Eric S. Richards

Eric S. Richards received his B.A. degree cum laude from Michigan State University in 1983, and his J.D. degree magna cum laude from Wayne State University Law School in 1986. Eric has served as a federal judicial law clerk on both the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan. Eric has practiced law in both the District of Columbia and in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, securities arbitration and aviation law. Eric has authored several articles and has several reported cases, including MIOP, Inc. v. City of Grand Rapids, 175 F. Supp. 2d 952 (W. D. Mich., 2001). Eric served as an adjunct professor at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Community College and Davenport College. Eric is also an arbitrator for NASD-Dispute Resolution, Inc. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the District of Columbia Bar, the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the Grand Rapids Bar Association and the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association. Eric is also a founding member and current President of the Grand Rapids Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society. Eric is an instrument-rated private pilot and lives in a fly-in community. Eric recently earned his Brown Belt ("Nikyu") in Judo.