendants in defamation actions.

Throughout his career, he has been a leading pro bono practitioner, with a focus on the rights of immigrants, the homeless, people with disabilities, and residents of adult homes and nursing homes. He represented a client in winning political asylum, successfully tried a Family Court case, and handled class action lawsuits on behalf of homeless people in New York City and residents of two Queens adult homes. He has submitted amicus curiae briefs in significant appeals. Eric has been recognized by MFY Legal Services as a member of the Pro Bono Honor Roll and served on the Disability Rights Task Force of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.

Eric has contributed to publications as editor and author throughout his career. He has served on the editorial boards of The Corporate Counselor and of Litigation, the journal of the American Bar Association Litigation Section. His work on securities law, arbitration, and other legal issues has appeared in publications ranging from the Banking Law Journal and New York Law Journal to the Los Angeles Times and the Huffington Post. Before attending law school, he worked as a journalist for the Miami Herald, where he reported on legal affairs and City Hall and received a Ford Foundation fellowship to study at Yale Law School.