Edward

D.

Barnes

CEO/Shareholder



Family Law
Wills, Trusts & Estates

Biography

Edward D. Barnes is Founder & President of Barnes & Diehl, P.C., with a tradition of experience and devotion to Family Law. In 2008, he received the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section, Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Chicago). He is listed in Best Lawyers in America, and has been included, since inception as a Virginia Legal Elite as published by Virginia Business Magazine. He is in the top 10 of Lawyers in Virginia as published and named by Super Lawyers. Richmond Business Magazine named him "Top Family Lawyer in the City of Richmond and the Region" in 2001.

Honors

Ranked by Super Lawyers Magazine as "Number One" Lawyer among all Lawyers in Virginia (2018)
Inducted into the Inaugural Class of Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame (2018)
Fellow, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society "The Litigation Counsel of America" (2014-2015)
President, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - Virginia Chapter (2011-2013)
Named Family Lawyer of the Year for Richmond by Best Lawyers in America (2009, 2015)
Chairman, The National Center for Family Law, University of Richmond School of Law (2006-Current)
Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section (2008)
Fellow, Virginia Law Foundation
Adjunct Faculty, Ethics in Family Law, University of Richmond School of Law
Chairman, Board of Governors, Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section (2004)
Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Chicago, IL)
Fellow, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (London) (1995-2010)
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, University of Richmond School of Law (2006)
Voted “Leader In The Law”, Virginia Lawyers Weekly (2006)
Voted Super Lawyer, Top Family Lawyers in Virginia and Richmond Magazine (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Voted Super Lawyer Top 10 Lawyers (all categories) in Virginia, Richmond Magazine and Law & Politics
Voted Super Lawyer, “Top 50” in Richmond
Included in Best Lawyers in America every year for over 25 years
Board of Managers, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Virginia Chapter (2001- 2004)
University of Richmond School of Law, Board of Directors
Virginia’s Legal Elite, Virginia Business Magazine (every year since 2006)
President - Chesterfield/Colonial Heights Bar Association (1998-1999)
President - Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association (1998-1999)
Chairman - The City of Richmond Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section (1978)
Member, MENSA Society
Member, International Society for Philosophical Enquiry
Court of Honor - Ammen Province – Kappa Alpha Order

Professional Associations

Member, International Society for Philosophical Enquiry
Chairman, The National Center for Family Law at the University of Richmond Law School (2006-Present)
Member, MENSA Society
Fellow, Virginia Law Foundation
Past President, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Virginia Chapter
Fellow, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (1996-2010)
Chairman, Board of Governors, Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section (2004-2005)
Member, Regional Courts Guidelines Committee, guidelines for trial and practice related to family law cases (2003-2004)
President, Board of Managers, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Virginia Chapter (2001-2004)
Member, Virginia Bar Association, Family Law Section (1975-present)
Member, Family Law Section, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (2006- Present)
Member, Law Practice Management Division, Virginia Bar Association (2006)
Judge, National Trial Advocacy Competition, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (2006)
Leadership Patron, Virginia Bar Association Foundation (2005)
Secretary, Board of Governors, Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section (2003-2004)
President, Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Bar Association (1998-1999)
Chairman, The City of Richmond Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section (1978)
The Robins Society - University of Richmond
Lifetime Member, East Carolina University, Alumni Association

Published Works

"Virginia Law and Practice: A Handbook For Attorneys," (Chapter on Domestic Relations) Edward D. Barnes , Fellows of the Virginia Law Foundation (2014)
"The Spousal Support Case Every Family Law Practitioner Should Know: Is Gamble Dead?," Edward Barnes, Virginia Bar Association News Journal, Vol. 35, No.4, (Winter, 2009)
"Comments on the Fifth Amendment and Its Use in Family Law," Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Edward D. Barnes & Charles E. Power (February, 2002)
"Negotiating and Drafting Divorce Agreements,", Virginia CLE (2000)
"Figuring Good Time - The Post Conviction Process," 16 Univ. Rich. Law Review 505 (1982)
"Goldfarb: The End of Self-Regulation?," Virginia Bar Association Journal (October, 1975)
"Cruel and Unusual Punishment - Constitutionality of the Death Penalty," Ralph v. Warden, 5 Univ. Rich. Law Rev. 392 (1971)
"Civil Rights - Arrest Record as Basis for Job Denial Held Discriminatory," Gregory v. Litton Systems, Univ.Rich. L. Rev.
"Overcooked Boilerplate and Other Morsels: Practice Tips and Traps", Edward D. Barnes & Ann Brakke Campfield
Use and Abuse of Expert Testimony in Custody and Visitation, Edward D. Barnes
Lawyers Weekly – Tax Traps

