Charleston, W.Va. — Spilman Thomas & Battle (Spilman) announced that partner Eric W. Iskra will begin his one-year term as Chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Labor and Employment Law on August 1. His election to one of the ABA’s most prominent leadership positions is a testament to his thoughtful leadership abilities, his legal acumen, and his career-long dedication to advancing the practice of labor and employment law.

The ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law is the nation’s leading – and largest – professional organization dedicated to labor and employment law, bringing together more than 12,000 members from every segment of the profession, including lawyers representing employers, employees, and unions; lawyers from government agencies and in-house legal departments; and lawyers who serve as neutrals and in academia. As Chair, Iskra will help guide the Section’s strategic direction, oversee its extensive educational programming and publications, and lead one of the ABA's most active and influential sections.

“Eric’s election to this position is an extraordinary honor that speaks not only to the respect he has earned among his peers, but also to the depth of his leadership and commitment to the legal profession," said Michael J. Basile, Spilman’s Managing Member. "The Labor and Employment Law Section shapes national conversations on workplace law and policy, and we are incredibly proud to see Eric leading an organization with such far-reaching influence.”

Iskra was elected Chair-Elect in 2025 after serving two years as Vice-Chair. He has served on the Section’s governing council for six years and has been an active member of the Section for more than 25 years.

“It is a tremendous privilege to serve as Chair of a Section that has long been at the forefront of advancing labor and employment law,” said Iskra. “Throughout my career, the Section has been an invaluable forum for bringing together lawyers with diverse perspectives to improve our profession, develop practical resources, and foster thoughtful conversations on the complex workplace issues facing employers, employees, and practitioners alike. I look forward to building on that tradition and serving our members over the coming year.”

The Section is widely recognized as the profession’s leading resource for labor and employment law education and scholarship. Through its 14 substantive and standing committees and approximately 20 administrative committees, it delivers year-round continuing legal education programs, conferences, webinars, podcasts, trial advocacy training, and law school competitions. The Section also provides the content for more than 20 leading treatises that are regularly updated and relied upon by practitioners nationwide. Its flagship annual Section conference attracts more than 1,000 attendees each fall, with the 2026 conference scheduled for November in Washington, D.C.

Iskra also holds important leadership roles at Spilman. He serves as Chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group. He also serves as Member in Charge of Lawyer Administration, overseeing attorney development and management across the firm. He previously served as Member in Charge of Client Relations, a role in which he helped strengthen Spilman’s client-focused initiatives.

A seasoned litigator, Iskra’s law practice encompasses trial work and litigation, with an emphasis on labor and employment, employment class action, wage and hour class/collective action, and other high-stakes litigation. He is a Fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He earned his undergraduate degree from The College of William & Mary and his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.

About Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC
Spilman Thomas & Battle is a full-service, super-regional law firm serving local, regional, national, and international businesses. Founded in 1864, Spilman has offices in Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown and Wheeling, West Virginia; Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Roanoke, Virginia; and Jacksonville, Florida.