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Barbara Barron Managing Shareholder

Beaumont, Houston
  • t: 409-951-7764
  • BarbaraBarron@MehaffyWeber.com

Barbara Barron is an extremely experienced attorney who has delivered big wins for clients of all sizes throughout the country in both state and federal courts. She credits her success to her speech and drama background and her passion for her clients. Ms. Barron dedicates herself to her clients and has obtained a national reputation for her courtroom and organizational skills. Her litigation practice covers a full range of complex and cutting-edge issues.

As an experienced trial lawyer who is highly sought after, Ms. Barron has excelled in a unique combination of litigation areas, including mass and toxic torts, personal injury litigation, products liability litigation, and labor and employment law.

In personal injury and products liability, she has tried a variety of cases from car wrecks, trucking accidents, slip and falls, catastrophic injuries and even commercial property cases to defense verdicts. Likewise, she understands the need to economically and efficiently resolve cases without the necessity of a trial and has prepared and entered over 50,000 dispositive motions.

Because of her litigation and nonprofit work, she began advising clients on practices and procedures to create a work practice environment that avoids lawsuits and grievances. She began working with these clients after successfully representing them before agency proceedings and state and federal courts on FLSA, wage and hour, discrimination, and other employment issues. She spends time counseling clients to prevent future litigation and has written many Employee Handbooks. Additionally, she has amassed an impressive win rate in labor union arbitrations on behalf of management.

Ms. Barron has litigated extensively in mass tort and toxic tort litigation, including coordinating the nationwide and statewide defense of several defendants. She is the liaison defense attorney for both the Texas Asbestos MDL and the Texas Silica MDL. Ms. Barron has taken the “A” reader x‑ray course and is a certified pulmonary function technician, all which aids in the defense of any inhalation case. She has tried ANA/BNA cases in Beaumont, Texas, pesticide cases in Orange, Texas, and asbestos cases in Corpus Christi, Fort Worth, Brownsville, and Orange, Texas. Ms. Barron has tried several silicosis cases to verdict in Orange and Odessa, Texas, winning all cases as defense verdicts. Additionally, since the 1980’s, she begun trials in well over fifty toxic tort cases in state and federal courts in Texas and other jurisdictions which were successfully resolved before verdict. She has successfully argued hundreds of motions for summary judgments.

Ms. Barron attended Baylor University where she graduated summa cum laude in three years while on the varsity swim team. She then attended the University of Houston Law Center and upon graduation magna cum laude she became the Briefing Attorney for United States District Judge, Robert M. Parker. Ms. Barron joined MehaffyWeber in 1984 and became a shareholder in 1991.

In her spare time, Ms. Barron is extremely active in the nonprofit community. She is immediate past President of the Shorkey Center which provides services to autistic children and has previously served as President twice for the Symphony League. She is also volunteers and is President at the Southeast Texas Family Resource Center where she chaired a committee raising $1 million to open a family resource center in a low income neighborhood. Ms. Barron is also the Past President of the Monsignor Kelly High School Board and serves on the USLAW Board of Directors. She has given speeches for the State Bar of Texas, the Defense Research Institute, FDCC, Mealey’s Litigation Report, Perrin’s, and HarrisMartin, as well as written numerous articles and a book chapter entitled “Be Prepared: Knowing Your Case and Your Witnesses in Personal Injury Litigation” for the book Representing Defendants in Personal Injury Cases; Leading Lawyers on Developing a Defense Strategy, Navigating the Discovery Process, and Litigating Disputes. Ms. Barron has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® every year since 2013 and in the Texas Super Lawyer List by Thomson Reuters since 2004.

