Eric Hager: Partner Specializing in Appellate and Complex Litigation

Eric Hager is a partner in Conrad & Scherer’s Quito, Ecuador office. His practice focuses on appellate litigation, commercial litigation, securities and financial regulatory litigation, complex civil litigation, land use litigation, and trust litigation.

Expertise in Complex Litigation

With years of experience in complex litigation, Eric has played a key role in many high-profile cases. In June 2024, he was part of the trial team that secured a $38.3 million verdict against Chiquita Brands International in a multi-district litigation. Additionally, Eric has worked on numerous cases in state and federal courts across the U.S. He has managed multinational teams handling difficult e-discovery projects and other complex discovery tasks. His clients range from U.S. and international businesses to non-profit organizations, local governments, and the former CEO of a publicly-traded company. Moreover, Eric has led or participated in appeals in various state and federal courts.

International Legal Work and Discovery Expertise

Eric’s litigation expertise includes extensive work with liability and damages experts in commercial litigation. He has collaborated with foreign law experts from Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru to provide U.S. courts with declarations of foreign law. Eric has also represented clients in discovery matters related to foreign legal proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 1782. This statute allows litigants to seek discovery in the U.S. for use in foreign cases. One notable example is the magistrate’s report in In re Solines (No. MC 18-3680, 2018 WL 2225134), which highlighted his success in obtaining discovery through Section 1782. Eric also assists clients with requests for international judicial assistance, known as letters rogatory, and helps Latin American clients navigate cross-border litigation and transactions.

Broad Experience in Appellate and Commercial Litigation

Eric has extensive experience in briefing complex legal issues. His focus includes defending against common commercial litigation claims such as breach of contract, fraud, and tortious interference. He also handles more intricate matters like choice of law between U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, statutory construction, and defenses such as forum non conveniens and international comity. Eric is skilled in handling procedural matters, including motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, and discovery motions. Additionally, he has argued motions before both state and federal courts on complex issues, including the admissibility of evidence.

Human Rights Litigation and Multinational Cases

Before shifting his focus to commercial litigation and appeals, Eric spent over six years representing clients in cases against multinational corporations for human rights abuses. In this role, he took and defended depositions both in the U.S. and abroad. He also led fieldwork and discovery efforts in remote areas of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Eric achieved significant results, including a key reversal from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and briefing numerous appeals in other courts.

Cross-Border Litigation and Transaction Support

Eric provides critical assistance to the firm’s Latin American clients in cross-border litigation and transactions. His background in international law enables him to offer valuable guidance to clients navigating legal systems in the U.S. and Latin America.

Personal Background

Eric is fluent in Spanish and resides in Quito, Ecuador. He has traveled extensively throughout South America’s Andean region on business, giving him a deep understanding of the local legal and business landscapes.