Representative Cases

Wright v. Wright, 0947-12-2, 2013, Va. Ct. App.
Lazarchic v. Lazarchic, Unpublished, 2005, Va. Ct. App.
Joynes v. Payne, 36 Va.App. 401, 551 S.E.2d. 10, 2001, Va. Ct. App., 2001730416
Reese v. Reese, Record No. 2564-00-2, 2001, Va. Ct. App.
Gifford v. Dunkum, 1996 Va.App. LEXIS 114, 1996, Va. Ct. App., 1996049506
McDavid v. McDavid, 451 S.E.2d 713, 1994, Va. Ct. App., 1994246556
Cottrell v. General Sys. Software Corp., 448 S.E.2d 421, 1994, Va. S.Ct., 1994187884
Goodwin v. Hare, 436 S.E.2d 605, 1993, Va. S.Ct., 1993211315
Westbrook v. Westbrook, 364 S.E.2d 523, 1988, Va. S.Ct., 1988011849
Howard v. Warden, 348 S.E.2d 211, 1986, Va. S.Ct., 1986145324
Cook v. Commonwealth, 309 S.E.2d 325, 1983, Va. S.Ct., 1983154782
Payne v. Warden of Powhatan Correctional Center, 285 S.E.2d 886, 1982, Va. S.Ct., 1982103030
Stamper v. Commonwealth, 257 S.E.2d 808, 1979, Va. S.Ct., 1979128192
Allied Products, Inc. v. Duesterdick, 232 S.E.2d 774, 1977, Va. S.Ct., 1977113711
Washington v. Commonwealth, 217 S.E.2d 815, 1975, Va. S.Ct., 1975131797

