Eric L. Pines is a federal employment lawyer, mediator, and attorney business coach with a career dedicated to representing federal employees. A former federal employee, Mr. Pines began as in-house counsel for AFGE Local 1923, the largest federal union local globally, based at the Social Security Administration headquarters. He continues to serve as Chief Counsel for AFGE Local 1923 while representing FEMA bargaining unit employees and unions within the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Through his work, he serves as in-house counsel for over 50,000 federal employees.
Mr. Pines has extensive experience litigating employment and labor law matters, securing significant victories such as a $16.5 million FLSA settlement for FEMA employees. His practice includes employment discrimination claims, wrongful discharge cases, whistleblower complaints, and labor arbitrations. His firm emphasizes advocacy for Veterans Affairs medical professionals and disabled federal employees, assisting with reasonable accommodation requests and disability retirement applications under the Rehabilitation Act.
He has also served as a mediator for various federal agencies, an EEO technical writer, and an expert witness in federal court. Based in Houston, Texas, with offices in Baltimore and Atlanta, Mr. Pines enjoys family time, playing guitar, ice hockey, and outdoor activities.