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Chelsea K. Barnes

Chelsea K. Barnes

Senior Associate

The Knollwood
380 Knollwood Street
Suite 530
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
T 336.774.3397
chelsea.barnes@nelsonmullins.com
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Chelsea focuses her practice on high-stakes litigation, including products liability, toxic torts, and complex business disputes.  Chelsea has extensive experience managing matters through all phases of litigation, from initial case assessment and strategy development through trial. Her practice includes directing fact and expert discovery, preparing for and taking depositions, drafting and arguing dispositive and pretrial...

Chelsea focuses her practice on high-stakes litigation, including products liability, toxic torts, and complex business disputes.  Chelsea has extensive experience managing matters through all phases of litigation, from initial case assessment and strategy development through trial. Her practice includes directing fact and expert discovery, preparing for and taking depositions, drafting and arguing dispositive and pretrial motions, appearing at hearings, and playing a critical role in trial preparation and execution.

Chelsea has been a key member of trial teams in some of the most complex and high-profile litigations of the past decade, contributing to case strategy and ensuring seamless courtroom presentation in high-exposure matters.

In her pro bono practice, Chelsea represents clients in international child abduction matters under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the International Child Abduction Remedies Act. 

Outside of the office, Chelsea enjoys traveling, distance running, and spending time with her family in eastern North Carolina.

Chelsea K. Barnes

motions, appearing at hearings, and playing a critical role in trial preparation and execution.

Chelsea has been a key member of trial teams in some of the most complex and high-profile litigations of the past decade, contributing to case strategy and ensuring seamless courtroom presentation in high-exposure matters.

In her pro bono practice, Chelsea represents clients in international child abduction matters under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the International Child Abduction Remedies Act. 

Outside of the office, Chelsea enjoys traveling, distance running, and spending time with her family in eastern North Carolina.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

  • Co-managed a complex discovery docket of hundreds of active cases as discovery coordinating counsel for a manufacturer of cosmetic talcum powder products. Coordinated discovery response strategy with local counsel in all jurisdictions to assist national coordinating counsel with efforts to prioritize early resolution
  • Varied experience as a member of trial teams in complex, high-exposure litigation across multiple jurisdictions, including responsibility for trial preparation, exhibit management, witness coordination, and real-time courtroom support, contributing to the effective presentation of cases at trial.
  • Served as second chair at a trial before the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings
  • Comprehensive co-management of complex litigation matters from inception through trial, including pleadings, written and document discovery, depositions, expert coordination, dispositive and pretrial motion practice, and trial preparation.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Summer Associate in the Richmond office of a regional law firm (2016)
  • Judicial Intern, Justice Robert H. Edmunds, Jr., North Carolina Supreme Court (2016)
  • Congressional Intern, Congressman Tom Cole, Udall Foundation, Washington, DC (2014)
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

  • Co-managed a complex discovery docket of hundreds of active cases as discovery coordinating counsel for a manufacturer of cosmetic talcum powder products. Coordinated discovery response strategy with local counsel in all jurisdictions to assist national coordinating counsel with efforts to prioritize early resolution
  • Varied experience as a member of trial teams in complex, high-exposure litigation across multiple jurisdictions, including responsibility for trial preparation, exhibit management, witness coordination, and real-time courtroom support, contributing to the effective presentation of cases at trial.
  • Served as second chair at a trial before the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings
  • Comprehensive co-management of complex litigation matters from inception through trial, including pleadings, written and document discovery, depositions, expert coordination, dispositive and pretrial motion practice, and trial preparation.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Summer Associate in the Richmond office of a regional law firm (2016)
  • Judicial Intern, Justice Robert H. Edmunds, Jr., North Carolina Supreme Court (2016)
  • Congressional Intern, Congressman Tom Cole, Udall Foundation, Washington, DC (2014)

Media

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Recognitions

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

Professional Activities

  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, North Carolina Bar Association

Community

  • N.C. Guardian Ad Litem Appellate Advocate
  • Chair, Board of Directors, Addiction Recovery Care Association (2019–Present)
  • Member, Board of Directors, LEAD Girls of N.C., Inc. (2018–2024)

Chelsea focuses her practice on high-stakes litigation, including products liability, toxic torts, and complex business disputes.  Chelsea has extensive experience managing matters through all phases of litigation, from initial case assessment and strategy development through trial. Her practice includes directing fact and expert discovery, preparing for and taking depositions, drafting and arguing dispositive and pretrial... motions, appearing at hearings, and playing a critical role in trial preparation and execution.

Chelsea has been a key member of trial teams in some of the most complex and high-profile litigations of the past decade, contributing to case strategy and ensuring seamless courtroom presentation in high-exposure matters.

In her pro bono practice, Chelsea represents clients in international child abduction matters under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the International Child Abduction Remedies Act. 

Outside of the office, Chelsea enjoys traveling, distance running, and spending time with her family in eastern North Carolina.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Experience

  • Co-managed a complex discovery docket of hundreds of active cases as discovery coordinating counsel for a manufacturer of cosmetic talcum powder products. Coordinated discovery response strategy with local counsel in all jurisdictions to assist national coordinating counsel with efforts to prioritize early resolution
  • Varied experience as a member of trial teams in complex, high-exposure litigation across multiple jurisdictions, including responsibility for trial preparation, exhibit management, witness coordination, and real-time courtroom support, contributing to the effective presentation of cases at trial.
  • Served as second chair at a trial before the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings
  • Comprehensive co-management of complex litigation matters from inception through trial, including pleadings, written and document discovery, depositions, expert coordination, dispositive and pretrial motion practice, and trial preparation.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Summer Associate in the Richmond office of a regional law firm (2016)
  • Judicial Intern, Justice Robert H. Edmunds, Jr., North Carolina Supreme Court (2016)
  • Congressional Intern, Congressman Tom Cole, Udall Foundation, Washington, DC (2014)

Education

  • University of North Carolina School of Law, JD (2018)
    • Inductee of The James E. and Carolyn B. Davis Society
    • President, Student Bar Association
    • Order of the Barristers
    • Holderness Moot Court
    • Broun National Trial Team
    • First Amendment Law Review
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA, Political Science with Honors and Distinction, BA, Communication Studies with Distinction (2015)

Admissions

  • North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina

Practice Areas

The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.

  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, North Carolina Bar Association
  • N.C. Guardian Ad Litem Appellate Advocate
  • Chair, Board of Directors, Addiction Recovery Care Association (2019–Present)
  • Member, Board of Directors, LEAD Girls of N.C., Inc. (2018–2024)