Eric J. Leach

Eric is an associate in Taft’s Columbus office. He works with regulatory and government affairs clients to develop and implement their public policy strategies and provides counsel on public and government relations issue management. Eric’s government affairs practice focuses on matters including K-12 education, higher education, workforce development, telecommunications, and advanced manufacturing. Eric’s legal practice focuses on telecommunications and energy law, as well as regulatory law more broadly.

Prior to joining the firm, Eric served as the Deputy Director of the Ohio Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, serving under former Lt. Governor Jon Husted (now U.S. Senator Jon Husted), where he led major policy initiatives for the DeWine-Husted administration, including Ohio’s broadband and 5G workforce strategy, electric vehicle workforce strategy, and a comprehensive statewide policy plan for computer science and cybersecurity education.

Eric’s previous roles have included serving as the Director of Research and Policy at the Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Ohio, where he led research and policy development initiatives on behalf of the association focusing on higher education and workforce development. He also was a Senior Legislative Aide in the Ohio House of Representatives to former House Majority Assistant Whip Bill Reineke (now Ohio Senate President Pro Tempore).

Eric earned his J.D. from Capital University Law School and his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.