Dennis M. Barnes Sworn in as State Bar President

Dennis M. Barnes Sworn in as State Bar President

September 26, 2019

Dennis M. Barnes, of Detroit, has been sworn in as the 85th president of the State Bar of Michigan. Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack presided at the Sept. 26 ceremony, which took place in conjunction with the Inaugural & Awards Luncheon in Novi.

Dennis M. BarnesBarnes is a member of Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, PLLC, and concentrates his practice on business litigation, professional malpractice defense, insurance coverage, and antitrust. He 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. In addition to his service to the State Bar of Michigan, he is a past president of the Federal Bar Association, a fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, and a member of the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, the Oakland County Bar Association, the Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers, and the Shamrock Bar Association.

Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack also swore in other officers for the 2019-2020 bar year, including President-Elect Robert J. Buchanan of Grand Rapids; Vice President Dana M. Warnez of Center Line, Secretary James W. Heath of Detroit, and Treasurer Daniel D. Quick of Troy. Barnes has been involved in State Bar work for over a decade and has served on many of its committees and groups. He has served on the SBM Board of Commissioners since 2010, and has served as treasurer, secretary, vice president, and president-elect. He has also served on the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly.

A frequent speaker and published author, his bar admissions include the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits, and the United States District Court, Eastern and Western Districts.

Barnes received his bachelor’s degree from Hillsdale College and earned his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School.