Your Partner in Alternative Dispute Resolution
Mediation * Facilitation * Arbitration * Special Master
About BarnesADR
Experience
Diligence
Professionalism
For over 33 years, practicing at Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, PLLC, and before that, at Butzel Long, PC, two of Michigan’s premier law firms, Denny's practice covered a wide range of complex commercial and business litigation. Denny has substantial experience in the litigation and trial of matters involving intellectual property disputes, insurance law, including both coverage disputes and the statutory obligations of insurers, professional liability claims, antitrust claims, and a wide variety of business torts. He has managed the defense of several class action lawsuits.
All the while, Denny has been actively engaged in advancing the interests of not just his clients, but also the interests of the legal profession and the public we serve. Denny has served as President of the State Bar of Michigan, President of the Federal Bar Association’s Eastern District of Michigan Chapter, and in an extensive variety of other bar and community service positions. In 2023, the FBA honored Denny with its Julian Abele Cook, Jr. - Bernard A. Friedman Civility Award, created to recognize a civil practitioner who is an outstanding example of professional excellence and civility.
Eventually, notwithstanding Denny’s commitment to pursuing his litigation practice, judges, lawyers and clients began beating a path to Denny’s door seeking his help in getting cases resolved through alternative dispute resolution (ADR). After several hundred successful mediations and similar ADR engagements, Denny recognized he could better serve his peers, their clients, and the public as an ADR specialist. Consequently, in February 2022, Denny formed his own firm to pursue that calling.
Areas of Practice
Mediation/Facilitation
Serve a mediator to assist the parties and counsel in their efforts to negotiate a voluntary settlement of their civil disputes.
There are two basic styles of mediation: facilitation and evaluation. Facilitators promote communication between the parties to help them achieve an acceptable resolution, while refraining from expressing any opinion on the merits of the case. Evaluators will express an opinion on the merits of the parties’ positions and/or what may be a reasonable settlement value. Often, a blend of the facilitative and evaluative approaches makes sense. The best mediators will draw upon their experience, consult with counsel, and consider the needs of the parties and the particulars of the dispute to determine which style best suits the needs of the case.
Arbitration/Special Master
Serve the parties and their counsel as the sole neutral arbitrator or on a panel of three, or as a court-assigned special master, always mindful that a primary goal of arbitration and/or a special master assignment is to reach a decision resolving the dispute through a speedy and less expensive process carefully calibrated to best suit the particular needs of the matter at issue.
Business Litigation
With over 35 years of experience in the litigation and trial of business disputes at two of Michigan’s premier law firms, Dennis has the experience, good judgment, reputation, relationships, and know-how to manage litigation and achieve positive results for his clients, whether in a role as lead counsel, general counsel, consultant, or working in association with co-counsel.
Business Counseling
Dennis has over three decades of experience in counseling individuals and businesses in the following areas:
Commercial transactions
Corporate governance and ethics
Insurance coverage
Employment law
Litigation strategy
Negotiating and documenting business transactions
Shareholder, partner, LLC member disputes
Special counsel to corporations
Dennis has an extensive network of relationships with some of the best, brightest, and most dedicated attorneys in Michigan, and if he is not in a position to assist you with your business counseling needs, he knows who will. Dennis won’t hesitate to refer you to an attorney who will best suit your needs.
Professional Profile
Dennis M. Barnes (.pdf copy)
PRACTICE AREAS
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Mediation
Facilitation
Early Dispute Resolution (“EDR”) Certified Neutral
Arbitration
Special Master
Business Litigation
Business Counseling
Insurance Coverage
EDUCATION
University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D.
Hillsdale College, Bachelor of Arts Magna Cum Laude
HONORS & AWARDS
Recipient, Julian Abele Cook, Jr. - Bernard A. Friedman Award for professional excellence and civility (2023)
Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation
Listed in Michigan Super Lawyers, Business Litigation & ADR
ALM, Top Rated Lawyer, Commercial Litigation
dBusiness Magazine, Metro Detroit's Top Lawyers
Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rating: AV Preeminent 5
Federal Court Advanced Technology Courtroom Certification
Buttons Invitational 2013 Green Coat Award
Dennis M. Barnes is a polished and successful mediator who gets results based on good judgment, intuition, dedication, and over three decades of experience in high-end civil litigation. He is also a leader in the federal and state bar, as a past president of the State Bar of Michigan and the Federal Bar Association’s Eastern District of Michigan Chapter, among other positions. In these capacities, Denny has earned the trust and respect of judges, practicing lawyers, and litigants.
For the past 33 years, practicing at Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, PLLC, and before that, as Butzel Long, PC, two of Michigan’s premier law firms, Denny's practice covered a wide range of complex commercial and business litigation and business counseling, including not only litigation of such disputes, but also helping others resolve such disputes as a mediator, arbitrator, and/or court appointed special master.
PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC LEADERSHIP
President, State Bar of Michigan (2019-2020)
State Bar of Michigan Board of Commissioners (2010-2020)
State Bar of Michigan Board of Commissioners Executive Committee (2012-2020)
Past-President, Federal Bar Association Eastern District of Michigan Chapter
Fellow, Michigan State Bar Foundation
Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society
Federal Court Standing Committee on Civility
Federal Court 2009 Magistrate Reappointment Selection Panel
Shamrock Bar Association (Lawyers Affiliated with Detroit Catholic Central High School)
Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers
Detroit Catholic Central High School Board of Directors
Detroit Catholic Central High School Alumni Board of Directors
Notre Dame Club of Detroit
St. William Parish in Walled Lake
Finance Council, Chair
Stewardship Commission
Parish Council
Education Commission
Coach of St. William School Boy's Basketball, Football and Girl's Basketball Teams
Buttons Invitational Charity Golf Outing, Board of Directors
International Order of the Alhambra, Manresa Caravan (an organization dedicated to assisting developmentally disabled children) Past Grand Commander
Pro Bono Legal Counsel for Alhambra Michigan Council of Caravans and St. Francis Camp on the Lake, a summer camp for mentally and physically handicapped children
MELL Program – Volunteer in a substance abuse education program
in Detroit Public Schools
BAR ADMISSIONS
State Bar of Michigan
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
United States District Court, Western District of Michigan
Contact Us
To help us best respond to your inquiry, we recommend that you first describe the issue you’re having before telling us what you want to achieve. You may also email or call us to make an appointment. Our general response time is one business day.
(248) 736-4828
Contacting us. Please note that this initial contact does not establish an attorney-client relationship and does not make you a client of our firm. To become a client of Dennis M. Barnes, PLLC, you must enter into a written agreement for services with us. Do not send us confidential information until you have established a formal attorney-client relationship with Dennis M. Barnes, PLLC. Written information sent to us by any manner before we agree to act as your attorneys may not be entitled to confidential treatment. We therefore ask that you not send us such information on an unsolicited basis. Further, even if you are a client, please note that internet email security is still uncertain and that you accept all risks of such uncertainty and potential lack of confidentiality when you send us unencrypted, sensitive, or confidential email. Email from Dennis M. Barnes, PLLC never constitutes an electronic signature, unless it expressly says so.