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- Professionals
- Eric H. Holder, Jr.
Eric Holder advises clients on complex investigations and litigation matters, including those that are international in scope and involve significant regulatory enforcement issues and substantial reputational concerns. Mr. Holder, who was a partner at Covington from 2001 to 2009, rejoined the firm after serving for six years as the 82nd Attorney General of the United States.
Before his service as Attorney General, Mr. Holder maintained a wide-ranging investigations and litigation practice at Covington. Among numerous significant engagements, he led the firm’s representation of a major multi-national agricultural company in related civil, criminal, and investigative matters; acted as counsel to a special investigative committee of the board of directors of a Fortune 50 technology company; successfully tried a complex discrimination lawsuit on behalf of a leading financial services company; and represented several life sciences companies in litigation and investigations.
Mr. Holder served as Attorney General from February 2009 to April 2015. As the third longest serving Attorney General in U.S. history and the first African American to hold that office, Mr. Holder is an internationally recognized leader across a broad range of regulatory enforcement, criminal justice, and national security issues. In 2014, Time magazine named Mr. Holder to its list of 100 Most Influential People, noting that he had “worked tirelessly to ensure equal justice.”
Including his tenure as Attorney General, Mr. Holder has served in government for more than thirty years, having been appointed to various positions requiring U.S. Senate confirmation by Presidents Obama, Clinton and Reagan.
Previous Experience
- Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice (2009-2015)
- Partner, Covington & Burling (2001-2009)
- Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice (1997-2001)
- U.S. Attorney, District of Columbia (1993-1997)
- Associate Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia (1988-1993)
- Trial Attorney, Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division (1976-1988)
January 20, 2021, Covington Alert
Based on the top-line numbers, 2020 was a banner year for U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) enforcement. We saw several record-setting fines as U.S.-recovered penalties from corporate resolutions totaled more than $2.75 billion—the highest on record; and a new company entered the all-time U.S. recoveries Top 10 resolutions list. While some commentators ...
Winter 2021, Covington Alert
As we noted in a recent client advisory, we have observed an upward trend in recent years in anti-corruption enforcement activity in Africa, including cross-border cooperation between African law enforcement authorities and their counterparts in the U.S. and UK. Looking ahead to 2021 and beyond, we see no reason to expect this trend to reverse. While 2020 did ...
November 11, 2020
How will the election of Joe Biden as the next U.S. President affect policy towards Africa? On November 11, 2020, our panel of experts discussed whether the change in administration will result in fundamental and substantive changes in U.S. foreign policy towards Africa. The panelists tackled a broad range of issues ranging from the presidential election, public ...
These are the big law firms Trump and Biden could tap if the election ends up in court
November 5, 2020, Financial News
Eric Holder and Covington are mentioned in Financial News regarding the firm’s representation of the Biden campaign.
June 12, 2020, Covington Alert
On June 8, 2020, the House of Representatives introduced the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 (hereinafter “the Act” or “the bill”) to “hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform police training and policies.” We anticipate a House committee markup the week of June 15 and a House floor vote ...
Criminal Statutes of Limitations and Speedy Trial Act Considerations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 3, 2020, Covington Alert
COVID-19 (hereinafter, “the coronavirus”) is causing significant interruptions to the legal system across the United States, with implications for actual and potential subjects in government investigations and defendants in enforcement actions. This client advisory analyzes the pandemic’s potential effects on the default statute of limitations for federal crimes ...
February 25, 2020, The American Lawyer
January 30, 2020, Covington Alert
It has been another strong year in anti-corruption enforcement, with 2019 meeting or beating the high-water mark for enforcement across a number of measurements.
Checks and Balances: Former AG Holder, Zynga GC Phillips Talk Collaboration in Diversity
December 13, 2019, The Recorder
Eric Holder spoke with The Recorder for a Q&A on diversity in big law and being a role model within the legal community with Phuong Phillips, Zynga chief legal officer. What is the status of diversity and inclusion in the legal industry? What can we do to improve that? “Our profession is not yet where it needs to be. Law firms are trying to do a better job, ...
April 25, 2019, Bloomberg Law
Bloomberg Law highlighted Covington's Global Problem Solving team and the efforts of the lawyers who make the capability possible. Sebastian Vos said the group doesn’t just work on problems for clients, but tries to use its resources to anticipate what problems could arise in the future and craft resolutions for them. “We help unlock a situation where a ...
Winter 2019, Covington Alert
It was business as usual for FCPA enforcement in 2018. The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) collected a total of $1 billion from seventeen corporate defendants, including through their share of two high-value, multi-jurisdictional enforcement actions. DOJ also announced thirteen new FCPA prosecutions ...
December 7, 2018
WASHINGTON—The American Lawyer has recognized Covington partner Eric Holder in its 2018 “Lifetime Achiever” series, which honors lawyers who have reached the highest levels of the public and private spheres—and left an indelible mark every step of the way. The article highlights Mr. Holder’s legal career and his “desire to make America more fair and equal.” Mr. ...
