James Francis Barna - Profile

JAMES FRANCIS BARNA OFFERS EXTENSIVE EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD OF EMPLOYMENT LAW. With a career dedicated to employment law, James Barna brings a wealth of experience to his practice. James pursued his undergraduate education at Syracuse University and Stony Brook University before attending law school at Washington University in St. Louis, a prestigious institution renowned for its comprehensive employment law program. During his time in law school, he had the privilege of working under the guidance of Mary Anne Sedey, a prominent figure in employment law and women's rights advocacy. Inspired by Sedey's commitment to justice, James embarked on a path aimed at effecting positive change through legal advocacy for both clients and attorneys. Since graduating from law school in 1996, James has amassed a decade of experience at esteemed employment law firms in Memphis, Tennessee, a hub for labor and employment law activities. Over the years, he has handled litigation matters spanning 22 states and the District of Columbia. Operating practices in Maine and New York, James continues to serve both corporate employers and employees, specializing in executive and physician contract negotiations, EPLI defense, workplace discrimination, harassment, labor law, and other workplace-related legal issues. Notably, in 2002, James served as associate counsel and coauthor of the winning merits brief in the groundbreaking Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) case, Ragsdale v. Wolverine World Wide, Inc., 535 U.S. 81 (2002), marking his involvement in legal milestones. He is a member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court and holds law licenses in New York, Maine, Tennessee, and Mississippi, representing clients across the nation.