Atty. Michael D. Barnes
Michael Barnes has been engaged in active trial practice for more than 25 years, with a focus on product liability, trucking and transportation, toxic torts, class actions and insurance defense. Barnes is the leader of Wright Lindsey Jennings' Trial Team.
Profile Summary
About Michael D. Barnes at a glance
Michael D. Barnes is a personal injury and product liability attorney based in Little Rock, Arkansas, practicing at Wright Lindsey Jennings. They have 38+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1988. Admitted to practice in Arkansas (1988). Educated at University of Arkansas (J.D., 1988). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus: (2026). Serands clients in Little Rock, AR and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
Michael Barnes has been engaged in active trial practice for more than 25 years, with a focus on product liability, trucking and transportation, toxic torts, class actions and insurance defense. Barnes is the leader of Wright Lindsey Jennings' Trial Team.
Barnes’ more recent experience includes:
- Counsel for an international oil and gas company in litigation resulting from a release of oil from an interstate pipeline.
- Lead trial counsel in defense of chemical repackaging facility in individual, mass tort and class actions, brought by residents who claimed adverse effects following a massive explosion at the facility.
- Lead trial counsel for major transportation companies in defense of tractor-trailer accident cases, including wrongful death and catastrophic injury.
- Lead trial counsel for metal supplier in product liability litigation following nationwide recall of canned goods.
- Lead counsel for supplier of window coverings in wrongful death action alleging product design defects.
- Lead trial counsel for sports arena in premises liability litigation.
- Lead counsel for oil refinery in personal injury and product liability litigation.
- Lead counsel for several major insurance carriers in various types of insurance coverage disputes.
- Lead counsel for oil/gas drilling equipment company in product liability and personal injury litigation.
Before joining the firm, Barnes served as a deputy prosecuting attorney (1992-93) and as an officer in the United States Marine Corps (1988-91).
Practice Areas Explained
Michael D. Barnes's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Michael D. Barnes handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Michael D. Barnes is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in Arkansas →
Michael D. Barnes is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in Arkansas →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Arkansas
Practicing law in Arkansas. Legal matters in Arkansas are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Little Rock are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Arkansas state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Arkansas brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Arkansas courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Arkansas attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Little Rock or all attorneys in Arkansas.
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