Service Areas
Industry Focus
Education
- The University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 2003; Raymond Scholar
Northwestern University, Ph.D. Philosophy, 2001, M.A. Philosophy, 1996
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.S. summa cum laude, Psychology and Philosophy, 1992; Phi Beta Kappa, University Honors (Bronze Tablet), Highest Honors in Philosophy, Distinction in Psychology
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States District Court, District of Colorado
Eric Sparks focuses his practice in the area of commercial litigation, including disputes involving construction, pharmaceutical development and registration, real estate, employment, and trusts/estates. He has experience in jury trials, binding arbitration proceedings, and appellate proceedings.
Eric has been recognized as a Rising Star for 2009 and 2010 in Business Litigation by Illinois Super Lawyers.
Recent Representative Matters
- Represented subcontractor in perfecting and prosecuting its multi-million dollar mechanics lien claim on a high-rise construction project in Chicago.
- Represented a Fortune 500 company in defense against a mechanics lien.
- Represented former beneficiaries of a trust in action against an institutional trustee for breach of trust.
- Represented owner in dispute involving construction defects and breach of warranty claim.
- Represented subcontractor in dispute involving an alleged joint venture for high-rise construction project.
- Represented national contractor in dispute involving cost overruns on highway construction project.
- Represented national contractor in dispute involving alleged construction defect of municipal water plant.
- Represented purchaser/homeowner in dispute involving a developer/vendor's fraudulent sale of property.
- Represented subcontractor in breach of contract claim on high-rise construction project for acceleration damages.
- Won a multi-million dollar arbitration victory for a pharmaceutical company. The arbitration, conducted in New York City, concerned a license and development agreement for a drug to be administered to feedlot cattle using a microsphere and time release technology. The arbitration involved substantial technical expert testimony concerning pharmaceutical bioequivalence and drug formulation issues and whether all commercially reasonable steps to obtain FDA approval were taken.
Professional and Civic Affiliations
- American Bar Association: Committee on Construction Litigation; Committee on Food and Drug Law
Illinois State Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association: Subcommittee on Construction Law and Mechanic's Liens
University of Chicago Alumni Association
Northwestern Alumni Association
American Subcontractors Association
Articles
- Review of Arbitration Awards: Are They Still "Final" in the First Appellate District?, GR Review, Fall 2007