EDUCATION
  • University of Houston Law Center, magna cum laude, J.D.
    • Member of the Order of the Barons, Managing Editor of the Houston Journal of International Law, member of the Legal Scholastic Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Society, and recipient of Broughton Service Award
  • Baylor University, summa cum laude, B.S.
  • State of Texas
  • State of Mississippi
  • State of Arkansas
  • State of California
  • State of Oklahoma
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court
  • Certified Pulmonary Function Technician, 1987
  • “A” Reader Lung X‑Rays Course
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Houston Chapter (2014 to present)
  • USLAW
    • Board of Directors (2022 to present)
    • Board Liaison to the Labor and Employment Group
  • Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (2007 to present)
    • Member of sections Trial Tactics, Practice and Procedures, Insurance Industry, Products Liability, Diversity Initiative Committee and Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Section (2009 to present)
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow and Life Member (2009 to present)
  • State Bar of Texas (1984 to present)
    • State Committee of Women and the Law, Member
    • State Bar Planning Committee for the Advanced Personal Injury Course, Member, 2007
  • College of the State Bar of Texas, Member (1997 to present)
  • Jefferson County Bar Association, Member (1984 to present)
  • Jefferson County Young Lawyers, Member (1984 to 1996)
    • Board of Directors (1990 to 1991)
    • Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity, Member (1982 to present)
  • Texas Federation of Business & Professional Women
    • State Board of Directors (1988 to 1989)
    • State Individual Development Committee (1987 to 1988)
    • Winner of J. D. Competition and represented Texas (1987)
  • Spindletop Business & Professional Women
    • Women of the Year, Chairperson (1988 to 1989)
    • Women in Government, District Chair (1987 to 1988)
  • Texas Young Lawyers
    • Women and the Law Committee (1992 to 1996)
    • Lawyers as Parents Committee (1992 to 1996)
  • Michelle F. Mehaffy Inn of Court, Master (1996 to present)
  • Defense Research Institute (1984 to present)
    • Trial Tactics Committee‑State Liaison (1999 to 2006)
  • Mississippi Bar Association (2003 to present)
  • Arkansas Bar Association (2007 to present)
  • Oklahoma Bar Association (2007 to present)
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow (2008 to present)
  • American Bar Association
    • Vice Chair Committee on Trial Techniques
  • Texas Association of Defense Counsel (1990)
  • Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
  • International Platform Association
  • Shorkey Center
    • President, (2013-2015)
    • Board of Directors (2007 to present)
  • Symphony League of Southeast Texas
    • Treasurer (2016-2017)
    • Treasurer-Elect (2015-2016)
    • Past President (2014-2015)
    • President (2013-2014)
    • President-Elect (2012-2013, 2016-2017)
    • 2nd Vice President for Symphony Affairs (2009-2011)
    • Youth Chair (2011-2012)
    • Hospitality, Chair (2008-2009)
    • Guest Relations, Chair (2006-2008)
    • League Audit (2009-2013)
  • Symphony of Southeast Texas Board of Directors (2011 to present)
    • Executive Committee (2012-2014)
    • Vice President, Administration (2012- 2013)
  • The Humane Society of Southeast Texas
    • Fundraising Committee, Chair (2014- 2015)
  • Southeast Texas Family Resource Center
    • President (2001-2016)
    • Board Member (2000 to present)
  • Junior League of Beaumont (1992 to present)
    • Sustainer of the Year (2005)
    • Diamond Award for Community Service (2005)
    • Sustainer, 2001 to present and Sustaining Advisor (2003-2005)
    • Sustaining Advisor, Project Research and Development (2003- 2005)
    • Family Resource Center, Fund‑Raising Chair (2000- 2001)
    • Board of Directors, (1996-1998)
    • Various Chairs (1994 to present)
  • Monsignor Kelly High School
    • Board of Directors
      • President (2010- 2011)
      • Secretary of the Board (2008 to present)
      • Member (2007 to present)
      • Chair various committees (2008 to present)
    • Beaumont Chamber of Commerce (1984 to present)
      • Minority Affairs Committee (2002 to present)
      • Leadership Beaumont Admission’s Committee (1993)
      • Chairman’s Council
      • Leadership Beaumont
    • Healthy Communities Initiative
      • Executive Chair (2004-2006)
      • Executive Committee (2001 to present)
      • Chair, Immunizations
    • Weed and Seed, U.S. Justice Department initiative
      • Steering Committee (2003-2005)
    • League of Women Voters
      • President (1993- 1995)
      • President Emeritus (1995-1997)
      • Board of Directors (1991-1997)
      • Third Vice‑President Chair, Child Care Consensus (1991-1992)
      • Women’s Issues Chair (1990-1991)
  • Super Lawyers
    • Selected to Texas Super Lawyers list by Thomson Reuters (2004 – 2023)
    • Selected to the “Top 100 List – Houston Region” List, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters (2008-2010, 2012-2015, 2017, 2021)
    • Selected to the “Top 50 Women in Texas” List, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters (2007-2013, 2015, 2021)
    • Selected to the “Top 100 List – Texas” List, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters (2010, 2021)
    • Selected to the “Feature Story” List, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters (2021)
    • Selected to Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition by Thomson Reuters in Personal Injury Defense: General (2009-2015)
    • Selected to Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition by Thomson Reuters in Civil Litigation Defense (2011-2016)
  • Best Lawyers®
    • Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® since 2013
    • Named the Best Lawyers® 2023 Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Beaumont
    • Named the Best Lawyers® 2022 Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Beaumont
    • Named the Best Lawyers® 2021 Insurance Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Beaumont
    • Named the Best Lawyers® 2018 Product Liability Litigation-Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Beaumont
    • Named the Best Lawyers® 2013 Product Liability Litigation-Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Beaumont
    • Named the Best Lawyers® 2013 Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Beaumont
    • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation (2023-2024)
    • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law (2024)
    • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants (2013-2024)
    • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Product Liability Litigation-Defendants (2013-2024)
    • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Insurance Law (2017-2024)
    • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation-Insurance (2022-2024)
    • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Defendants (2016-2024)
  • Selected as one of “Houston’s Top Lawyers” in HTexas Magazine (2012-2016)
  • AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Recognized by Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers (2012-2016)
  • Selected as a “Top 30 Extraordinary Women in Texas Law,” by Texas Lawyer, (November 2008)
  • Outstanding Young Women of America (1987 to present)
  • International Who’s Who of Professionals (1987 to present)
  • Who’s Who in American Law (1989 to present)
  • Dictionary of International Biography (1986-1987)
  • Who’s Who in Texas Today (1987-1988)
  • Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders (1991)
  • Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, Jefferson County Bar Association (1996)
  • Leadership Texas Graduate
  • National Registry of Who’s Who, Life Member

