Bob Barnes practices in the areas of corporate law, securities and mergers and acquisitions. He represents public companies in all aspects of securities law compliance, including Sarbanes-Oxley, public offerings, periodic reporting and public disclosure issues. He regularly represents public and private companies in a variety of corporate acquisitions, sales and capital raising transactions. Mr. Barnes is listed in Best Lawyers in America, in Chambers USA 2011 (Corporate), and in Ingram’s Best Lawyers in Kansas City® 2009 under the categories of Corporate Law and Mergers & Acquisitions. He is also listed as a Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyer and is a regular speaker on SEC and corporate governance issues.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Barnes was vice president-general counsel of Unitog Company, a publicly-traded supplier of industrial uniforms.

Concentration: Securities, Transactions.

Select Representations

Mr. Barnes’ experience includes:

• Advising public boards and committees on all aspects of securities law compliance and corporate governance.
• $225 million sale of national sportswear company.
• Multi-million dollar sale of franchised registered investment adviser to national private equity fund.
• $1.3 billion merger of telecommunications supplier.
• $500 million sale of publicly-traded industrial uniform supplier.
• $250 million spin-off of national truckline.
• $60 million sale of national home products business.
• $45 million corporate restructuring and equity issuance involving a registered investment advisor.
• $45 million sale of subsidiary of a public traded truckline.
• $40 million sale of semi-conductor business.
• Preparation of takeover defenses and counseling boards and committees on addressing stockholder activists and strategic alternatives.
• Representation of majority owner in a going private transaction.
• Representation of independent committee of the Board in a going private transaction.
• Representation of investment bank in connection with issuance of fairness opinions.
• Representation of businesses in connection with venture capital investments.

Bar and Court Admissions

Missouri, 1983

Education

Washburn University, J.D., 1983

University of Kansas, B.A., 1980

Civic Involvement and Honors

• Best Lawyers in America - Corporate Law and Merger & Acquisitions categories, 2008-present
• Chambers USA 2011 (Corporate)
• Ingram’s Best Lawyers in Kansas City®, 2009 - present
• Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers, 2007- present
• Washburn Law Journal - Editor in Chief