Dear ICAR Community,

As many of you may have heard, Eric Biel, a cherished and respected member of this community, passed away last Monday. Eric dedicated his career to advancing human rights, and he played an integral role in shaping and implementing policies that have helped protect workers around the world. Losing Eric is a blow to the business and human rights community and to those of us who were lucky enough to count him as a friend and mentor.

As a beloved professor of Business and Human Rights at Georgetown Law, Eric touched many lives, including my own. Eric not only shared his extensive knowledge and experience related to business and human rights, but also helped instill a passion for corporate accountability in his students, many of whom went on to work in this space. In addition to teaching many individual ICAR staff members, Eric made significant contributions to ICAR’s work over the years, serving as one of our core expert advisors and friends. Eric was incredibly generous with his time, and spent many hours reviewing and providing feedback on our work, serving as a sounding board, providing advice on strategy, and engaging with ICAR staff at all levels.

While Eric’s experience and intellect were truly impressive, what always stood out to me was his kindness, patience, and dedication to supporting the next generation of business and human rights lawyers. He will be missed by many, and our community won’t be the same without him.

Eric’s obituary, published in the Washington Post, is available here, and I would ask that you join us in sending our condolences and support to his family and friends during this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Nicole Vander Meuler

Legal & Policy Director, ICAR