• USLAW NETWORK General Counsel and In-House Counsel Forum – Navigating Political Discourse in the Workplace – Co-Facilitator, February 2024
• USLAW NETWORK Managing Partner Forum – What’s New in AI and the Law – Co-Facilitator, January 2024
• USLAW NETWORK Managing Partner Forum – Successfully Navigating the DEI Questions on Client RFPs and Audits – Co-Facilitator, October 2023
• USLAW NETWORK Client Conference – Stump the Lawyer Hot Topics – Co-Facilitator, October 2023
• 2023 TADC Deposition Bootcamp – A Virtual Event, “Depositions and Motion Practice”, Speaker, October,2023
• USLAW NETWORK Labor and Employment Forum – Is there a Balance Between a Favorable culture and Productivity in the Workplace? – Co-Facilitator, April 2023
• LAMAR UNIVERSITY – Unions and Collective Bargaining – Chapter 13 – Guest Lecture in Employment Law, April 2023
• USLAW NETWORK Spring Client Conference – Session 1 – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – How Companies Can Maintain DEI Momentum While Navigating and Avoiding Legal Risks – Primary Facilitator, March 2023
• FDCC Winter Meeting – Products Liability Section – Use of Non-employees as 30(b)(6) Witness – “I am (Prepared to Testify on Behalf of) Iron Man”, February 2023
• USLAW NETWORK Client Conference – Labor and Employment “NLBR Activism in 2022” and Business Litigation and Class Actions “Are you at Risk and Exposed for Class Action and Other Potential Litigation?” – Primary Facilitator, September 2023
• Jefferson County Young Lawyers and Jefferson County Bar Association – Employment Law Issues for You, Your Business and Your Clients, July 2022
• USLAW NETWORK Women’s Connection. She’s Not Bossy, She’s In Charge: Committing to the Next Generation of Women and Diverse Leadership – Co-Facilitator, and on Executive Committee, June 2022
• USLAW NETWORK Labor and Employment Law Forum–Co-Chair, April 2022
• “To MDL or Not to MDL?” – The Proliferation of Multi-District Litigation, DRI, March 2022
• “Accounting for Nonprofits” Southeast Texas CPAs, February 2022
• USLAW NETWORK – COVID-19 Employment Hot Topics: Everything from Return to Work to Health Privacy Issues; Corporate Trends in a Post COVID-19 World, Co-Facilitator – September 2021
• “What You Don’t Know Can Hurt Your Firm and Your Clients” – Emerging and Continuing Employment Issues for 2021-2022, FDCC Speakers Bureau, May 2021
• Nonprofits Update – Michelle Mehaffy Inns of Court, April 2021
• Author of frequent top ten blog posts from Texas Bar Today on Employment related topics, October 2020
• “Sexual Assault, Harassment and Bullying – Oh My” – Preventing Sexual Assault and Harassment in Non-profits, churches, and charitable organizations, Houston Bar Association, December 2019
• “Preparing Experts and Deposing Expert Witnesses”, TADC Deposition Boot Camp, South Texas College of Law, October 2019
• “Washed Away – Hurricane Harvey” JCYLA – Jefferson County – September 2019
• “Social Media and Product Recall”, USLAW, Fall 2019 USLAW Network Client Conference, Washington, DC, Complex Tort and product Liability, September 2019
• “Top 10 Employment Law Issues 2019”, Employment Law Seminar, Jefferson County Bar Association, April 2019
• “Minimizing Damages”, 35th Annual Advanced Personal Injury, Texas Bar, San Antonio, July 2019; Dallas, August 2019; and Houston, September 2019
• “Cross-examining Markowitz/Rosner”, DALS, Defense Asbestos Litigation Seminar, New Orleans, LA, June 2019
• Natural Catastrophe Environmental Insurance Risks: Flooded petrochemical facilities, Superfund sites, etc. and Pollution related impacts, Perrin Conference – Natural Disaster Conference, April 2019
• “Washed Away: What Hurricanes Have Wrought and What is Left Behind” The Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel – FDCC Winter Meeting, March 2019
• “Recognizing Sexual Harassment, Bullying, and Abusive Conduct in the Workplace, Diocese of Beaumont, Ethical & Responsible Conduct Policy, November 2018
• “Causation Lessons Learned from Toxic Tort Litigation”, 34th Annual Advanced Personal Injury, Texas Bar, San Antonio, July 2018; Dallas, August 2018; and Houston, September 2018
• Energy and Utilities Law, Property Insurance Law, Toxic Tort and Environmental Law – Washed Away: What Hurricane Harvey Wrought and What It Left Behind, “Toxic Torts and Hurricane Harvey”, FDCC Annual Meeting, Maui, Hawaii, 2018