Classes & Seminars

Adjunct Faculty, University of Richmond Law School
Adjunct Faculty, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Annual Divorce Practice Seminar
"Advanced Family Law Seminar," Moderator, Virginia State Bar Association, Richmond & Norfolk, Virginia (2005-Present)
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Richmond, School of Law, "Ethics in Family Law" (2009)
"Update on the Law: Recent Cases for Annual Family Law Seminar," Author and Presenter, Montgomery County Bar Association (2005-2017)
"Update on the Law: Recent Cases," Author and Presenter, Virginia Continuing Legal Education (2002-2017)
"Successful Strategies for Your Custody Case," 22nd Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE (October, 2004)
"Question and Answer Session on Electronic Evidence Issues,'" Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE, Richmond, Virginia (2004)
"What All Practitioners Should Know About Divorce," Midyear Legal Seminar of the Virginia State Bar, Scottsdale, Arizona (2003)
The Imputation of Income - Cases and Issues: Four Hot Topics for Family Law Attorneys," American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Virginia Chapter (2003)
"Use of Experts in Custody Cases, Insights on Tough Custody Issues," 21st Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE (2002)
Negotiating And Drafting Marital Agreements – Edward D. Barnes; (Mar. 12, 2002) (VACLE) (Author)
"Spousal Support and Maintenance; Family Law: A Systematic Approach," 17th Annual Fundamentals Course, Virginia CLE (2001)
"Going for the Gold: Locating and Using Winning Evidence," Moderator, 19th Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE (2000)
"Nemo Tenetur Prodere Seipsum - Adultery & the Fifth Amendment's Affect on Spousal Support & Equitable Distribution," State Bar Journal (2000)
"Avoiding Litigation in Child Custody Relocation Issues (Topic No. 2) - Four Hot Topics for Family Law Attorneys," Virginia CLE (2000)
"Presentation on Stocks and Options; The Case of the Millionaire Couple: Solving the Mystery of the Financially Complex Divorce," 16th Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE (2000)
"Income in Support Cases," 19th Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE (2000)
"Work Product Doctrine - New Cases, New Advice on Spousal Support, New Rules of Professional Conduct," 18th Annual Family Law Seminar: News You Need to Know, Virginia CLE, Richmond, Roanoke, Falls Church and Norfolk (1999)
"Use And Abuse Of Experts," Moderator, 18th Annual Family Law Seminar (1999)
"How Do I Handle the Hard Issues? Difficult Issues, Practical Solutions," 17th Annual Family Law Seminar, Virginia CLE, Tysons Corner, Norfolk, Roanoke and Richmond (1998)
"Presentation and Trial - Virginia's New Statute on Rehabilitative Alimony: How to Present and Argue Your Case," Virginia CLE, Richmond and Tysons Corner (1998)
"Wiretaps And Video As Evidence In Family Law Litigation," (1998)
"VTLA- Moving Ahead: the New Millennium- A Documents And Documentation Regarding Family Law," (1997)
Update on Family Law, Virginia State Bar, MCLE – Edward D. Barnes; Prepare Materials and Speak – (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) – Richmond, Norfolk, Roanoke)
Speaker and Panelist for The 6th Annual Tax Conference for the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants – Edward D. Barnes; (October 17, 2005)
21st Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar – “Mind Your Ps and Qs: Property, Pensions, and QDROs” – Edward D. Barnes; (May 26, 2005)
21st Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar – “Practice Tips Regarding Retirement, Pension and Deferred Compensation – And Those Statutory Pitfalls” – Edward D. Barnes, Moderator and Presenter; (2005)
Annual Bench Bar Conference – Edward D. Barnes, Moderator, (Oct. 21, 1999)
Professional Goodwill In Virginia, AA Comprehensive Analysis – Edward D. Barnes, Panelist, (1999)
Bench Bar Conference – Domestic Relations – Domestic Relations: From Dabblers To Experts-Common Traps For The Unwary And How To Avoid Them – Edward D. Barnes, Panelist

Pro-Bono Activities

Chief Justice Supreme Court of Virginia Pro Bono Summit (2016-Current)
Supreme Court of Virginia Pro Bono Summit (2014-Current)
Central Virginia Legal Aid Society Pro Bono Family Law (2012-Current)
Henrico Bar Association Pro Bono Project (2010-Current)
University of Richmond Law School Richmond Downtown Pro Bono Project
National Chairman, University of Richmond Law School Fund (1999-2002)
Advisory Board Member and Attorney, Old Dominion Eye Bank (1975-1983)
Counsel and Member, Advisory Board of the Eye Bank Association of America, Houston, Texas (1976-1982)
Province Commander - Ammen Province (Virginia) Kappa Alpha Order (1977-1980)
Counsel and Registered Agent, Tuckahoe Volunteer Rescue Squad, Henrico County, Virginia (1977)
Counsel and Advisory Board Member, Virginia Head Injury Foundation
Board Member, Richard Bland College Foundation
Chair, Church Council, Trinity United Methodist Church, 1998 – present

Past Positions

Honorable Harry L. Carrico, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, Law Clerk (1971-1972)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seventh Army Command, Germany, 1st Lieutenant (1966-1969)
Seventh Army Command, Germany (1967-1969)
Leadership, Academic and Honor Graduate of the Army Corps of Engineers Officer Candidate School, Fort Belvoir (1967)

Education

University of Richmond, School of Law, Richmond, Virginia
- J.D. – 1972
- Dean’s Advisory Council
- 1870 Society
- The Robins Society
- The Charter Associates – The Founders Society
- The Gothic Society
- The Rectors Club
- The Spider Club
- The Judiciary Gift Society
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
- B.A. – 1966
- Honors: Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Officer, Fort Belvoir
- 1967
- Honors: Leadership, Academic and Honor Graduate

Bar Admissions

Virginia, 1971
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia, 1972
U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1972
U.S. Supreme Court, 1974
Virginia Supreme Court, 1971