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Kathryn E. Barnett

Partner

“As a mother of two small children, I want to make the world a safer place. To me that means that making sure that when someone hurts another they are held accountable.”

Kathryn E. Barnett

  • "One of the nation's premier plaintiffs' firms."

    American Lawyer

  • "Representing the best qualities of the plaintiffs' bar."

    The National Law Journal

  • "Their effective and caring advocacy for clients has earned Lieff Cabraser its first-class reputation."

    The Daily Journal
  • NLJ Hot List icon
  • U.S. News Best Lawyers badge 2011-2012
  • Super Lawyers Nationwide

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Attorneys

Respected Trial Expertise

Specializing in nationwide class actions and individual lawsuits, Kathryn has tried over 15 civil and criminal trials, including complex and class action cases as well as personal injury cases. 

“Kathryn has a national reputation for complex personal injury and class action cases. She is one of a few true trial lawyers among a generation of lawyers that know how to litigate, but rarely get to try a case.”

--Nashville Business Journal, 2005 Best of the Bar

Kathryn is the partner in charge of our Nashville office and works diligently to hold accountable those who have harmed individuals, families, groups of individuals, or businesses.

In 2010, Kathryn represented a business wronged by its former partner, winning an $8 million arbitration award against the wrongdoer. She served as co-lead trial counsel in two class action trials in the Multi-District Litigation lawsuit arising from the mishandling of remains at Tri-State Crematory. These cases settled well into both trials, for combined judgments of over $120 million. Kathryn also served as lead counsel in a class action against the Georgia Farm Bureau regarding insurance coverage, which resulted in an $18 million settlement. 

Other Engagements

Kathryn has lectured extensively on trial and other civil litigation topics. She is very active in the legal community as a member of several organizations and serves on the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Association for Justice. Kathryn’s skill in the plaintiffs’ bar has been consistently recognized as "Best of the Bar" by the Nashville Business Journal, and she has been named a “Best Lawyer in Tennessee” by Business Tennessee for the past four years and a "Mid-South Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyers for the past three years.

Awards & Honors

SuperLawyers & Best Lawyers

  • The Best Lawyers in America, based on peer and blue ribbon panel review, selected for list of "Nashville's Best Lawyers," 2010-2012
  • "Mid-South Super Lawyer," Super Lawyers, 2006-2011
  • "Top 100 Tennessee Mid-South Super Lawyer," Super Lawyers, 2010-2011
  • "Top 50 Women Mid-South Super Lawyer," Super Lawyers, 2011
  • "Best of the Bar," Nashville Business Journal, 2003, 2005-2010
  • "Nashville Lawyers In Charge," Nashville Post, 2010
  • "150 Best Lawyers in Tennessee," Business Tennessee, 2006-2009
  • "Lawdragon Finalist," Lawdragon, 2009-2011

Prior Employment

  • Judicial Intern to Judge John T. Nixon, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee, Fall 1990
  • Assistant Public Defender, Davidson County, Tennessee, 1992-1995

Publications & Presentations

  • "The Basics of Class Action and MDL Litigation," Tennessee Bar Association (July 2009)
  • "Advanced Federal Court Practice," Nashville Bar Association (March 2009)
  • Guest Speaker, "Medicine, Law and Society," Vanderbilt University (March 2009)
  • "Annual Review: Medical Malpractice Update," Tennessee Association for Justice (October, December 2008)
  • "Civil Procedure and Evidence Update," Tennessee Trial Lawyers (October, November 2006)
  • "Pre-Trial Skills: Thinking on Your Feet," National Business Institute (November 2006)
  • "Trial Practice Institute," Nashville Bar Association (September 2005)
  • "State Law Class Actions," American Bar Association, Business Law Section (April 2005)
  • "Power Windows Can Kill," Trial (April 2005)
  • "Auto Defect Cases," Tennessee Trial Lawyers (February 2005)
  • "Knocking Out Opposing Experts," Tennessee Trial Lawyers (October, November 2004); Nashville Bar Association (July 2004)
  • "Trial Practice Tips: Powerful Trial Strategies for the Absolute Litigator," Nashville Bar Association (April 2004)
  • "Limiting the Harmful Testimony of Experts on the Law," Trial (January 2001)
  • "Letting Focus Groups Work for You," Trial (April 1999)
  • "Damages," Tennessee Trial Lawyers (October & November 2003)
  • "Trying the Wrongful Death Case in Tennessee," National Business Institute (August 2003)
  • "Advanced Personal Injury," National Business Institute (July 2003)
  • "Mass Torts," Tennessee Bar Association (July 2002)
  • "Superior Depositions Strategies in Civil Trial Practice," National Business Institute (December 1999, January 2002)
  • "Lawsuits Against the Nursing Home Industry," Tennessee Trial Lawyers (February 2000)
  • "How to Prepare for Mediation and other Practice Tips," Nashville Bar Association (October 2000)
  • "Tennessee Expert Witness," Lorman Education Services (July 2000)
  • "Using Focus Groups to Get the Settlement or Verdict Your Client Deserves," Tennessee Trial Lawyers (February 1999)

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  • NLJ Hot List icon
  • U.S. News Best Lawyers badge 2011-2012
  • Super Lawyers Nationwide

  • Lieff Cabraser: follow us on (social media links)

    Visit us on Facebook
    Follow us on Twitter
    View our YouTube channel
    Read our LinkedIn profile
    Read our Tumblr
    Visit us on Google+

Practice Areas

Education

  • Vanderbilt University Law School (J.D., 1992)
    American Jurisprudence Awards: Torts and Jurisprudence

     

    Davidson College (B.A., with Honors, Philosophy, 1989)
    Dean Rusk Grant for International Studies

Memberships

  • Harry Phillips American Inn of Court
    (Executive Committee, 2004-2009; Member, 2004-2009, 1997-1999)

  • Nashville Bar Association
    (First Vice President, 2007; Board, 2005-2008)

  • Nashville Bar Foundation
    (Fellow)

  • Nashville Lawyer's Association for Women
    (President, 2004-2005; President-elect, 2003-2004; Director, 2002-2003; Treasurer, 2000-2002; Nominating Committee, 2007; Board, 1998-2005)

  • Tennessee Association for Justice
    (Vice-President for Middle Section, 2011; Treasurer, 2010; Executive Committee, 2008-2009; Secretary, 2007-2009; Chair, Continuing Education Committee, 2004-2006; Board of Governors, 2002-2009)

  • Tennessee Bar Association

  • Tennessee Justice Center, Inc.
    (Board of Directors, 2002-2005; Secretary-Treasurer, 2003-2004)

  • Tennessee Judicial Conference, Bench/Bar Committee
    (Chair, 2009-2010)

  • Tennessee Metropolitan Board of Equalization
    (Davidson County, 2000-2004)

  • American Association for Justice

Admissions

  • Tennessee

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee

  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee

  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee

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