By drawing upon the combined expertise of the attorneys comprising Barfield & Associates, we are able to offer legal services in almost every area of the civil practice, with a particular emphasis on litigation, mass tort and toxic tort suits, insurance defense, product liability, professional liability, and governmental entity litigation.
Litigation
The firm’s attorneys represent clients in many areas of litigation, including the fields of mass/toxic torts, products liability, general insurance defense, worker’s compensation, professional liability, and governmental entity litigation. Litigation constitutes a significant part of the firm’s practice, and we approach litigation through well-established strategies that have a history of success. Our combined expertise and trial experience allow us to analyze and refine those strategies in each case to meet the client’s specific needs and goals.
Mass/Toxic Torts
The firm is experienced in the handling of mass toxic tort litigation and the management of complex litigation. For many years, the firm has acted as regional and local counsel for corporations that are defendants in countless cases involving the claims of tens of thousands of plaintiffs. By virtue of these years of experience, the firm has learned numerous ways to ensure that such litigation is handled effectively and efficiently.
Barfield & Associates has represented clients in a wide range of industrial sectors in toxic tort, mass tort, and environmental litigation. We defend companies both individually, in class actions, and as part of shared counsel joint defense groups. Barfield & Associates is equipped to handle large toxic tort cases that have the potential to become either class action cases, multi-state actions, or multi-district litigation cases.
Even though relatively small in size compared to some Mississippi and Louisiana law firms, Barfield & Associates has developed its reputation through the defense of mass tort or toxic tort lawsuits involving thousands of plaintiffs. We have an excellent reputation for managing high-volume, high-stakes asbestos and silica litigation. Mass litigation invariably involves extensive written discovery and depositions and working with co-defendants to coordinate the hiring of expert witnesses such as pathologists, epidemiologists, and industrial hygienists. Our experienced staff is well trained and experienced in organizing mass tort litigation in a manner that is manageable and beneficial to those clients who become involved in such litigation.
This litigation has also put the firm in touch with some of the finest experts in the nation. Barfield & Associates is adept at working with experts in complex forensic investigations into causation and responsibility for environmental contamination, as well as in cross-examining the experts of opposing parties. Our firm has been instrumental in developing an environmental exposure defense for certain asbestos clients in the New Orleans area.
Professional Liability
Barfield & Associates has substantial experience in the defense of professional liability claims against accountants/tax professionals, directors & officers (D&O), financial advisors/brokers, insurance agents/brokers, lawyers, and real estate professionals. Our practice handles professional liability claims on behalf of numerous clients and insurance carriers.
The majority of the professional liability claims handles by the firm involve insurance agents/brokers and insurance adjusters. The defense of these types of claims has been a focal point of the professional liability practice of the firms’ lawyers for many years. The firm serves as panel counsel to the insurance carrier endorsed by the Mississippi Independent Insurance Agents Association to provide professional liability coverage for its members.
Insurance
The firm’s attorneys practice in the areas of insurance law and insurance litigation. These areas include counseling, providing legal advice, and handling claims, and we represent insurance companies and their insureds as well as self-insureds. Our practice ranges from contract negotiations and disputes to coverage opinions, personal injury, product liability, toxic torts, bad faith, and professional malpractice. Our clients include companies that provide life, health, commercial, and personal property and casualty coverages.
With many years of experience in representing insurance companies and their insureds, the attorneys of the firm are well accustomed to working within the guidelines of the insurance companies to achieve the maximum benefit for the insured client in the most efficient manner. The firm’s attorneys recognize the importance of communication between the claims handler, the insured, and the attorneys in reaching effective and efficient resolutions of litigation matters.
Governmental Entity
Government and Public Entity Law is one of the fastest growing practice areas at Barfield & Associates. We are particularly skilled in the defense of actions seeking redress under federal and state civil rights laws. This familiarity with the many unique procedural provisions of government tort laws provides us with a competitive advantage in litigation and alternative dispute resolution. We serve state agencies, city and county governments, law enforcement agencies, air and water quality districts, school districts, community colleges, public service districts, airport and transportation authorities, law enforcement officers, and public utilities. Because laws governing public entities are complex and frequently modified, we regularly attend conferences and seminars conducted by nationally recognized organizations, such as the Defense Research Institute. The lawyers at Barfield and Associates defend governmental entities against any and all claims. These claims may include police misconduct, employment discrimination, and civil rights claims.
Employment Law
The firm’s employment practice focuses on assisting clients in handling allegations claims and lawsuits arising out of various employment laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Family and Medical Leave Act. The firm represents its clients before the Mississippi Unemployment Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and state and federal courts.
The firm, upon request, will also assist clients in developing and/or revising employee/employer policies and procedures manuals, employment manuals, and everyday personnel procedures, to assure that such documents comply with the applicable statues and regulations.
Corporate Practice
A major goal of the firm is to provide corporate clients with day-to-day advice
necessary to operate their businesses and to help them avoid the pitfalls to
which today’s corporations are susceptible in a litigious society. The firm’s
litigation practice provides clients with the advantage of anticipating
litigation through corporate activities and avoiding that exposure. Because we
know which corporate actions may precipitate subsequent litigations, we can help
corporate clients structure business arrangements to reduce that risk and
sometimes avoid it altogether. In today’s environment, corporate acquisitions
and mergers have become commonplace. The firm’s attorneys participate in all
aspects of these transactions, from the initial negotiations and preparation of
contract documents through the closing and, where applicable, procurement of the
approval of regulatory agencies. We also provide our corporate clients with risk
mitigation issues by reviewing issues and formulating cost-effective strategies.
