James R. Barnes, Esq.

James R. Barnes, Esq., is a shareholder of Burke & Casserly, P.C., and joined the firm as an attorney in 2005. He focuses his practice in elder law, trusts and estates, guardianship, special needs planning, business formation and succession planning. James is admitted to practice law in New York State and is also a member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court.

James is an active member of the New York State Bar Association, where he serves on the Executive Committee of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section. In addition, he is currently the Chair of the Association’s Committee on Continuing Legal Education. James is a Past-Chair of the Association’s Young Lawyers Section. He has also served on the Association’s Executive Committee, House of Delegates, in addition to several special committees and task forces.

James presently serves on the board of directors for The New York Bar Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to aiding charitable and educational projects to meet the law-related needs of the public and legal profession. His other bar association affiliations are as a member of NYSBA’s Trusts & Estates Section, as well as a member of the Albany County Bar Association, where he served as a Co-Chair of its Young Lawyers Committee for several years. He is also a member of the Estate Planning Council of Eastern New York. He is also a member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.)

James’ commitment to his practice is reflected in his involvement with many community organizations and events. James currently serves as a Trustee of the Foundation for Ellis Medicine in Schenectady, as well as a member of the board of directors of the Visiting Nurse Service of Northeastern New York. He is a Past-President of the Visiting Nurse Service of Northeastern New York’s Foundation Board, which is now a part of the Foundation for Ellis Medicine. He conducts regular speaking engagements in various community and professional forums, lecturing about current topics affecting seniors and their families. James is also a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs for attorneys and other professionals involved with estate planning and elder law.

James received his Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2004, where he studied as an A.J. Fletcher Law Scholar. While at Wake Forest, he became an active member of the Phi Alpha Delta National Law School Fraternity, serving for two years as the chapter’s Vice-President. James pursued his undergraduate education at the State University of New York at Binghamton. In 2001, he received his Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, double majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Law, and in Music. At Binghamton, he became a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Golden Key and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Societies.

James lives with his wife and two children in Latham.