Member

Thad M. Barnes

Thad Barnes is an experienced trial attorney with approximately 40 bench and jury trials to his credit. Mr. Barnes' practice is focused on intellectual property litigation, complex commercial litigation, and health care litigation. Mr. Barnes has extensive experience in patent litigation, trade secret cases, product liability matters and works extensively with flavor and fragrance manufacturers. He is listed in Benchmark Litigation as a Litigation Star in the Intellectual Property practice area. Mr. Barnes also handles complex electronic discovery issues and advises clients on privacy, information security issues, and social media issues and works with clients to implement defensible approaches to the presentation, collection and production of electronically stored information (ESI) for litigation, government requests and investigations. Mr. Barnes is Co-Chair of the firm's Business Litigation Service Group.

Recent News, Articles & Speaking Engagements

Stites & Harbison Names Business Litigation Co-Chair Duo

By Adrian Cruz, Law360.com, March 29, 2024

Commanding the Courtroom

University of Kentucky College of Law, Lexington, Ky., November 2, 2018

3rd Circ. Won't Revive $80M Fragrance Secrets Row

by Dan Packel, Law360.com, February 12, 2016

Understanding and Managing New Issues in E-Discovery

Southern Law Network, December 2011

eDiscovery and Electronic Health Records

KHIMA Annual Meeting, June 2008

Protection of Intellectual Property Rights in Litigation

AOPA National Convention, Miami, Fla., October 2004
Recent Assignments
Bar Admissions
Kentucky
Tennessee
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
Firm Leadership

Business Litigation Service Group, Co-Chair (2024-present)

Pretrial Practice & eDiscovery Group, Chair

Recruiting Committee, Former Member

Louisville Office Recruiting Committee, Former Ex Officio Member

Lateral Recruiting Committee, Former Chair

Management Committee, Former Member

Memberships
American Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
Louisville Bar Association
Memphis Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Leo Bearman Jr. American Inns of Court Society
Federal Bar Association
Community Involvement

St. Agnes Church, Member

Pi Kappa Alpha, Board of Directors

Education
More Than Stites & Harbison

Previously, Mr. Barnes was Vice President and General Counsel of Triangle Seafood Inc. where he handled the company's litigation, federal compliance work, and general corporate affairs. Thad and his wife, Laura, stay busy attending the sporting events for their five children.

Accolades

The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2013-24)

Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2013-19, 2021-24)

Benchmark Litigation magazine, Litigation Star (2015-25)

Barnes T Best Lawyers2024
Super Lawyer Standard
Benchmark Litigation Star 2019
See more related to Thad M. Barnes
Press Releases

Benchmark Litigation 2025 Honors 14 Stites & Harbison Attorneys

The 2025 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 11 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky. The guide honors the firms and attorneys who have demonstrated the ability to consistently handle complex, high-stakes cases in multiple jurisdictions.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC October 09, 2024
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2025 Best Lawyers® Publications

Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 97 of its lawyers are included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence according to the publication. Additionally, 12 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 30 attorneys are recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 16, 2024
Press Releases

Thad Barnes and Michael Denbow Appointed to Lead Stites & Harbison’s Business Litigation Service Group

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that attorneys Thad M. Barnes and Michael Denbow have been appointed to Co-Chair the firm’s Business Litigation Service Group. Each attorney will continue their diverse legal practices in business litigation.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC March 25, 2024
Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers® Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2024

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2024 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers® recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 35 attorneys to the Super Lawyers® list and 14 attorneys to the Rising Stars® list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 12, 2024
Press Releases

Benchmark Litigation 2024 Honors 14 Stites & Harbison Attorneys

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2024 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 11 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC October 16, 2023
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2024 Best Lawyers® Publications

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 101 of its lawyers are included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 24, 2023
Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2023 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 37 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 12 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 12, 2023
Press Releases

Benchmark Litigation 2023 Honors 15 Stites & Harbison Attorneys

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2023 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 12 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky. The guide honors the firms and attorneys who have demonstrated the ability to consistently handle complex, high-stakes cases in multiple jurisdictions.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC November 17, 2022