Background & Corporate Experience
Mr. Barnes has over 25 years of experience and expertise representing architects, engineers, surveyors, and environmental consultants on a variety of matters. Mr. Barnes earned his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University in 1987 and his Juris Doctorate from Pace University School of Law in 1994. He is admitted to practice in New York and in New Jersey.

Mr. Barnes began his career of representing design professionals at Schoor DePalma/CMX. He currently serves as General Counsel/Chief Risk Officer of Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor, LLC and is a member of PS&S’s Management Committee. At PS&S, Mr. Barnes is responsible for risk management, litigation and claims management, regulatory compliance, corporate transaction agreements, and corporate governance. He also manages the Company’s forensic and expert litigation practice.

Over the years, Mr. Barnes has acquired a keen knowledge of the applicable statutes, regulations and common laws governing the practice of design professionals, which has enabled him to assist his clients in analyzing and managing their risk exposure to achieve positive results. Mr. Barnes presents a yearly ethics seminar entitled “Ethical Obligations for Licensed Engineers,” for which members of various local and national engineering associations in attendance earn continuing engineering unit credits.

Litigation Experience
Senior Litigation Attorney: Law Office of Joseph Carolan, a CNA Staff Counsel Office – Parsippany, NJ: Represented architects, engineers and contractors insured by CNA companies in various pre-claim and litigation matters. The Law Office of Joseph Carolan was responsible for defending the interests of entities insured by CNA in the northern counties of the State of New Jersey and Federal Court. At the Law Office of Joseph Carolan, Mr. Barnes tried two cases to verdict with successful results for his clients.

Litigation Associate: Lester Schwab Katz & Dwyer, Brody Fabiani & Cohen, and The Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (“Con Edison”): Accumulated significant litigation experience (from pleadings to trial) in the Law Department of The Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., then subsequently defended the interests of various contractors insured by carriers such as AIG, Zurich, and St. Paul Fire & Marine at the respective law firms of Brody Fabiani & Cohen and Lester Schwab Katz & Dwyer located in the City of New York.

Engineering & Construction Experience
Field Engineer & Assistant Superintendent: Planned and supervised excavation and pipeline installations on various multi-million-dollar utility and major infrastructure projects throughout the City of New York and Westchester County for 2 major heavy-highway contractors.

Board & Public Service

• Board of Trustees, Bonnie Brae, June 2025 to present
• Board of Visitors, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark College of Engineering, June 2018 to present
• Board of Trustees, Newark Regional Business Partnership, November 2019 to present
• Board of Trustees, Eagle Senior Citizens Housing Association (James A. Degnan House), April 2025 to present
• Councilman, Township of West Orange, NJ, February 2005 through June 2010
• Co-Chairman of the West Orange Planning Board, September 2002 through February 2005

Awards

• NJIT, Newark College of Engineering Spirit Award, April 2025
• NJBiz General Counsel of the Year – 2015 Finalist, Private Companies – Annual Revenue up to$500M