Michael Barnas Email & Phone Number

The Michael Barnas Law Firm, PLLC is engaged in the general practice of law, with a focus on commercial and business law. Expertise includes business startup and company formation, business sales and acquisitions, and domestic and cross-border transactions.

Partner in the energy practice of Couch White L.L.P., a full-service business law firm with nationally-recognized leadership in the practice of energy and construction law.

• Responsible for the legal affairs of GE’s renewable energy business during its growth from a $250 million wind turbine business to a $6 billion+ global wind and solar energy business. Accomplishments:
• Managed GE’s response to ongoing investigations by the United States International Trade Commission regarding wind towers from China and Vietnam and polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from China.
• Won an award in an ICC arbitration arising from GE's solar business.
• Negotiated equipment supply and services contracts for Caithness Energy’s Shepherd’s Flat project, the largest wind farm in North America.
• Managed GE’s response to an investigation by the German Bundeskartellamt (Cartel Office), resulting in no action being taken against GE.
• Supported the development of a 25.2MW offshore wind farm near Arklow, Ireland.

• Provided legal and commercial advice to sales and operating managers of a global business with over $7 billion annual turnover. Core member of risk review team, which examined, analyzed and approved all bids and final.
• Supported the integration of four major acquisitions.
• Led the development of interactive web-based tools to guide account managers in negotiating contract provisions with customers.
• In addition to primary duties, served as general counsel to a subsidiary business which generated $140 million in annual revenues in the water treatment industry.

• Advised field sales, headquarters support teams and senior management regarding legal and commercial aspects of major power plant transactions. Drafted and negotiated contracts of sale, long-term service and.
• Served as interim counsel to the power plant construction business of Nuovo Pignone, S.p.A., a GE subsidiary based in Florence, Italy.
• Negotiated EPC contract package for Phase II of the Dabhol Power Company independent power plant in Maharastra State, India; developed a deal structure which permitted the use of Japan Export-Import Bank credit support.
• Negotiated EPC contract for Riyadh Power Plant No. 9, a $1.4 billion infrastructure project in Saudi Arabia.
• Negotiated EPC contracts for projects in countries including Hungary, the United Kingdom and Uruguay.
• Negotiated consortium agreements with partners from countries including Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

• Assisted Department Counsel in managing day-to-day legal affairs for $400 million multi-location service business. Practice included commercial, labor and employment, environmental and real property law. Accomplishments:
• Helped manage litigation in which portions of New York State’s Prevailing Area Wage statute were declared unconstitutional by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Responsible for labor and hourly relations at fourteen shop facilities in the northeast United States employing over 900 people. Served as company spokesman in contract negotiations with unions. Represented the company in administrative proceedings before state agencies in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Assisted in all aspects of labor and industrial relations activities for manufacturing company with nine locations nationwide. Assisted in labor negotiations. Represented the company in labor arbitration proceedings.

Jd, Law

Ba, English And Comparative Literature

Architecture

Education record