Profile

Erica Barnes

Shareholder Compliance-Investigations-White Collar Defense,
Maynard Nexsen PC

My Contact Information

Maynard Nexsen PC
1901 6th Avenue North
Suite 1700
Birmingham, AL
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Work: (205) 254-1115

Social Links

Chapter Location

Tennessee-Alabama

Bio

In my practice, I assist individuals and entities all along the criminal law spectrum from designing effective corporate compliance programs to uncover and remediate potential criminal violations to conducting investigations to defending active criminal prosecutions.  I am passionate about the criminal justice system and have spent almost my entire career prosecuting and defending white collar and traditional criminal matters in state and federal court.  

During my career I have had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of matters including securities violations, wire, mail, and healthcare fraud, anti-kickback and Stark concerns, embezzlement, anti-trust violations, money laundering, narcotics and firearms offenses, cyber crime and cryptocurrency, child exploitation, trade secrets violations, elder abuse, and criminal and civil false claims.  I have represented defendants, targets, witnesses, and victims in the southeast throughout the criminal process from subpoena compliance through trial and sentencing.  I have successfully tried cases to jury as first chair counsel in state and federal court.  

I have conducted internal investigations involving domestic and international employees relating to matters including competition law concerns, fraud, and harassment. 

I have advised companies in a wide range of industries from healthcare to manufacturing across the firm's national footprint.  Much of my current compliance practice focuses on pre-investment financial crimes diligence and post investment implementation for private equity firms and their portfolio companies. 

I am currently serving as the co-chair of the Tennessee/Alabama Chapter of the WWCDA and the co-chair of the Alabama State Bar White Collar Crime Committee and I am actively involved in my local bar's criminal defense organization. In addition to my firm practice, I currently serve as a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the Northern District of Alabama and carry a full load of appointed matters. 

During my time away from Maynard, I have served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Alabama, a Special Assistant District Attorney in DeKalb County, GA, and as law clerk to the late Judge Owen Forrester of the Northern District of Georgia. 

I graduated with High Honors from Duke University School of Law and summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a BA in Political Science and Economics. 

I am happily married with two young daughters. When I am not working or chasing my kids, I spend my time serving my local planning and zoning commission, volunteering at church, leading my daughter's girl scout troop, reading all manners of fiction, trying to fit in 15 minutes of yoga, and cheering on my favorite sports teams (War Eagle not Roll Tide). 

Practice Areas

  • Anti-Corruption
  • Asset Forfeiture/Restitution
  • Compliance Counseling
  • Corporate Crime
  • Cybercrime
  • Due Diligence Investigations
  • Financial Services
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Government Investigations
  • Healthcare
  • Internal Investigations
  • Qui Tam; Whistleblower Defense
  • SEC Enforcement
  • Trade Secrets
  • Trials
  • White Collar Crime

Law or Graduate School Name

  • Duke University School of Law