About Barry C.
Barry C. Barnett has spent decades moving between trial courts and appellate dockets. He earned undergraduate and law degrees from two Ivy League schools, taking an academic path through history and economics before law school. Those studies set a frame for a career that has touched both trial practice and appeals.
After law school, Barnett served as a law clerk to Judge Jerre S. Williams of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The clerkship was an early immersion in appellate procedure and opinion writing. He joined Susman Godfrey soon after and became a partner there in 1985, a role he has held for many years.
Barnett is admitted to practice in multiple jurisdictions. He is licensed in Texas and New York, and he is admitted to appear before the U.S. Supreme Court and several federal courts of appeals, including the Second, Third, Fifth and Tenth Circuits. That range of admissions reflects work that spans state and federal systems.
Professional associations have been a steady part of Barnett’s career. He was elected to the American Law Institute in 2006. He joined the board of trustees of the Center for American and International Law in 2011. In 2015 he became a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Those memberships indicate regular engagement with legal education, standards of practice and peer evaluation.
Colleagues describe Barnett as methodical in court and concise in writing. He has handled matters that require courtroom presence and appellate briefing. Over time his caseload has encompassed contested proceedings in trial courts as well as arguments and filings in appellate courts. His background combines years of courtroom experience with appellate practice.
Barnett continues his work at Susman Godfrey L.L.P., where he remains a partner. His current practice concentrates on civil litigation and appellate matters, representing clients in proceedings across state and federal forums.