•”Trial Tactics that Work in Toxic Tort and Environmental Cases:  Yes, We Can (and Do) Win!” FDCC Annual Meeting, February 2009
•”MDL: Creation and Procedure,” 25th Annual Litigation Update Institute, San Antonio, Texas, January 2009
•“Constitutionality and Medical Guidelines” Texas Asbestos Litigation Conference, HarrisMartin, Houston, Texas, November 2008
•“Demonstrative Evidence in Latent Toxic Tort Cases-Conveying Complex Medical Information and The Use of Exhibits,” Harris Martin Seminar, Alabama, May 2008
•“Toxic Tort Litigation,” presented to Jefferson County Bar Association, March 2008
•“Toxic Tort Litigation,” 23rd Annual Advanced Personal Injury Law Course, 2007
•“Silicosis MDL,” presented to Houston Paralegal Association Annual Spring CLE, May 2007
•Eighth Annual Conference on Women and the Practice of Law for DuPont Wilmington, Delaware, March 2007
•Chair of Harris Martin National Asbestos and Silica Conference, March 2007
•Chair of Harris Martin National Silica Conference, Las Vegas, NE, September 2006
•“Asbestos & Silica Medical Criteria Statute-MDL and Case Management Orders,” presented to Jefferson County Bar Association, March 2006
•Chair of Harris Martin Silica Conference “The New Era of Texas Asbestos & Silica Litigation: Applying the Legal & Medical Requirements of Senate Bill 15 Agenda” Houston, Texas, June 2005
•Co-Chair and Organizer of Harris Martin Medical “Silica 101 for Defense Lawyers” Houston, Texas, February 2005
•Co-Chair of Harris Martin Fall Silica Conference, Las Vegas, NV, October 2004
•Co-Chair of Mealey’s Silica Conference, New Orleans, LA, October 2004
•Co-Chair of Silica Conference, “Preparing a Winning Silica Case,” Harris Martin Silicosis Litigation Conference, New Orleans, March 2004
•Moderator of Medical Panel: Debate Over the Science and Medicine of Silica Mealey’s Silica Litigation Conference, Atlanta, GA, October 2003
•Chair of Silica Conference‑ “What’s Next, When and Where?,” Harris Martin Silicosis Litigation Conference, Las Vegas, September 2003
•Co‑Chair of Silica Conference ‑ Current Issues and Debate in Silica Litigation Harris Martin Conference, New Orleans, LA, June 2003
•”Alternate Exposures in Pneumoconiosis,” presented to Insurance Law for Agents, Adjusters and Attorneys, Mealey’s Silica Litigation Conference, Boston, MA, April 2003
•”Joint Defense Agreements,” University of Houston, presented to Insurance Law for Agents, Adjusters and Attorneys, Houston and Dallas, December 2001, October 2002, December 2003, October 2004, June 2005
•”New Rules of Civil Procedure”, presented to Jefferson County Bar Association, March 2000 and 2001
•”Joint Defense Agreements,” Defense Research Institute, For the Defense, March 2000
•”Joint Defense Agreements, “presented to Insurance Law for Agents, Adjusters and Attorneys, Houston and Dallas, December 1999
•”Hidden Medical and Legal Issues in the Mixed Dust Case: A Defense Prospective” 14th Annual Asbestos Litigation Conference, New Orleans, May 1999
•”DTPA and Insurance Code Development, What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You,” Mid-Continent Insurance Adjusters Seminar, Houston, December 1997
•”DTPA and Insurance Code”, Advanced Insurance Seminar, University of Houston Department of Continuing Education, Houston and Dallas, March 1996
•”DTPA and Insurance Code Development, What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You”, CNA Insurance Adjusters Seminar, Houston, November 1996
•”Ethical Considerations in Mass Torts”, Defense Research Institute Asbestos Seminar, Houston, November 1996
•”DTPA and Insurance Code Development, What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You”, University of Houston Department of Continuing Education, Houston and Dallas, October 1995
•”Sabine Premise Liability”, Neches Insurance Adjusters Seminar, 1994
•”Premise Liability and Minimizing Lawsuits,” Beaumont Chamber of Commerce Seminar, 1993
•”Clerking for a Federal Judge,University of Houston, Fall 1991 and 1994
•”Women and the Law,” Texas Federation of Business & Professional Women, Fall 1991
•”Working Women and Their Challenges,” Texas Federation of Business & Professional Women, National Convention, Hawaii, Summer 1987

