Leo K. Barnes Jr.

Leo K. Barnes Jr. is a commercial litigator who focuses on breach of contract, commercial torts, unfair competition and business frauds. He litigates restrictive covenant claims, non-competition and unfair competition matters, trade secret and breach of duty of loyalty actions for both the plaintiff and defense. Mr. Barnes is experienced in pursuing and defending claims involving the various provisional remedies, including preliminary injunctions, temporary restraining orders, attachment and receivership, and has likewise been engaged to prosecute and defend complex commercial litigation matters, including RICO claims, sophisticated commercial fraud, claims premised upon federal and state statutes, mortgage fraud and multi-district litigation.

In addition to the commercial practice, Mr. Barnes maintains an active real estate litigation docket, including claims by and against owners, purchasers, landlords, tenants, title insurance companies and developers for breach of contracts of sale, specific performance, partition proceedings, adverse possession, boundary disputes, brokerage commission disputes, title company claims and mechanics liens. The real property litigation practice also encompasses counsel to general contractors, sub-contractors, owners, architects and engineers in all aspects of private construction disputes.

After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1993, Mr. Barnes graduated from Hofstra University School of Law in 1996 and received one of the school’s “Outstanding Student” awards at graduation. Mr. Barnes is licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey, and is admitted to the United States District Courts for the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York, as well as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition, Mr. Barnes has pursued and defended cases in Texas and Florida on a pro hac vice basis.

Mr. Barnes was recently selected to become a member of the prestigious Alexander Hamilton American Inn of Court. This highly selective organization is an amalgam of select judges, attorneys, law professors and law students, and is the only legal organization in the United States dedicated to the enhancement of civility, ethics and legal excellence. The main objective is establishing a society of legal professionals who work together to promote excellence in all fields of law.

In the Fall of 2009, Mr. Barnes was selected to participate in the inaugural training session for Mediators on behalf of the Suffolk County Commercial Division Roster of Mediators.

Mr. Barnes authors a monthly column in the Suffolk County Bar Association’s periodical, The Suffolk Lawyer, focusing exclusively on commercial litigation. In addition to these monthly contributions, Mr. Barnes has repeatedly authored articles for The New York Law Journal, including: ‘Economic Interest’ Defense to a Tortious Interference Claim, 236 NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL 56, September 20, 2006; Spies, Lies & Business Torts, 235 NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL 90, May 10, 2006; Defense Protocol for Elevator Accidents, 232 NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL 109, December 7, 2004; and To Jump or Not to Jump? Elevator Accidents and Employment Expertise, 223 NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL 24, February 4, 2000.

Recently, after the New York State Court of Appeals issued an important decision for commercial litigation practitioners, Mr. Barnes was quoted in the ensuing New York Law Journal article reporting the decision and its import on commercial litigation practice.

Mr. Barnes is a member of the Nassau and Suffolk County Bar Associations and Chaminade High School’s Alumni Association for Lawyers. As for charitable and volunteer endeavors, Mr. Barnes is a member of the Catholic Charities Volunteer Lawyers Initiative, an organization which provides free legal advice and services to needy members of the community. In the summer of 2007, Mr. Barnes served as a member of the Steering Committee for the Third Annual Long Island Business News Golf Outing and Casino Night to benefit Hofstra University’s Scholarship Fund. From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Barnes served as member of the Board of Directors for the Cross Island YMCA.