Faculty Profile: Hon. Barbara Holmes

Barbara D. Holmes was appointed as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee on August 1, 2015. Prior to her appointment, Judge Holmes practiced law for almost 30 years in Nashville, representing clients in commercial and bankruptcy litigation in federal and state courts and providing turn-around and restructuring advice (sometimes through a chapter 11 bankruptcy filing) for troubled business in all kinds of industries. Her practice required the quick mastery of the business aspects of the client’s particular company or industry and of the regulatory and substantive law that might impact the company’s successful restructuring.  Among the kinds of business for which she assisted in the restructuring or structured sale are multiple regional coal mining operations, regional hospital systems, an after-market printer ink and ribbon manufacturer, hospitality franchises (restaurant and hotel), specialty retail businesses, and freight transportation and related services companies, each with its own unique considerations, including state and federal regulatory oversight, vendor and customer contract negotiations and disputes, employment discrimination claims, anti-trust concerns, and intellectual property issues.  Throughout her career, Judge Holmes represented clients in custody and other juvenile law matters on a pro bono basis, employment cases, emancipation proceedings, receiverships, family law matters, and administrative proceedings. She also worked on significant cases involving environmental law and franchise law issues. Judge Holmes was previously a Rule 31 mediator, and served as a mediator and arbitrator in a variety of business, bankruptcy, and other disputes. She also previously served as a Hearing Committee member for the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, and on a number of hearing panels (including as chair) for disciplinary complaints.  Judge Holmes is a former director and past president of the Mid-South Commercial Law Institute and a former director and past president of the Nashville Bar Association. She is a Master with the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court. Judge Holmes is a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation, for which she previously served as Treasurer and as Chair of the Board of Trustees.  She is also a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and of the Nashville Bar Foundation for which she currently serves on the Board of Trustees. Judge Holmes previously served on the Tennessee Bar Association Board of Governors, and is a past chair of the Executive Council for the TBA Bankruptcy Law Section and a past chair of the TBA Public Education Committee. She is also a member of the TBA Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee. Judge Holmes is a frequent producer and lecturer on a broad range of continuing legal education topics, previously chaired the CLE Committee of the Nashville Bar Association, and chaired a special task force on continuing legal education for the NBA. She is also a recipient of the Nashville Bar Association's CLE Award for exceptional service to the NBA's CLE program.  Judge Holmes was previously a Juvenile Court referee, where she heard cases involving truancy, dependency and neglect, and private custody and visitation disputes. She also chaired a statewide commission on juvenile justice issues for the Tennessee Bar Association.