  • “Inside the Minds: Representing Defendants in Personal Injury Cases,” Published by Aspatore Books, a Thomson Reuters business, March 2011
  • “Trial Tactics that Work in Toxic Tort and Environmental Cases: Yes, We Can (and Do) Win!” FDCC Quarterly Masters Issue, Winter 2009

Clark Collins v ABB, Inc., et al
Barbara Barron, Frank Domino, Products Liability

The firm represented a valve manufacturer in a finding that the manufacturer owed no duty under Texas law on theories of strict liability and negligence to warn of alleged dangers arising from use of asbestos flange gaskets and asbestos external insulation in connection with valves made by equipment manufacturer when equipment manufacturer did not supply flange gaskets and did not supply insulation.

More Info: No. 4:13;CV;1183; Clark Collins v ABB, Inc., et al, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.

 

Ford v. Pulmosan Safety Equipment Corp.
Barbara Barron, Frank Domino, Products Liability

In a special proceeding instituted under the New York Business Corporation Law, MehaffyWeber filed a petition in intervention in the New York Supreme Court for Queens County, arguing that a dissolved manufacturer who had been in litigation for decades was still in the process of winding up its affairs, and as such remained subject to suit for contribution and indemnity claims brought by companies sued as alleged distributors of the dissolved manufacturer’s products. The manufacturing defendant then appealed to the New York Appellate Division. For the appeal, Barbara Barron and Frank Domino were hired by numerous companies sued as alleged distributors of the manufacturer’s products. The Appellate Division after briefing and oral argument found in favor of the distributors.

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