Litigation Luminaries
September 10, 2018, Commercial Dispute Resolution
Eric Holder and Craig Pollack are featured in Commercial Dispute Resolution regarding the firm’s ambitions to be at the forefront of international dispute resolution. Mr. Holder and Mr. Pollack discussed managing complex disputes, diplomatic solutions, culture of collaboration, Brexit, and structure and strategy of a case. Mr. Holder said in the interview, “We ...
Lifetime Achiever: Eric Holder, Covington & Burling
August 22, 2018, The American Lawyer
The American Lawyer has recognized Eric Holder in its annual “Lifetime Achiever” series. The article highlights his esteemed legal career and his “desire to make America more fair and equal.” Mr. Holder sees this theme running throughout his career and says, “I get to do things that are consistent with what I think lawyers should be doing as change agents, while ...
MABF Honors Eric Holder with Pioneer for Justice Award
June 14, 2018
LOS ANGELES—The Mexican American Bar Foundation (MABF) honored Covington partner and the 82nd Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder with the Pioneer for Justice Award at its 27th Annual Scholarship & Awards Gala. MABF recognized Mr. Holder for his commitment to equal justice for all Americans and for providing inspiration to advocates in the pursuit ...
Eric Holder, Unleashed
March 28, 2018, The AmLaw Litigation Daily
Eric Holder was featured by The AmLaw Litigation Daily in an article describing his many roles and responsibilities both at the firm and beyond. According to Timothy Hester, Holder is "involved in a lot of important issues of the day, but he’s also involved in very important issues for our client base." Hester adds, “He’s thrown himself into the life of our ...
March 7, 2018
WASHINGTON—Global Investigations Review and Who’s Who Legal: Investigations have recognized Covington’s White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Group in its 2018 report. The publication named Covington partners Tammy Albarrán and Steven Fagell to the inaugural Future Leaders issue, a ranking of “the most eminent lawyers in the field under 45,” and ...
January 25, 2018, Covington Advisory
Our message this year is simple: FCPA enforcement is here to stay. Despite pre-election statements to the contrary, various senior officials in the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) have, over the past year, consistently reaffirmed DOJ’s and the SEC’s commitment to FCPA enforcement.
The Regulator Whisperers: Covington & Burling, Finalist for White Collar/Regulatory Litigation Department of the Year
January 2018, The American Lawyer
The American Lawyer named Covington a finalist for White Collar/Regulatory Litigation Department of the Year and highlights Eric Holder, Steven Fagell, Lanny Breuer, Nancy Kestenbaum, and Mythili Raman in its profile.
December 12, 2017, Microsoft
Eric Holder participated in Microsoft's #TechTalk series to discuss "Law Enforcement & Data." Topics included the role of national borders when it comes to accessing electronic evidence, the significance of e-evidence in investigations, the protection of fundamental rights online, the need for international police cooperation, and the unnecessary barriers to ...
Eric Holder Honored by GLAD
October 30, 2017
WASHINGTON—GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) honored Covington partner and the 82nd Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder with the 2017 Spirit of Justice Award for his instrumental role in advancing LGBT+ justice and his leadership on voting rights, criminal justice reform, and examining racial bias in policing. “Mr. Holder’s leadership on a ...
August 29, 2017
WASHINGTON—The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) honored Covington partner and the 82nd Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder with the Nathaniel R. Jones Award for Exceptional Public Service at the 108th NAACP National Convention. Named after the Honorable Nathaniel R. Jones, who served for 23 years as a judge on the ...
Eric Holder Honored by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Commitment to Civil Rights
June 16, 2017
WASHINGTON—The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs honored Covington partner and former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder with the 2017 Wiley A. Branton Award for his “unremitting commitment to civil rights and leadership on critical equal justice issues inside government and in the private bar.” The Wiley A. Branton Award is the ...
January 16, 2017
LONDON—Craig Pollack and Louise Freeman have joined Covington as partners in the firm’s European Dispute Resolution practice resident in London. Mr. Pollack will also serve as co-chair of the firm’s Global Disputes Initiative with former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and former U.S. Under Secretary of State Alan Larson. Mr. Pollack focuses on complex high ...
October 20, 2016
WASHINGTON—The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty honored Covington partner and former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder with the Outstanding Achievement Award for his work in identifying and ameliorating federal policies that target the criminalization of poor people. The Law Center highlighted Mr. Holder’s leadership role overseeing the ...
October 17, 2016, GW Today
Eric Holder was interviewed at a HistoryMakers event by Jonathan Capehart of The Washington Post and is quoted in a GW Today article offering highlights. “I like people to think of me as a person who believes in this country… as an advocate for people who too frequently were voiceless, [and] as a man who tried to change institutions in our country that needed ...
