Erika R. Barnes

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 AssignmentsAssisted secured creditor with Chapter 11 bankruptcy representation and recovery on loan secured by major downtown Nashville hotelRepresented national restaurant franchisors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy of franchisee involving more than 120 franchise locationsRepresented secured creditors and loan servicers in receiverships and foreclosures of apartment complexes, hotels, retail space and other commercial propertyRepresented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors for the Jockey's Guild, Inc. Chapter 11 bankruptcyRepresented the liquidating trustee for the Lightyear Holdings, Inc., et al. Chapter 11 bankruptcySuccessfully litigated trial and appeal of breach of contract claimRepresented major equipment finance companies in bankruptcy and collection mattersRecent News, Articles & Speaking EngagementsReining in the Woo-Girls: Navigating short-term rentalsHot Topics in Real Estate 2022, Tennessee Bar Association and Tennessee Land Title Association, November 4, 2022Amendments to the Bankruptcy Code Impact Lessors Post COVID-19, with Brian R. Pollock, Stites & Harbison Client Alert, July 14, 2021Collecting a Judgment, Webinar, July 8, 2020, with Elizabeth Lee ThompsonAsset Recovery Orders/Replevin Overview & Local Rules, Webinar, June 30, 2020, with Elizabeth Lee ThompsonProofs of Claim and Adequate Protection, Webinar, June 19, 2020with Katie M. Glass , Brian R. Pollock , and Elizabeth Lee ThompsonHot Bankruptcy Decisions of 2019, Webinar, June 10, 2020,with Brian R. Pollock and Elizabeth Lee ThompsonNew Bankruptcy Law May Increase Small Business Filings, with Brian R. Pollock and Elizabeth Lee Thompson, Stites & Harbison Client Alert, February 18, 2020Trademarks in Bankruptcy, with Alexandra MacKay and Mari-Elise Paul, Stites & Harbison Client Alert, May 28, 2019More Than Stites & HarbisonPrior 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.

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 AssignmentsAssisted secured creditor with Chapter 11 bankruptcy representation and recovery on loan secured by major downtown Nashville hotelRepresented national restaurant franchisors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy of franchisee involving more than 120 franchise locationsRepresented secured creditors and loan servicers in receiverships and foreclosures of apartment complexes, hotels, retail space and other commercial propertyRepresented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors for the Jockey's Guild, Inc. Chapter 11 bankruptcyRepresented the liquidating trustee for the Lightyear Holdings, Inc., et al. Chapter 11 bankruptcySuccessfully litigated trial and appeal of breach of contract claimRepresented major equipment finance companies in bankruptcy and collection mattersRecent News, Articles & Speaking EngagementsReining in the Woo-Girls: Navigating short-term rentalsHot Topics in Real Estate 2022, Tennessee Bar Association and Tennessee Land Title Association, November 4, 2022Amendments to the Bankruptcy Code Impact Lessors Post COVID-19, with Brian R. Pollock, Stites & Harbison Client Alert, July 14, 2021Collecting a Judgment, Webinar, July 8, 2020, with Elizabeth Lee ThompsonAsset Recovery Orders/Replevin Overview & Local Rules, Webinar, June 30, 2020, with Elizabeth Lee ThompsonProofs of Claim and Adequate Protection, Webinar, June 19, 2020with Katie M. Glass , Brian R. Pollock , and Elizabeth Lee ThompsonHot Bankruptcy Decisions of 2019, Webinar, June 10, 2020,with Brian R. Pollock and Elizabeth Lee ThompsonNew Bankruptcy Law May Increase Small Business Filings, with Brian R. Pollock and Elizabeth Lee Thompson, Stites & Harbison Client Alert, February 18, 2020Trademarks in Bankruptcy, with Alexandra MacKay and Mari-Elise Paul, Stites & Harbison Client Alert, May 28, 2019More Than Stites & HarbisonPrior 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.

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

Recent News, Articles & Speaking Engagements

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.