Harold Eric Hilton

H. Eric Hilton is a Partner in the Atlanta office of Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP, focusing on construction, labor & employment and business litigation.  Eric is a practice group leader of the firm’s construction group.  He also serves as co-chair of the firm’s diversity committee.  Eric represents a variety of business types including construction general contractors, engineering firms, retail companies, property owners, property management firms, and hospitality industry clients.  Eric has tried cases to verdict in both state and federal courts and has appeared in numerous multi-party arbitration proceedings and mediations.

He handles a wide range of complex and high dollar construction related matters including defect claims, payment disputes, delay and schedule issues, performance, and contract disputes.  Additionally, Eric has expertise in defending property owners and contractors in resident injury claims related to alleged mold and toxic substance exposure. Eric also drafts, negotiates and reviews construction contracts and various business agreements.  He has developed and implemented effective dispute resolution and claim avoidance strategies to facilitate orderly project execution and completion for his construction industry clients.

Eric continues to maintain an active employment law practice and has experience in handling claims under Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA and various state laws.  He represents clients before administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board and various state agencies.  He conducts internal investigations, employee training and drafts employee handbooks. Eric also handles labor matters and serves as chief labor negotiator with a particular focus on the hospitality industry. 

Immediately prior to joining the firm, Eric served for ten years as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for national construction general contractor. As a hands-on general counsel, Eric spent significant time on construction related matters and successfully managed the resolution of numerous multi-party construction disputes.  He directly handled owner, subcontractor and vendor disputes during project execution and following project completion, to include matters involving performance, payment, schedule and completion, default, defect, warranty and remediation.  Eric remained active in contract administration to include drafting, negotiation and review of owner and subcontractor construction contracts, joint venture agreements and other business entity agreements.  Eric also managed a number of major claims involving water intrusion and related issues.  

In his role as General Counsel, Eric also provided advice to the company’s property management groups and managed claims involving a wide range of subject matters including mold and pollution, negligent security, wrongful death, personal injury and premises liability.  He also directly handled employment matters on behalf of the company and served as its lead labor negotiator.  Further, Eric oversaw the company’s human resources and risk management functions and worked closely with its insurers and insurance brokers to manage and minimize risk and exposure.  Eric also oversaw legal affairs for the Company’s other business units including its real estate development group, and the Company’s hotel and restaurant interests and airport concessions.  For his efforts, Eric received the Outstanding General Counsel Award (solo) from the Atlanta Business Chronicle and the Association of Corporate Counsel, Georgia Chapter in 2012.

Eric remains active in a number of business and civic organizations.  He is a Board Member of the Latin American Association and a member of 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc.  Eric is a past Board Member both of the Georgia Radio Reading Service, Inc. and the Association of Corporate Counsel, Georgia Chapter.  He has also served on the Fernbank Corporate Leadership Council and is a 2012 alumnus of Leadership Atlanta.  Eric volunteers regularly with a variety of service organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Action Ministries and the Atlanta Food Bank. 

Eric is a zealous advocate with a clear focus on solutions that facilitate his client’s business objectives.  Eric’s litigation and in-house experience, along with his business acumen, allows him to deliver customized and effective legal representation to his clients.