Member in Charge of Client Relations, Spilman Thomas and Battle, PLLC
By Mallory Legg
Although Eric Iskra is not a West Virginia native, his heart is now deeply entrenched in the Mountain State. When he was first invited to West Virginia for a call-back interview with law firm Spilman Thomas and Battle, he knew that this was the place he wanted to call home. “I love what I do and where I am,” he says. “This is an outstanding firm. My best friends are here at Spilman.” His only job since he graduated law school in 1994 is still the place he can be found today, as member in charge of client relations on Spilman’s management committee. He currently practices trial work and litigation, with an emphasis on employment and labor law.
Iskra was well traveled from a young age. His father served in the military, and Iskra was born and spent many years overseas in Germany. His grandfather had also emigrated from Austria, so the connection to his past was a nice touch. “My first job in Germany was actually in a gummy bear factory,” he says with a laugh. “I had to get up at 4:30 a.m. to be there.” Iskra and his family traveled back and forth for several years between Germany and Washington, D.C. before they made their way to Northern Virginia while he was in high school. He received his bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary in 1991, and while attending Wake Forest University School of Law, Iskra met his wife, Sharon, and settled down. They now have two children, ages four and seven.
This whirlwind start has only made for a more conscious individual. Iskra’s view of life can be accurately summed up in a quote from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” “It’s about hard work and taking ownership of your direction,” says Iskra. “I think being proactive in trying to control my career and, of course, the support of the wonderful people around me have put me where I am today.” Iskra’s father, also a lawyer, helped give him his drive and determination and is who Iskra looks up to the most. His father helped inspire in him his own personal qualities that have guided him on the road to success, which Iskra identifies as “the drive to succeed and the ability to understand and relate to people as well as communicate effectively.”
When he isn’t working, Iskra loves taking the time to go skiing. His love might be inspired by his favorite place and ideal vacation spot, Lech, Austria, which he has a picture of in his office. “It’s a beautiful part of western Austria,” he says. “It’s a first-class ski resort.” Iskra is also involved in many community activities. He served on the board and as president for several years for HospiceCare, an organization dedicated to helping terminally ill patients, and he currently serves on The Clay Center Board of Trustees. He has also been recognized as both a West Virginia Super Lawyer and in Chambers USA as a Leading Lawyer in Employment Law.
Spilman Thomas and Battle only continues to help Iskra feel at home. “The trend with lawyers is to be free agents and market themselves, but I’ve been here since law school. I certainly see ending my career here.” He is also excited about the possibilities in store for both the law firm and himself. “It’s exciting for me to see how we are growing. We’ve become a true regional player and it’s great for me to be a part of that growth. I think we’re creating a footprint unlike any other firm.”
Photography by Rick Lee
