Brianna Barnes Email & Phone Number

Norfolk, Virginia, United States

Negotiating and drafting a variety of agreements, including revenue generating contracts, service agreements, supply agreements, and procurement agreements.Considering business, legal, compliance, quality, and regulatory issues while providing advice and consultation to colleagues in relevant functional areas.Assisting in defining negotiation positions and strategic objectives in contracting.Initiating and managing contract-related matters such as disputes, litigation, terminations, extensions, and renewals.Collaborating with operations, sales, finance, public affairs, innovation, and HR teams, as well as outside counsel when necessary.Serving as Compliance Officer for three entities, providing strategic direction and oversight of the Compliance Department.Ensuring organizational compliance with local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and internal company policies, procedures, and controls.Negotiating and resolving fines and penalties issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for regulatory violations, including appeals, mitigation requests, root cause analysis, and process improvements.Chairing the Port's Compliance Committee, facilitating routine meetings, and training committee members to identify compliance issues at the departmental level.Managing training and compliance with the Commonwealth of Virginia's Conflict of Interest requirements for VPA employees.Maintaining ISO 9001 compliance for the Virginia Port Authority, including audits, training, and directing internal auditors.Receiving compliance allegations, conducting internal investigations, and liaising with management for appropriate disciplinary or corrective action.Establishing rapport and fostering proactive use of internal Contract Department resources among management and colleagues at all levels.Managing and directing the Port of Virginia Records Management function, ensuring statutory compliance and overseeing the Director of Records and Information Governance.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

General civil litigation with a focus in products and premises liability defense in transportation, heavy equipment, hospitality, and manufacturing industries.Routine drafting of settlement, non-disclosure, indemnity, distribution, and access agreements, including all terms and conditions. Strategy, drafting, and arguing of dispositive motions, assessing machine appraisals and valuations, developing defense experts, and successfully negotiating settlements.Preparation, strategy, and response to discovery, conducting witness and expert examinations and depositions, performing equipment and site inspections, and educating clients on claim avoidance, risk management, and compliance with state and federal regulations. Development of medical, safety, engineering, and other experts on issues related to hazardous material handling, safety and compliance, medical causation, traumatic injuries, economic loss and analysis, industrial hygiene, and accident reconstruction and prevention.Direct supervision of junior associates and support staff in management of client defense needs, including directing and coordinating with outside counsel and client employees. Defense of multiple product defect and catastrophic equipment loss claims in state and federal court, including claims related to complex contractual disputes, warranties, equipment fires, and claims dealing with mobile and crawler cranes, recall campaigns, material handlers, lift bridges, CNC machining, and railroad equipment. Other casework includes products liability, premises liability, transportation, and heavy equipment claims involving significant injuries, fatalities, and property damage. Clients have included both multi-national companies and smaller startup companies, including a national railroad and multi-national equipment manufacturer.

Richmond, Virginia Area

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Performed legal research and writing in areas related to financial regulations and credit unions. Drafted and reviewed comment letters. Interpreted proposed and final regulations issued by financial and consumer protection regulators and synthesized for dispersal to all members of CUNA. Followed and re-searched developments related to the Dodd-Frank Act and other relevant legislation. Attended federal agency meetings and congressional hearings on behalf of CUNA.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Actively participated with and assisted Senior Legal Counsel in advising senior bureau management and in preparing for litigation. Reviewed case records, conducted research, and provided legal analysis. Drafted legal memoranda. Gained comprehensive experience in federal employment and discrimination laws by drafting legal memoranda and motions. Drafted and reviewed bureau policies and directives. Drafted loan agreement policy program for lending rare coins.

Juris Doctor (J.D.), Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Intellectual Property Brief, Senior Symposium Editor; Environmental Law Society, Representative; Phi Alpha.

B.A., Political Science, Sociology, Pre-Law

Activities and Societies: Phi Alpha Delta, Senior Member; Native@VT - Native American Minority Group at Virginia Tech; Student Government.