Eric Sanders
Founder and Principal Attorney
Eric Sanders is a New York–based civil rights attorney whose practice is centered on institutional accountability, constitutional enforcement, and the correction of systemic legal failure. He is the founder and principal attorney of The Sanders Firm, P.C., a litigation practice intentionally structured to confront civil rights violations arising from governmental power, workplace discrimination, and institutional misconduct.
Over the course of more than two decades, Mr. Sanders has counseled and represented thousands of individuals in complex legal matters involving police use of force, sexual harassment, retaliation, discrimination, and other civil rights violations. His work reflects a consistent focus on cases in which individual rights are subordinated to institutional convenience—and where meaningful accountability requires sustained legal pressure rather than symbolic advocacy.
Professional Formation and Legal Perspective
Before founding The Sanders Firm, P.C., Mr. Sanders served as managing attorney at another New York City law firm, where he gained extensive experience litigating civil rights and employment matters. He established his own firm to address what he viewed as structural limitations within legacy law firm models—procedural rigidity, economic inefficiency, and distance from client experience.
The Sanders Firm, P.C. was designed to preserve the rigor and institutional credibility of a traditional litigation practice while eliminating inefficiencies that dilute advocacy. The firm’s structure reflects a deliberate choice: to remain selective, focused, and capable of sustained litigation against well-resourced institutional defendants.
Mr. Sanders’ legal perspective is informed by a belief in individual autonomy, dignity, and self-actualization. He has consistently represented clients and causes that are politically, socially, or institutionally unpopular, recognizing that civil rights enforcement often requires confronting entrenched power rather than consensus.
Civil Rights, Sexual Harassment, and Workplace Enforcement
Sexual harassment litigation is a central component of Mr. Sanders’ civil rights practice, not as an isolated category, but as part of a broader framework addressing power imbalance, coercion, and institutional tolerance of unlawful conduct. He has represented clients in matters involving quid pro quo harassment, hostile work environments, retaliation, and the systemic failure of employers to address discriminatory conduct.
Mr. Sanders approaches sexual harassment cases with the understanding that these violations rarely occur in a vacuum. They are often enabled by organizational structures that discourage reporting, normalize misconduct, and protect perpetrators through silence or procedural delay. Litigation in this area therefore requires not only factual development, but careful exposure of institutional behavior that allowed the conduct to persist.
His work in this space reflects sensitivity to the vulnerability of clients whose rights have been violated, combined with a disciplined legal strategy focused on enforceable outcomes rather than performative resolution.
Institutional Accountability and Litigation Strategy
Across all areas of practice, Mr. Sanders’ litigation strategy is shaped by an understanding of how institutions defend themselves. Government entities, law enforcement agencies, and large employers often rely on deference, internal review, and procedural insulation to avoid accountability. Effective civil rights litigation therefore demands careful record development, issue preservation, and strategic escalation.
Mr. Sanders has litigated matters before state and federal courts, administrative agencies, and quasi-judicial bodies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State Division of Human Rights, the NYPD Trial Room, the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, the New York City Civil Service Commission, and other forums where institutional decision-making is frequently shielded from scrutiny.
He is admitted to practice in the courts of the State of New York and in the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Southern, and Northern Districts of New York.
Appellate and High-Stakes Litigation
In addition to trial-level representation, Mr. Sanders maintains an active appellate and post-judgment practice. He views appellate advocacy as a critical mechanism for correcting legal error that has been normalized through deference or misapplied standards.
Over the years, his litigation has resulted in significant verdicts and settlements for clients whose rights were violated. While prior outcomes are never predictive, certain matters have been recognized for their legal and institutional significance, including a federal jury verdict in Larry Jackson v. City of New York, which was later identified as one of the highest civil rights verdicts in New York during the relevant reporting period.
Mr. Sanders’ approach to high-stakes litigation is marked by persistence rather than spectacle. Matters are pursued where the law, the facts, and the institutional exposure align to permit meaningful enforcement.
Professional Affiliations and Service
Mr. Sanders has been affiliated with numerous professional organizations throughout his career, including the National Employment Lawyers Association, the National Employment Lawyers Association–New York Chapter, the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice. He previously served as General Counsel to the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives–New York Chapter.
As a retired police officer, Mr. Sanders brings firsthand understanding of law enforcement culture and internal dynamics to his civil rights work. That experience informs his approach to police misconduct, retaliation, and institutional reform matters.
Writing, Media, and Public Engagement
Mr. Sanders is a frequent legal commentator and has appeared on national and regional media outlets as a subject-matter analyst on issues involving civil rights, police accountability, and sexual harassment. His commentary has been featured by major news organizations, including national broadcast and print media.
In addition to media appearances, he has participated in academic and professional forums, including legal symposia hosted by St. John’s University School of Law and Columbia Law School. These engagements reflect his ongoing involvement in broader conversations about civil rights, governance, and institutional power.
Education, Recognition, and Awards
Mr. Sanders earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Adelphi University, graduating with high honors, and received his Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law.
His work has been recognized through multiple awards honoring professional service, community engagement, and commitment to civil rights, including humanitarian and alumni service distinctions.
Practice Ethos
The Sanders Firm, P.C. does not operate as a volume-driven practice. Mr. Sanders evaluates matters carefully, with attention to legal viability, evidentiary integrity, and institutional consequence. Clients are not treated as case numbers, and representation is undertaken with the understanding that civil rights litigation is serious, demanding work with lasting implications.
Closing Perspective
Eric Sanders’ practice is defined by enforcement rather than rhetoric. His work reflects the belief that rights are meaningful only when they are enforced, and that institutions remain legitimate only when they are accountable.
That principle governs the work of The Sanders Firm, P.C.