About
Over the past two decades, Eric Bachman has represented employees who have suffered employment discrimination and whistleblower retaliation at work. Many of Eric’s clients worked as executives and high-level managers in Fortune 500 companies. Eric has significant experience in both private law firms, where he worked as a partner for many years at two Washington, DC employment law firms, and in high-level government positions. Eric served in senior positions at the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC). His wins include a $100 million settlement in a Title VII employment discrimination class action, a $1.3 million jury verdict in an age discrimination case (tried with co-counsel), and a record-setting Whistleblower Protection Act settlement.
Eric writes for Forbes.com on employment law issues. And among other honors, he was named to the Best Lawyers in America list 2022 for Employment Law and Civil Rights, the National Law Review has twice recognized him with the “Go-To Thought Leader” award, and he has been named to the Best Lawyers and SuperLawyers lists multiple times. Further, Washingtonian magazine selected Eric a Top Lawyer in Whistleblower Law numerous times, and the ABA Journal honored his blog as one of the best legal blogs in the country.
Eric holds extensive litigation experience, including trials in federal and state courts, and has also set important precedent on employment discrimination issues at the appellate level. He litigates employment discrimination cases, including age discrimination, sex harassment, and corporate whistleblower retaliation cases.
As editor of the Glass Ceiling Discrimination blog, Eric writes frequently on topics related to whistleblower retaliation, promotion discrimination, harassment, and other employment discrimination issues. Indeed, a federal court quoted his Glass Ceiling Discrimination blog article related to Title VII discrimination issues in a recent opinion. Before founding Bachman Law, Eric was a partner with Zuckerman Law in Washington, DC. Eric also served as Deputy Special Counsel, Litigation and Legal Affairs, at OSC from 2014 to February 2017.
Prior to that, he worked for five years as a Special Litigation Counsel and Senior Trial Attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Previously, Eric was a partner in another Washington, DC civil rights law firm. Eric began his career as a public defender and served as lead or co-counsel in numerous jury trials.
Successes
In private practice and while with the Department of Justice and the Office of Special Counsel, Bachman has overseen investigations and litigated enforcement of Title VII employment discrimination cases and whistleblower retaliation claims.
A sample of his reported cases and successes include:
- Skalli-Hanna v. American University, (D.C. Sup.) (Bachman won a $1.3 million judgment in a nearly month-long age discrimination jury trial along with co-counsel)
- U.S. ex rel. Oberg v. PHEAA, No. 18-1028 (4th Cir.) (Bachman served as lead counsel in the appeal of a False Claims Act case)
- U.S. v. City of New York, 847 F.Supp.2d 395 (E.D.N.Y.)
(Bachman served as a lead counsel on this Title VII employment discrimination class action challenging the discriminatory hiring practices of the Fire Department of New York. He led a team of lawyers over several years in litigating this federal court case that involved six Special Masters, dozens of court opinions, multiple expert witnesses, the creation and validation of a new employment test, over a thousand class members, and ultimately resulted in an approximately $100 million settlement). - Sutton v. City of Chesapeake, 713 F.Supp.2d 547 (E.D. Va.)
(Bachman served as lead counsel on this novel employment discrimination case under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)). - U.S. v. Franklin County, N.C., (W.D.N.C.)
(Bachman served as lead counsel on this Title VII retaliation case that resulted in a consent decree). - Wade, et al. v. Kroger Co., (W.D. Ky.) (Bachman helped to litigate and was appointed class counsel on this nationwide Title VII employment discrimination class action case).
- Aleman, et al. v. Chugach, 485 F.3d 206 (4th Cir.) (Bachman served as lead counsel, including the appellate briefing and argument, on this precedent-setting case that expanded federal anti-discrimination law protections).
- Varghese v. Honeywell, 424 F.3d 411 (4th Cir.) (Bachman briefed and argued this federal appellate decision regarding the Maryland Wage Payment & Collection Law and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)).
- Rhodes, et al. v. Cracker Barrel, 213 F.R.D. 619 (N.D. Ga.)
(Bachman helped to litigate this nationwide Title VII employment discrimination class action case). - Thomas, et al. v. Cracker Barrel, 4:01-cv-325 (N.D. Ga.)
(Bachman helped to litigate this nationwide race discrimination in public accommodations class action case).
Disclaimer: Information about results achieved in prior cases does not guarantee or predict a similar result in future cases. Results will vary based upon a variety of factors unique to each case. References to prior client engagements are not intended to constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.
Awards
- Best Lawyers in America List 2020-2023 for Employment Law and Civil Rights Law
- Super Lawyers 2020-2023 list for Washington DC
- Martindale-Hubbell© Peer Review Rating: AV® Preeminent, the highest possible rating (5.0/5.0) in both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards 2017-2023
- National Law Review recognizes Eric Bachman with its “Go-To Thought Leader” award in 2018 and 2020
- Washingtonian Magazine named Eric Bachman a Top Lawyer in Whistleblower Law 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022.
- 2019 Featured Verdict Award – Eric Bachman’s $1.3 million jury verdict (tried with co-counsel) recognized by ALM/Verdict Search
- ABA Journal chose Glass Ceiling Discrimination Blog for its WEB100 award, naming it a top legal blog in the United States
- The U.S. Secretary of Labor appointed Bachman to serve on the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee from 2015 to 2017, which makes recommendations on how to improve federal whistleblower protections
- U.S. Department of Justice – The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service (one of the highest awards the Department bestows for employee performance) 2014
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division – Distinguished Service Award 2013
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division – Special Commendation for Outstanding Service 2012
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division – Special Achievement Award 201
Memberships
- Member: United States Supreme Court; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; various federal district courts; D.C. Bar Association; Maryland State Bar Association; Virginia Bar Association; New Hampshire Bar Association
- Member: American Bar Association; National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA); and Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA); Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, DC; Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
- Board Member, First Shift Justice Project – Empowering Employees to Exercise their Workplace Rights
Latest News
Federal court issues key decision in class action race discrimination case against Maryland State Police
This week the federal court in Maryland issued a key ruling in the class action race discrimination case against the Maryland State Police (MSP) that is being litigated by Bachman Law and Joseph Greenwald & Laake. In the ruling, a federal judge among other things denied MSP’s attempt to dismiss the race discrimination and retaliation
Bachman Law named to 2025 Best Lawyers list
Bachman Law principal Eric Bachman was again named to the 2025 Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Employment Law/Civil Rights. Bachman has been named to this prestigious list several times. Best Lawyers®, the oldest and most respected guide to the legal profession, recently released the Best Lawyers in D.C. 2025 Edition. Lawyers named to
Bachman Law recognized in the 2024 Best Lawyers in America list
Bachman Law principal Eric Bachman was recently named to the 2024 Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Employment Law/Civil Rights. Bachman has been named to this prestigious list several times. Best Lawyers®, the oldest and most respected guide to the legal profession, recently released the Best Lawyers in D.C. 2024 Edition. Lawyers named