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Eric Holder served as the 82nd Attorney General of the United States and has a distinguished career in law and public service, offering expertise to diverse organizations and initiatives.
Eric Holder was a litigation partner at Covington & Burling LLP prior to becoming Attorney General from 2001 to 2009. He rejoined the firm in 2015, continuing his practice in corporate litigation, primarily for financial firms.
In 2004, Holder helped negotiate an agreement with the Justice Department for Chiquita Brands International in a case involving the company's payment of 'protection money' to a foreign terrorist organization. Holder represented Chiquita in the civil action that grew out of this criminal case.
During his private practice years (2001-2009), Holder represented clients such as Merck.
During his private practice years (2001-2009), Holder represented clients such as the National Football League.
In October 2004, Holder defended Purdue Pharma in a West Virginia court against accusations of deceptive marketing of their product OxyContin.
During his years in private practice, Holder represented the Swiss private bank UBS. He later recused himself from Department of Justice investigations concerning the bank due to this prior relationship.
In early 2016, Holder was hired by the South Africa-based telecommunications company MTN Group as part of its efforts to combat a $3.9 billion fine issued by the Nigerian government. He worked with the Nigerian Attorney General to reach a compromise, resulting in a reduced fine.
In February 2017, Uber hired Holder to help lead an investigation into claims of sexual harassment and discrimination made public by a former employee. His recommendations led to significant changes within the company's leadership and personnel.
In July 2024, Holder and his law firm Covington & Burling were hired by Kamala Harris's presidential campaign to vet vice presidential nominees.
Eric Himpton Holder Jr. was born on January 21, 1951, in the Bronx, New York. He attended public schools, graduating from Stuyvesant High School, and went on to Columbia College, where he majored in American History and graduated in 1973. He continued his education at Columbia Law School, completing his Juris Doctor in 1976. After law school, Holder joined the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the Attorney General’s Honors Program, where he was assigned to the newly formed Public Integrity Section. In this role, he investigated and prosecuted official corruption at local, state, and federal levels, marking the beginning of a significant career in public service.
His career advanced when President Ronald Reagan nominated him as an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in 1988, a position he held until 1993. Following this, President Bill Clinton appointed him U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, making him the first African American to hold that office. In 1997, Clinton again recognized his abilities, appointing him Deputy Attorney General, a historic role as the first African American to hold that post. Prior to becoming Attorney General, Holder worked as a litigation partner at Covington & Burling LLP in Washington, accumulating extensive experience in private practice.
In 2008, President-elect Barack Obama announced his intention to nominate Holder as Attorney General, and he was sworn in as the 82nd Attorney General of the United States on February 3, 2009. He served for more than six years, making him one of the longest-serving Attorneys General in U.S. history. During his tenure, he focused on civil rights, terrorism prosecutions, and criminal justice reform initiatives. Following his resignation in 2015, Holder returned to Covington & Burling, and continues to be involved in public policy, notably through his work on gerrymandering reform.
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