Atty. Maxwell N. Barnes
Maxwell N. Barnes is a Member in the firm’s business section and has been practicing law since 1997.
Profile Summary
About Maxwell N. Barnes at a glance
Maxwell N. Barnes is a family law, business, and m&a attorney based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, practicing at Miller Johnson PLC. Educated at Vanderbilt University (J.D., 2008). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Venture Capital Law (2026). Serves clients in Grand Rapids, MI and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Maxwell N. Barnes is a Member in the firm’s business section and has been practicing law since 1997
- He concentrates his practice on advising clients in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and general business matters
- General Business/Transactional Experience Mr. Barnes assists businesses of all sizes and their owners in addressing their day-to-day legal needs
- This involves counseling clients on organizing and structuring new entities, employment issues, equity incentives and corporate governance
- It also includes reviewing and drafting various types of commercial business agreements, such as manufacturing and supply, distribution, outsourcing, joint venture, licensing, employment and consulting agreements
- Merger, Acquisition and Sale Transactions Mr. Barnes has represented both the “buy” side and “sell” side in a variety of complex transactions such as mergers, acquisitions of stock or assets, management-led buyouts, recapitalizations, reorganizations, and private equity investments
- Corporate Finance Mr. Barnes has significant experience in the corporate finance area representing clients in connection with public offerings, private placements, venture capital transactions and fund formation
- He has also advised publicly held companies on questions of compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, corporate governance matters, disclosure obligations and other matters under federal and state securities law.Mr
- Barnes has been involved with Start Garden for several years
- Start Garden is a venture capital fund with a twist – it’s created an ecosystem that helps ideas become businesses
- He is also a part of the mentor network for the Seamless Coalition and Accelerator which was formed in the spring of 2015
- This new partnership with area companies creates collaborations and shared resources with startups that will focus on the “Internet of Things”
- Professional Affiliations, Activities and Honors Mr. Barnes is a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Grand Rapids Bar Association (GRBA), the Michigan Venture Capital Association and Association for Corporate growth, West Michigan Chapter
- He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Regulation of Securities Committee of the Business Law Section and serves as the treasurer and secretary of the Business and Taxation Section of the GRBA.Mr
- Barnes was selected for inclusion in Michigan Super Lawyers–Rising Stars for Business/ Corporate in 2010
- Community Activities Mr. Barnes serves on the board of directors of the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum and is a former board member of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, Great Lakes West Chapter
- Education Mr. Barnes received his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1997 and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1994
Practice Areas Explained
Maxwell N. Barnes's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Maxwell N. Barnes handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Family law attorneys handle divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, prenups, and protective orders. Find verified family lawyers near you.
Maxwell N. Barnes is one of 167,063 family law attorneys indexed nationally. Browse family law attorneys in Michigan →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Maxwell N. Barnes is one of 452,854 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Michigan →
Maxwell N. Barnes is one of 45,724 m&a attorneys indexed nationally. Browse m&a attorneys in Michigan →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Michigan
Practicing law in Michigan. Legal matters in Michigan are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Grand Rapids are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Michigan state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Michigan brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Michigan courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Michigan attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Grand Rapids or all attorneys in Michigan.
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