Jessica M. Barnes
Area of Emphasis
Jessica Barnes is an associate in the Litigation group of Babst Calland. Ms. Barnes practices in a variety of litigation practice areas, including commercial, construction, municipal, zoning and land use, and energy and natural resources. Ms. Barnes routinely represents clients in both state and federal court.
Background
Ms. Barnes graduated summa cum laude from Duquesne University School of Law in 2021. She was a recipient of the Outstanding Oral Argument Award and earned four CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Legal Research & Writing I, Evidence, AI Tools, and Law and Neuroscience. While at Duquesne Law, Ms. Barnes served on the Editorial Board as Business Manager and as a Junior Staff Member of Duquesne Law Review. She also served as a teaching assistant for first-year Legal Research & Writing students and as the Vice President of the Environmental Law Society. Ms. Barnes served as a summer intern and then summer associate at Babst Calland. She graduated from Heidelberg University in 2018, earning a B.S. in Environmental Science and Business Administration.
Memberships and Affiliations
Ms. Barnes is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. She is a member of the American Bar Association and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Litigation Section’s Pretrial Practice & Discovery Committee’s Practice Points Subcommittee. Ms. Barnes is also a member of the Appalachia Chapter of the Women’s Energy Network.
Publications/Presentations
- Author, “Compelling Arbitration: Slam Dunk or Blocked Shot?” Practice Point published by the American Bar Association’s Pretrial Practice & Discovery Committee, December 2023.
- Co-Presenter, “PA’s New Criminal History Record Information Disclosure Requirements,” Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, June 2023.
- Author, “No Reason to Cheer─Case Dismissed Due to Severe Discovery Violations,” Practice Point published by the American Bar Association’s Pretrial Practice & Discovery Committee, March 2023.
- Author, “SCOTUS to Weigh in on Privilege Standard for Dual Purpose Communications,” Practice Point published by the American Bar Association’s Pretrial Practice & Discovery Committee, January 2023.
- Author, “Discovery Misconduct May Cost Millions in Sanctions,” Practice Point published by the American Bar Association’s Pretrial Practice & Discovery Committee, December 2022.
- Panelist, “Moving from Law School Student to Lawyer,” American Bar Association Roundtable, September 29, 2022.
- Author, “Fifth Circuit Instructs Court to Follow Federal Rules and Allow Sufficient Discovery,” Practice Point published by the American Bar Association’s Pretrial Practice & Discovery Committee, July 2022.
- Author “No, Adding an Attorney on an Email Does Not Automatically Make It Privileged,” Practice Point published by the American Bar Association’s Pretrial Practice & Discovery Committee, April 2022.
- Author, “Lesson Learned: Remind Clients Not to Say the Quiet Part Out Loud in Internal Emails,” Practice Point published by the American Bar Association’s Pretrial Practice & Discovery Committee, February 2022.
- Moderator, “Expert Discovery – FRCP 26(b)(4) and Its Intersection with Technology and State Court Rules” panel, American Bar Association Roundtable, January 2022.
