Erika R. Barnes

Erika R. Barnes


Stites & Harbison, PLLC

Recognized since 2018

Nashville, Tennessee

Practice Areas

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Send Erika R. Barnes an email at ebarnes@stites.com Navigate to map location for Erika R. Barnes
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Erika Barnes is a member of the firm's Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy Service Group and the Business Litigation Service Group. Erika is certified as a specialist in Business Bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification. Erika represents creditors and franchisors in bankruptcy cases nationwide. She also has experience representing creditors' committees and Chapter 11 trustees. Erika handles real estate curative litigation and complex commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts. She frequently represents lenders in commercial foreclosures and mortgage litigation.

Recent Assignments

  • Assisted secured creditor with Chapter 11 bankruptcy representation and recovery on loan secured by major downtown Nashville hotel
  • Represented national restaurant franchisors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy of franchisee involving more than 120 franchise locations
  • Represented secured creditors and loan servicers in receiverships and foreclosures of apartment complexes, hotels, retail space and other commercial property
  • Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors for the Jockey's Guild, Inc. Chapter 11 bankruptcy
  • Represented the liquidating trustee for the Lightyear Holdings, Inc., et al. Chapter 11 bankruptcy
  • Successfully litigated trial and appeal of breach of contract claim
  • Represented major equipment finance companies in bankruptcy and collection matters

Recent News, Articles & Speaking Engagements

  • Reining in the Woo-Girls: Navigating short-term rentals
  • Hot Topics in Real Estate 2022, Tennessee Bar Association and Tennessee Land Title Association, November 4, 2022
  • Amendments to the Bankruptcy Code Impact Lessors Post COVID-19, with Brian R. Pollock, Stites & Harbison Client Alert, July 14, 2021
  • Collecting a Judgment, Webinar, July 8, 2020, with Elizabeth Lee Thompson
  • Asset Recovery Orders/Replevin Overview & Local Rules, Webinar, June 30, 2020, with Elizabeth Lee Thompson
  • Proofs of Claim and Adequate Protection, Webinar, June 19, 2020with Katie M. Glass , Brian R. Pollock , and Elizabeth Lee Thompson
  • Hot Bankruptcy Decisions of 2019, Webinar, June 10, 2020,
  • with Brian R. Pollock and Elizabeth Lee Thompson
  • New Bankruptcy Law May Increase Small Business Filings, with Brian R. Pollock and Elizabeth Lee Thompson, Stites & Harbison Client Alert, February 18, 2020
  • Trademarks in Bankruptcy, with Alexandra MacKay and Mari-Elise Paul, Stites & Harbison Client Alert, May 28, 2019

More Than Stites & Harbison

Prior to attending law school, Ms. Barnes was a French translator for ITI Worldwide in Cookeville, Tennessee. During law school, Ms. Barnes worked as a legal intern for Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation. Erika is a member of the board of directors of the American Board of Certification, an organization that certifies attorneys as specialists in business bankruptcy, consumer bankruptcy and creditors' rights law. She is a director of the Mid-South Commercial Law Institute, a Past Chair of the Tennessee Bar Association Bankruptcy Section Executive Council and is a graduate of the 2011 Nashville Emerging Leaders Class.

Location
  • 401 Commerce Street, Suite 800
    Nashville, TN 37219
Education
  • Vanderbilt University, J.D., graduated 2004
  • Tennessee Tech University, M.B.A., graduated 2001
  • Tennessee Tech University, B.S., magna cum laude, World Cultures and Business, graduated 2000
  • Tennessee Tech University, B.A., magna cum laude, Foreign Language, French, graduated 2000
Bar Admissions
  • Kentucky, Kentucky Bar
  • Tennessee, Tennessee Bar
Affiliations
  • Mid-South Commercial Law Institute - Director
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Tennessee Bar Association - Bankruptcy Section Executive Council (Past Chair)
  • Kentucky Bar Association - Member
  • Nashville Bar Association - Member
  • American Bankruptcy Insitute - Member
  • American Board of Certification - Board of Directors
  • Lawyers' Association for Women - Nashville, Marion Griffin Chapter - Member
  • Turnaround Management Association - Member
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Stites & Harbison, PLLC
Headquarters: Louisville, Kentucky

97 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

29 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

Best Law Firms Badge Visit Website View Firm Profile

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Awards:
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV-Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • National Association of Trial Advocacy, NITA Advocate
  • American Board of Certification, Board Certified, Business Bankruptcy Law
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers

  • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Rising Star
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Bankruptcy

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