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Gary A. Barnes

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Gary A. Barnes is the former managing shareholder of the Firm's Atlanta office and a business litigator who focuses on a wide variety of commercial litigation and bankruptcy, including debt restructuring, as well as economic development.

Professional Biography


Mr. Barnes has more than 40 years of experience in a vast array of bankruptcy, creditor rights, debt restructuring, loan workouts, receiverships, and foreclosures in both state and federal courts throughout the country. He has represented secured and unsecured creditors in a variety of matters including Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 7, and Chapter 13 cases, Section 363 sale issues, cash collateral issues, lien priority avoidance actions, preference actions, rejection/assumption of executory contracts, stay relief actions, asset recovery and disposition, contested confirmation hearings, adversary proceedings, and bankruptcy appeals to both district and circuit levels.

Mr. Barnes has extensive experience representing agricultural lenders across the country in both Chapter 12 and Chapter 11 cases with loans ranging from $2.5 million to $80 million. As lead counsel, he has represented clients in agricultural bankruptcy cases in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

Mr. Barnes also has significant experience with general commercial business litigation, including disputes which are real estate based, shareholder/member disputes in closely held corporations, and software licensing.

Additionally, Mr. Barnes has a wide range of economic development experience and background, including drafting and negotiating PILOT programs and interpreting PILOT agreements.

  • Defended a limited liability company in an adversary proceeding by a Chapter 11 trustee to set aside an alleged fraudulent transfer of several limited partnership interests. Negotiated a favorable settlement.

  • Represented a major bank as the largest secured creditor in a Chapter 12 bankruptcy action. The value of the bank's claim against the debtor was $2.4 million.  Filed a proof of claim and objections to the Chapter 12 plan, resulting in the confirmation of a favorable plan.

  • Member – State Bar of Georgia, Sections of Litigation and Bankruptcy
  • Member – American Bar Association, Litigation Section
  • Member – Atlanta Bar Association
  • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2020 – 2025); Litigation - Securities (2023); Commercial Litigation (2022 – 2025)
  • Selected to Georgia Super Lawyers in Business Litigation (2013 – 2024)
  • Named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2016 Who's Who in Law & Accounting
  • Selected as one of "Georgia's Legal Elite" by Georgia Trend Magazine (2011 – 2015)

Education

  • Mercer University, J.D., 1981
  • Davidson College, A.B., 1977

Admissions

  • Georgia State Bar, 1981
  • Court of Appeals State of Georgia
  • Georgia Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Georgia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Claims
  • U. S. Supreme Court

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