Ed Barnidge is an experienced first-chair trial attorney in complex commercial and class action cases across the country. His experience spans the gamut of litigated matters from trials and arbitrations to mediations and regulatory matters. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in many high-stakes disputes.
Ed’s most extensive experience is in disputes involving commercial contracts, consumer protection, financial services, trade secrets, state and federal false claims cases, franchise matters, retail financing, and antitrust.
Ed co-chairs the firm’s Class Actions and Consumer Defense practice.
Ed graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1993. He received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif, before clerking for Judge Saundra Brown Armstrong of the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California. He joined Williams & Connolly in 2000.
Representative Experience
Though all cases vary and none is predictive, Ed’s experience includes:
- Lead trial counsel in two-week trial representing private equity firm in commercial contract and intellectual property case that is awaiting entry of final judgment.
- Lead counsel in four-day arbitration brought by international restaurant chain alleging defamation on social media platform.
- Co-lead trial counsel in three-week civil RICO jury trial, exonerating a consumer-facing financial services company and law firm.
- Co-lead trial counsel in two week trial successfully defending Hong Kong company in securities case in the New York Commercial Division.
- Lead trial counsel obtaining acquittal of journalist charged in North Dakota.
- Trial counsel successfully defending real estate developer against multimillion dollar claims.
- Defending national furniture chain against class claims of false reference pricing.
- Defending international restaurant chain against class claims of false advertising.
- Defending financial services company against claims brought by the CFPB.
- Successfully defeating all claims in trade secrets misappropriation matter brought by vendor involving software platform.
- Resolving class and representative wage and hour claims against employer.
- Defending national furniture chain against claims of age discrimination and unlawful termination of licensee stores.
- Defeating on summary judgment a nine-figure claim by the Lehman estate under a derivatives contract.
- Successfully prosecuting a high-stakes breach of contract claim on behalf of a leading financial institution.
- Defending client against claims by government and qui tam claimants under state and federal False Claims Acts.
- Vindicating on appeal a franchisor’s right to terminate a long-time franchisee.
- Representing clients challenging state actions in connection with a high-profile government licensure program.
- Defending international technology company against false claims act allegations regarding alleged software defect.
- Defeating claim for class representation brought by retail automobile consumers.
- Obtaining dismissal in a putative class action involving purported financial fraud.
- Leading internal investigations of claims of alleged retail financing frauds.
- Lead arbitration counsel in successful defense against claims of retail financing fraud.