Justin R. Barnes

Justin R. Barnes is a Principal in the Atlanta, Georgia office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He represents employers in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies on a variety of labor and employment related issues, including collective and class action wage and hour disputes and complex single plaintiff wage and benefit disputes.

Mr. Barnes’ practice is focused primarily on defending complex wage and hour class and collective actions and single plaintiff cases in state and federal courts across the country. Mr. Barnes has assisted clients in defending state and federal wage and hour claims in several states. He has substantial experience representing a wide variety of clients and industries in complex wage and hour matters, including the manufacturing, hospitality, technology, and retail industries, among others.

In addition to his wage and hour practice, Mr. Barnes also frequently practices before the United States Courts of Appeals. He has argued before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Barnes routinely handles other employment matters for clients, ranging from defending claims of discrimination to employment related contract disputes. Mr. Barnes also provides day to day advice and counsel on mitigating the risk of employment claims, and he frequently speaks on a variety of workplace related issues, including wage and hour compliance, electronic discovery, and social media.

Prior to joining Jackson Lewis in 2009, Mr. Barnes clerked for a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, in Atlanta, Georgia from 2007 to 2009. During his clerkship, Mr. Barnes honed his legal skills and learned what it takes to be an outstanding (and perhaps more importantly - not so outstanding) advocate for clients.

During law school, Mr. Barnes was a member of the Intellectual Property Law Journal and the Moot Court Board. He also served as a teaching assistant and writing fellow, teaching legal research and writing to first and second-year law students.

Honors and Recognitions

•Georgia Trend Magazine, Legal Elite (2016)

Pro Bono and Community Involvement

•Everybody Wins! Atlanta, Reading Mentor

Speeches

•“Collective Bargaining and the FLSA - Properly Paying Overtime,” American Public Transportation Association (San Diego, CA, February 2020) (presenter)
•“Non-Franchise Laws that Impact Franchisors and Franchisees,” Franchise and Distribution Law Section of the Georgia Bar Association (Atlanta, GA, March 2019) (presenter)
•“DOL Issues New Guidance Rescinding the 20% Rule,” Celesq (Atlanta, GA, January 2019) (presenter)
•“Hiring Do’s and Don’ts,” Oak Ridge National Laboratory Labor and Employment Seminar (Knoxville, TN, August 2018) (presenter)
•“Employment Law Update,” Georgia Society of Association Executives (Atlanta, GA, April 2018) (presenter)
•“Wage and Hour Compliance Challenges From the Increased Use of Technology in the Workplace,” Strafford Publications (Atlanta, Georgia, June 2017) (presenter)
•“Creating FLSA Compliance Strategies That Work,” National Business Institute (Atlanta, GA, November 2015) (presenter)
•“Recent Developments by The Department of Labor,” Georgia Society of Association Executives (Atlanta, GA, November 2015) (presenter)
•“Do’s and Don’ts of the Hiring Process,” Georgia Society of Association Executives (Atlanta, GA, September 2015) (presenter)
•“Unemployment Appeals,” Georgia Staffing Association (Atlanta, GA, October 2014) (presenter)
•“Hiring Do’s and Don’ts,” Oak Ridge National Laboratory Labor and Employment Seminar (Knoxville, TN, May 2014) (presenter)
•“Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Law,” American Association for Affirmative Action (Atlanta, GA, March 2013) (presenter)

Justin R. Barnes Publications

newsletter

Class Action Trends Report Winter 2020

March 16, 2020

special-report

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule on Calculating FLSA’s ‘Regular Rate’ of Pay

January 14, 2020

newsletter

Class Action Trends Report Fall 2019

December 12, 2019

Justin R. Barnes Blog Posts

Wage and Hour

Refinery Workers’ Pre-Shift Wait Time Not Compensable, Fifth Circuit Holds

November 27, 2017
Wage and Hour

DOL Confirms New Overtime Rule Coming

October 30, 2017
Wage and Hour

DOL Confirms to OMB It Will Reverse Course on Yet Another Controversial Regulation, New Rule Will Reduce Restrictions on Tip Sharing

October 25, 2017