Judge Barnes has been a judge at the Chicago bankruptcy court since May 12, 2012.  Prior to taking the bench, he was a partner in New York City at Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP.  Prior to that, he was an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and later at Latham & Watkins LLP.  He is a member of multiple states’ bars, numerous federal trial and appellate bars (including the Supreme Court’s) and is a solicitor licensed in England & Wales.  He is a Fellow of INSOL International and a member of the International Insolvency Institute.

Since taking the bench, Judge Barnes has presided over a number of international cases, including matters from Canada, Korea and Germany.  He has also presided over a number of other notable cases, including the largest alleged Ponzi scheme in the state of Illinois, a postconfirmation plan injunction case where he issued a $10 million sanction award affirmed on appeal to the Seventh Circuit and a collective action against the City of Chicago that he recently certified as a class action.