September 29, 2016
WASHINGTON—The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) honored Covington partner and former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder with the 2016 Justice John Paul Stevens Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership in bolstering civil rights and access to justice. The NLADA’s Justice John Paul Stevens Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed on a lawyer ...
August 22, 2016
WASHINGTON—Global Investigations Review has named Covington’s FCPA practice among Washington’s “elite,” the highest tier in its “Washington DC’s FCPA Bar” survey. In its profile, GIR notes Covington’s “deep bench of high-level former prosecutors,” including former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder; the last two former heads of the Criminal Division at the ...
Eric Holder Named to LDF’s National Board
May 24, 2016
WASHINGTON — Covington partner and former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was named to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund’s (LDF) National Board of Directors. Mr. Holder recently received LDF’s highest honor, the Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award, named for its founder and the first African-American Supreme Court justice. Mr. Holder's ...
April 5, 2016, Global Competition Review
Eric Holder’s remarks from “GCR Live: Cartels” are quoted extensively in this GCR article. Holder said, “Regardless what the election holds in November, my strong belief is that the antitrust division will continue to focus on cartel enforcement. This is a priority for the Justice Department now, and will continue to be for the next attorney general.”
Washington Lawyers' Committee and Covington Release Report on Challenges Faced by D.C. Women in Prison
March 25, 2016
WASHINGTON, DC — A report focusing on the overwhelming challenges faced by D.C. women who are incarcerated was released today by The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs and Covington. The report, titled “D.C. Women in Prison: Continuing Problems and Recommendations for Change,” provides an in-depth look at the experience of women who ...
December 12, 2015, NPR
Eric Holder was interviewed by NPR’s Michel Martin to discuss his work as Attorney General and what’s ahead for him at Covington. According to Holder, his “life is still going to be focused on dealing with voting rights issues.”
November 5, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, November 5, 2015 - The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund (LDF) named Covington partner and former US Attorney General Eric Holder as the recipient of its Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his lifelong efforts to advance civil rights. LDF recognized Mr. Holder for his work at the US Department of Justice to fight ...
July 6, 2015, NBC News
July 6, 2015, Reuters
Former AG Eric Holder returns to former D.C. law firm
July 6, 2015, The Washington Post
July 6, 2015, The Lawyer
July 6, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, July 6, 2015 — Former U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr., is returning to Covington as a partner after more than six years of service as the nation’s top law enforcement officer. Mr. Holder will be resident in the firm’s Washington office and focus on complex investigations and litigation matters, including matters that are international ...
July 5, 2015, The Wall Street Journal
Holder's Return to Covington Was Six Years in the Making
July 5, 2015, National Law Journal
September 29, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC, September 29, 2008 — Covington & Burling LLP received 124 individual mentions in 40 areas of law in the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The Covington lawyers recognized are as follows: Administrative: ...
June 16, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC, June 16, 2008 — Covington & Burling LLP received 81 individual mentions and 45 practice mentions in the newly released 2008 Chambers USA. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington ...
Two Covington Partners Among National Law Journal’s ‘50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers’
5/27/2008
WASHINGTON, DC, May 27, 2008 — The National Law Journal has named Covington & Burling LLP partners Eric Holder and Thomas Williamson to its survey of “The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America.” The first-ever list, which honors lawyers who have had a national impact in their legal fields during the past five years, is featured in the NLJ’s May 26 ...
Covington’s Eizenstat, Gesell, Holder, Horsky, and Ruff Among Legal Times’ ‘Greatest Washington Lawyers of Past 30 Years’
5/27/2008
WASHINGTON, DC, May 27, 2008 — In connection with its 30th anniversary, Legal Times’ May 19 anniversary issue features a salute to the “Greatest Washington Lawyers of the Past 30 Years.” The special report recognizes 30 lawyers each in the categories “Champions,” “Visionaries,” and “Pioneers.” Covington partners Stuart Eizenstat and Eric Holder were named, ...
11/30/2007
WASHINGTON, DC, November 30, 2007 — Nineteen Covington & Burling LLP attorneys are recognized as “Top Lawyers” in the December 2007 issue of Washingtonian magazine. The list, compiled by the magazine’s editorial staff based on peer recommendations, identifies leading lawyers in the Greater Washington area. Of the “Top Lawyers,” Washingtonian identified 30 as the ...
September 6, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, September 6, 2007 — Covington & Burling LLP received 115 individual mentions in 38 areas of law in the 2008 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The recipients are as follows: Administrative: E. Edward Bruce and ...
June 18, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, June 18, 2007 — Covington & Burling LLP received 44 practice mentions and 74 individual mentions in the newly released 2007 Chambers USA guidebook. The 2007 edition of Chambers USA attempts to identify the most skilled legal practitioners throughout the country based on the qualities most valued by clients. Covington attorneys have been ...