Johnny Barnes enjoys a varied litigation practice that truly runs the substantive gamut. He has experience at all stages of litigation in representing both plaintiffs and defendants, including managing litigation, crafting litigation strategy in complex cases, drafting and orally arguing dispositive motions, defending and taking depositions of fact, expert, and corporate witnesses, and successfully trying cases to verdict in both court and arbitration forums.

Johnny has had the good fortune to represent clients across industries and the country. He has handled cases involving business disputes, civil rights, intellectual property, negligence, premises liability, product liability, tax, and wrongful termination.

The greatest joy Johnny finds in litigation is the opportunity to gain an intimate understanding of each client’s unique business and to build a relationship with their team — and through this, help them seek the most efficient and best outcome.

Johnny also has an active pro bono practice in which he regularly organizes clinics for attorneys to draft estate-planning documents for veterans and first responders. He also has served as pro bono counsel for parents in custody disputes.

Before joining the firm, Johnny clerked for the Hon. Leslie H. Southwick on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and for the Hon. Daniel P. Jordan III on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.

Johnny received his J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law, during which time he served on three law journals, including as a symposium editor for the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. He graduated from Belhaven University with a B.A. in History.

Bar Admissions

• Mississippi, 2018

• United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi
• United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit

Education

• University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., 2018, summa cum laude; Executive Notes & Comments Editor, Mississippi Law Journal; Symposium Editor, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy; Executive Board, Federal Courts Law Review; Mississippi Moot Court Board, National Competition Team
• Belhaven University, B.A., 2015, summa cum laude