Eric A. Mahler

Eric is an experienced, business-mindset lawyer with a strong background in multiple areas including litigation, traditional labor relations, compliance, advice and counsel, contract drafting, executive compensation and data privacy. With a deep background as both an in-house and outside counsel, Eric is well-positioned to assist Ogletree’s clients navigate the twin paths of legal and business goals with strategic planning and guidance, as well as zealous advocacy. Eric has years of experience assisting with everything from administrative agency investigations and charges (DOL, OSHA, DOJ, NLRB), class-action lawsuits, M&A diligence, sensitive workplace investigations and leading cross-functional teams with a nuanced and thoughtful approach. His experience covers a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, energy, financial services, and retail. 

Eric handles collective bargaining negotiations as a lead negotiator, first-chaired numerous labor arbitrations and NLRB hearings, guided clients on union elections and conducted numerous trainings on union relations. As a former senior in-house attorney, Eric is accustomed to providing legal guidance and counsel to all levels of an organization, from the shop floor to the boardroom in a thoughtful, practical, and useful way. 

Eric rejoined Ogletree Deakins after 14 years as a senior in-house attorney for multi-billion dollar publicly traded corporations, where he led teams of lawyers and professional staff covering a wide range of subject matters on an international scale. One of his key accomplishments was to stand up a data privacy and protection function for a large, international manufacturing company with operations on five continents. Eric’s experience also extends to being a part of several M&A due diligence teams and assisting with driving home effective deals. 

Eric is a former Chair of the Board of the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, Chair of the Planning Commission of the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan and a member of the Wolverine Bar Association.