Mr. Wiechmann was the Managing Partner of the Firm 2007-2010. He also served on the Executive, Compensation and Growth Committees. His practice involves several areas of sophisticated civil litigation, including antitrust, securities, toxic tort and professional liability cases. He is also actively involved in Alternate Dispute Resolution, both as an advocate and a neutral.
Mr. Wiechmann has a nationwide practice. He has tried both jury and court cases and argued appeals in numerous state and federal courts throughout the country and represented companies and individuals before various administrative agencies, including the SEC, Justice Department, FTC, and various State's Attorney General.
He has represented companies and individuals in various industries including insurance, oil and gas, retail food, healthcare, manufacturing, building supplies, energy, paper products and dietary supplements in class actions, antitrust, patent, litigation, and state and federal governmental investigations and reviews (Hart, Scott & Rodino). He has defended both national and regional accounting firms and insurance brokers in malpractice and breach of contract claims. He has represented banks, broker dealers, publicly traded companies and individual investors in securities and other financial fraud matters and governmental investigations. He has tried cases throughout the country for major refiners, chemical companies, and Fortune 100 manufacturers on numerous chemical exposure and other toxic tort claims. He has been an advocate for clients in arbitrations and mediations throughout the Nation. He is also a certified Neutral with the American Arbitration Association, International Centre for Dispute Resolution and the Center for Prevention and Resolution of Disputes. He was National Coordinating Counsel for a major international oil company's toxic tort docket.
Mr. Wiechmann is very active with the Connecticut bench and bar. He sits as both a State Attorney Trial Referee and Federal Special Settlement Master. He has been appointed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut to sit on their Civil Task Force, Docket Control Committee, and Standard Jury Instruction Committee (1995-2000). He also sat on the Connecticut Law Revision Commission panel which drafted the Connecticut Code of Evidence and presently sits on the Connecticut Supreme Court's Evidence Code Oversight Committee. He has been elected as a Life Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation and is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association. He serves on the CBA Antitrust and Federal Practice Sections' Executive Boards and was past chair of its Court Rules Advisory Committee. He is a member of the Hartford County and District of Columbia Bar Associations and was a Trustee of the Connecticut Rivers Boy Scout Council. He also served on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Defense Counsel, was President of its Foundation, and is a member of the International Society of Barristers.
Mr. Wiechmann has been designated as a Connecticut and New England Super Lawyer for the past several years.
Memberships & Affiliations
International Association of Defense Counsel
- Board of Trustees 2006-2009
- National Trial Academy (faculty member)
- IADC Foundation, President, Board Member 2001-2007
- CLE Board Chair, 2000-2002
- Chair of Toxic and Hazardous Substance Litigation Committee, 1998-2000
- Audit Committee 2010-2012
American Bar Association Tort and Insurance Practice Section, Toxic and Hazardous Product Committee, Vice Chair: Antitrust Section
Connecticut Bar Association, Antitrust Section, Executive Committee
Connecticut Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
CT Law Revision Commission & Evidence Code Committee 1995-2001
Connecticut Superior Court - Civil Task Force and Docket Control Committees
Connecticut Supreme Court - Evidence Code Oversight Committee
American Chemistry Council
Connecticut Rivers Boy Scout Council, Trustee (1999-2009)
International Society of Barristers
Connecticut State Court Attorney Trial Referee and Fact Finder
USDC Special Settlement Master
Representative Matters
Big 4 Accounting Firms
Defending a Big 4 accounting firm in Connecticut State Court on a multimillion dollar malpractice claim arising out of a claimed failure to detect theft by a third party payroll service provider.
A National Bank
Representing a national bank in national prosecuting securities fraud claims against international investors, another bank, and a law firm.
A Fortune 5 Company
Defending a Fortune 5 company in New York State Court in major multiparty PCB, dioxin and furan exposure cases arising out of a fire in a state office building in Binghamton, New York.
State Indian Tribe
Representing a state recognized Indian tribe in federal and state courts in Connecticut in connection with their claims to land located in Western Connecticut and their related efforts to obtain federal recognition.
A Leading Provider of Molded Paper Products
Representing a leading provider of molded paper products in Minnesota Federal Court and a distributor of nutritional supplements in Connecticut Federal Court in antitrust actions arising out of claimed improper enforcement of patent rights.
A Professional Healthcare Organization
Represented a professional healthcare organization in FTC, state attorney general investigations involving claims of horizontal boycotts versus insurance companies.
Regional Food Chain
Represent regional food chain in antitrust actions arising out of development of competing new store.
A Major Chemical Company
Defending a major chemical company in a pesticide exposure case in Federal Court in Connecticut alleging injuries necessitating a complete heart lung transplant and ultimate death.
A Major Petroleum Refinery
Defending a major petroleum refinery in numerous chemical exposure death cases throughout the United States including Acute Myelogenous Leukemia death cases in Boston Federal Court and Delaware Federal Court and a bone cancer death case in Seattle, Washington.
A National Food Products Company
Defending a national food products company in a series of class actions through the United States involving claims of adulterated juice products.
Healthcare Provider Association
Representing a Health Care Trade Association in a Federal Trade Commission and State Antitrust investigation.
News
09/01/2010, Eric Wiechmann was quoted in several legal periodicals regarding Law Firm Management topics.
06/05/2007, McCarter & English Names Eric Wiechmann Deputy Managing Partner
12/21/2006, Eric Wiechmann was interviewed in GC New England, Roundtable Series 2006 regarding antitrust issues
06/05/2005, Eric Wiechmann quoted in several newspapers in Regards to Schaghticoke Tribal Nations Federal Recognition efforts
01/01/2004, Eric Wiechmann was quoted in the Wall Street Journal regarding Insurance Brokerage Industry Antitrust Investigation
Speaking
01/01/09, Terralex Managing Partner Round Table
Eric Watt Wiechmann
International Association of Defense Counsel
Publications
02/22/2010, Hart-Scott-Rodino Thresholds ToDecrease Effective February 22, 2010
M&E Antitrust And Trade Regulation Alert
01/01/2008, Combining Firms Successfully: Matching Cultures and Strategies
Current Issues & Trends in Law Firm Mergers & Acquisitions
01/01/2003, Should the Testimony of a "Grief Expert" Be Admissible At Trial?
Eric Watt Wiechmann and Vanessa Roberts Avery
IADC Newsletter, Toxic and Hazardous Substances Litigation Committee
01/01/2003, Cybersmear: A Primer for Corporate Victims
Eric Watt Wiechmann
Defense Counsel Journal
01/01/2001, Guilt by Association: Trade Associations, Liability, and Protections
Eric Watt Wiechmann
The Brief - Tort & Insurance Practice Section ABA
06/01/2000, Collective Liability of Trade Association Members
Eric Watt Wiechmann
For the Defense - DRI
07/01/1996, Curse of the Unsick: Update on Latent Injury Claims in Toxic Tort Cases
Eric Watt Wiechmann
The Brief - Tort & Insurance Practice Section ABA
04/01/1995, Genetic Injury in Toxic Tort Cases: What Science Can and Cannot Prove
Eric Watt Wiechmann
Defense Counsel Journal (winner of The George W. Yancy Memorial Award)