Eric L. Barnum is an experienced trial lawyer. He has been involved in a wide range of commercial litigation matters including business disputes, contract claims, non-compete, trade secret matters, product liability and personal injury defense.

Mr. Barnum also practices in all areas of employment law and employment litigation, including wrongful discharge, discrimination and hostile environment harassment litigation, labor arbitration, and analysis of personnel practices and procedures. He also has extensive experience in multiparty, complex civil litigation, including class actions, wage and hour claims, unfair competition, and administrative investigations and hearings.

His practice includes workplace violence intervention and evaluation, as well as obtaining temporary restraining orders and permanent injunctions. Mr. Barnum works with clients in the transportation, manufacturing, utility, health care, retail, education, real estate, construction, banking, and freight management and logistics sectors.

He frequently conducts training and educational seminars for lawyers and human resource professionals on various aspects of developing employment law. Mr. Barnum also has a background in career counseling and is an accomplished public speaker on issues of youth mentoring and motivation.

Publications

"An Introduction to Early Case Assessment," The Practical Litigator, American Law Institute-American Bar Association (ALI-ABA), Vol. 17, No. 6 (November 2006)

Best Practices in Electronic Discovery, BNA Books (2006)

"Georgia Unemployment Compensation Law," The Georgia Employer (2001)

"Georgia Law Related to Workplace Violence," The Georgia Employer (2001)

Speeches and Presentations

"The Aftermath of Noel Canning: What Now?" (moderator) 2013 National Employment Law Council Conference, Houston, TX (April 24, 2013)

"The Rising Tide of Wage and Hour Class Actions: Are You Prepared for What Might Get Washed Ashore?" In-House Counsel Seminar, Daily Report Events, Atlanta, Ga. (March 27, 2013)

"How to Pick 'em: Everything You Need to Know about Jury Selection," (moderator) Midwinter Meeting, Employee Rights and Responsibilities Committee, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Miami Beach, Fla. (March 20, 2013)

"ADEA RFOA: Implications and Impact of the EEOC's Final Rule," (speaker) ABA Sixth Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, Atlanta, Ga. (Nov. 2, 2012)

"Love Triangle in Sin City: A Modern Day Mock Trial," American Bar Association Section of Labor & Employment Law Mid-Winter Meeting, Las Vegas, Nev. (March 30, 2012)

"Privacy and Identity Theft Protection Laws," Cherry, Bekaert & Holland 2011 Not-for-Profit Conference, Atlanta, Ga. (December 1, 2011)

"Social Media & the Workforce: Should You Terminate for Tweeting?" West Georgia Association of CPAs Social Media Meeting, Carrolton, Ga. (November 8, 2011)

"A Class Action Just Walked in the Door – EEO Class Case Management 101," (panelist) American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law Fifth Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, Seattle, Wash. (November 4, 2011)

"The Continuing Evolution of Social Media in the Workplace - Lifesaver or Firestarter for Employers?," South Metro Human Resources Association, Peachtree City, Ga. (August 4, 2011)

"Using Social Networking Tools," Tennessee Self-Insurers' Association Fifth Annual Educational Conference, Nashville, Tenn. (September 15, 2011)

"Social Networking: Newest Legal Dangers Affecting the Employer," Georgia Safety, Health and Environmental Conference (September 8, 2011)

"The Continued Evolution of Social Media in the Workplace: Lifesaver or Firestarter?" (co-speaker) National Employment Law Council Sixteenth Annual Conference (April 27, 2011)

"Taking and Defending Depositions to Help Win Your Case," (co-speaker) American Bar Association Employment Litigation Skills Training Program and Section of Labor and Employment Law, Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee Mid-Winter Meeting (March 22, 2011)

"Social Media & the Workforce: Should You Terminate for Tweeting?" (panelist) Minority Corporate Counsel Association Tenth Annual CLE Expo (March 17, 2011)

"Class Action Arbitration," (co-speaker) The Arbitration Committee of the ADR Section of The Bar Association of San Francisco Seminar (December 9, 2010)

"Potpourri of Hot Topics," (panelist) American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law Wage and Hour Litigation...The Beat Goes On Four-Program Series Teleconference and Webcast (November 17, 2010)

"Going Against Type: Calculated Risks and Your Career Advancement," (panelist) Minority Corporate Counsel Association Eleventh Annual Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference (November 10, 2010)

"Digging For Dirt: Tips on Using Web sites, Apps & Other Investigation Tools to Mine for that Golden Trial Nugget," (panelist) American Bar Association 4th Annual Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference (November 4, 2010)

"'Si Se Puede' Manage the Multilingual Workplace," (speaker) National Retail Federation Human Resources Executives Summit (October 13, 2010)

"Blogging, Texting & Social Networking: Workers' Compensation Issues in the Digital Age," Southern Association of Workers' Compensation Administrators 62nd Annual Convention (July 21, 2010)

"Social Networking Goes to Work: Employment Law Issues in the Digital Age," (speaker) South Metro Human Resources Association, Peachtree City, Ga. (May 6, 2010)

"Navigating the Social Networking Hemisphere," (Moderator) National Employment Law Council 15th Annual Conference, Lake Las Vegas, Nev. (April 28, 2010)

"Social Networking Goes to Work: Employment Law Issues in the Digital Age," 2010 Employment Law and Legal Issues Update, Georgia Employer Committee Seminar (February 24, 2010)

"Who Says You Can't Have it Both Ways?" American Bar Association, Section of Labor & Employment Law teleconference (February 17, 2010)

"'Textual Harassment': New Employer Risk From Text Messages, Email and Internet Communications - Avoiding, Investigating and Defending Employee Race, Sex and Disability Claims," (speaker) Strafford Publications CLE teleconference/webinar (January 19, 2010)

"Every Breath You Take:Blogging, Texting, E-mails and Social Networking in the Workplace," (speaker) American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law Third Annual CLE Conference, Washington, D.C. (November 5, 2009)

"I Know Who You Are and I Read What You Write: Claims Arising from Blogging, Texting, GPS and E-mail," (speaker) American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law Third Annual CLE Conference, Washington, D.C. (November 5, 2009)

"Wage-Hour Issues," Schiff Hardin Labor and Employment Breakfast Briefing, Atlanta, Ga. (October 27, 2009)

"Covenants Not-To-Compete and Trade Secrets," (speaker) American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law, Employment Rights and Responsibilities (ERR) Committee Midwinter Meeting, Key West, Fla. (March 25, 2009)

"Workplace Privacy: Unclear But Present Danger," (panelist) American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment (June 4, 2008)

"Developing and Maintaining Relationships with In-House Counsel," National Employment Law Council Conference (April 30, 2008)

"Cautionary Lessons in Ethics and New Challenges to Professionalism for Corporate Counsel," Association of Corporate Counsel - Atlanta (March 11, 2008)

"Best Practices in Electronic Discovery," American Bar Association, Midwinter Meeting (March 2006)

Awards and Honors

Leading Lawyer - Labor & Employment, Chambers USA - America's Leading Lawyers for Business

Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America

Georgia’s Legal Elite – Business Law, Georgia Trend Magazine

Georgia Super Lawyers, Employment Litigation: Defense

Outstanding Outside Counsel, Minority Corporate Counsel Association