Robert W. Barton

Bob Barton serves as Taylor Porter’s Managing Partner and as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.

Mr. Barton’s practice is varied, consisting of representation of local and national businesses in matters involving commercial litigation and transactions, regulatory and compliance matters, and general litigation. He is the co-chair of the firm’s Business and Commercial Litigation group.

Mr. Barton is a mediator with The Patterson Resolution Group.  He received mediation training through the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School.

Mr. Barton has been selected for inclusion in both Louisiana Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Litigation.

Mr. Barton graduated from Louisiana State University in 1990 and earned his J.D., cum laude, and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Georgia. In 2023, Mr. Barton completed the American Arbitration Association Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators training program. He received his U.S. Army War College Certificate of Leadership Development at the National Security Seminar in 2022.

Mr. Barton is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state and federal courts, in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and in the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Barton is an active member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Baton Rouge Bar Association, and the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel. Baton Rouge Business Report named Mr. Barton as one of Baton Rouge’s “Top Forty Under 40” in 2003. He has lectured to lawyers, law students, and business groups on various topics related to his practice areas. 

Mr. Barton was elected to the inaugural class of the Baton Rouge Business Report Leadership Academy. Elsewhere in the community, he is the former board chair of HOPE Ministries. Mr. Barton is also on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) and the Manship Theatre. He is currently on the Executive Committee of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) acting as general counsel. Mr. Barton has been an active supporter of the Capital Area United Way (CAUW), chairing sections and divisions for 2003, 2004, and 2005. He served six years as a member of the CAUW’s Board of Directors.

• Representation of coaches, student-athletes, administrators, high schools, and colleges and universities in matters pertaining to NCAA, NAIA and conference rules and regulations regarding name, image and likeness rights, and in other litigation, contract, and compliance matters concerning their athletic departments.
• Representation of a national insurance company in a putative class action challenging its use of certain software and applications in adjustment of automobile total loss claims.
• Representation of national social media companies in lawsuits filed by Louisiana school boards alleging harm stemming from the use of social media platforms.
• Representation of a major industrial contractor in lawsuits arising from accidents occurring at petrochemical facilities and other plants in Louisiana.
• Representation of multiple pharmaceutical companies in litigation brought by the State of Louisiana relative to pricing and reimbursement.
• Representation of a large hospital system in connection with an antitrust lawsuit against a major health insurer.
• Representation of large restaurant management group in acquisition of new restaurants and locations.
• Representation of the American Football Coaches Association as amicus curiae counsel in the landmark Maurice Clarett decision concerning eligibility for the National Football League draft, in which the AFCA supported the NFL’s rules regarding draft eligibility, a position upheld by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.
• Representation of a Baton Rouge-based provider of lending software solutions in various matters, including its recent acquisition by one of the largest credit reporting agencies.
• Representation of a medical sales company and its principals in successful trial of business dispute against a competitor, involving alleged misappropriation of trade secrets, non-competition, non-solicitation, and non-hire provisions. 
• Representation of directors of failed health care organization in suits by state regulators.
• Representation of a Baton Rouge-based leader in the sub-prime lending market in multiple matters, including various lawsuits and matters of a transactional nature.
• Counsel to directors of the largest savings and loan association in Baton Rouge in lawsuits brought by the FDIC with summary judgment granted in favor of the defendants.
• Counsel to a leading global financial services firm in various cases involving alleged forgeries and misappropriations by company bookkeepers, most recently obtaining judgment in the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal in favor of the bank, dismissing claims on over $700,000 of alleged conversions.
• National counsel to a major petrochemical company in lawsuits involving alleged exposures to vinyl chloride.
• Representation of galvanizing facility and its owner in litigation involving a dispute over the company’s ownership. The dispute was resolved favorably through mediation.
• Representation of Fortune 100 company in obtaining summary judgment against an insurer, establishing the insurer’s obligation to defend a multimillion-dollar lawsuit in federal court.
• Representation of several generic drug manufacturers in civil enforcement actions brought by the Attorney General for the State of Louisiana, concerning pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement by Louisiana Medicaid (DHH).

• University of Georgia School of Law, J.D., cum laude, and M.B.A., 1994
• Louisiana State University, B.G.S., 1990
• Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School, Certification in Managing Disputes
• Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators Training Course, American Arbitration Association
• U.S. Army War College Certificate of Leadership Development, National Security Seminar, 2022

• Louisiana, 1994
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• United States Supreme Court

• Baton Rouge Bar Association
• Louisiana State Bar Association
• Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel (Former Board Member)
• International Association of Defense Counsel (Former Board Member)
• Sports Lawyers Association
• Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (Board of Directors)
• Baton Rouge Business Report Leadership Academy (Class of 2017)
• Baton Rouge Area Chamber (Executive Committee, General Counsel 2022-present; Board of Directors; Economic Development Committee)
• Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Inc. (C100)

• AV Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Louisiana Super Lawyers – Business Litigation
• Best Lawyers in America – Business Litigation

• “Updates in Sports Law,” NFHS Summit, Indianapolis, IN, April 11-12, 2024
• “Rules to Follow for a Successful Mediation,” The Patterson Resolution Group CLE, October 20, 2023
• “Pathways to Sports Law” Panel, Tulane Sports Law Society, 2022
• “Recent Developments in Sports Law,” Baton Rouge Bar Association CLE By the Hour, 2016-2020
• “Current Issues in Sports Law” Panel, Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, 2016-2018

• “Consolidated Appropriations Act Provides COVID-19 Relief, Including Changing Expense Deduction Rules,” the Taylor RePorter Legal Blog, January 5, 2021
• “Treasury and IRS Release Additional Guidance on Paycheck Protection Program Loans,” the Taylor RePorter Legal Blog, December 7, 2020
• “SBA Publishes New Paycheck Protection Program FAQs Regarding Loan Forgiveness,” the Taylor RePorter Legal Blog, August 6, 2020
• “Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 Signed into Law,” the Taylor RePorter Legal Blog, June 5, 2020
• “SBA Issues Guidance on PPP Loan Forgiveness Requirements: Outlines Loan Review Procedures,” the Taylor RePorter Legal Blog, May 27, 2020
• “PPP Loan Forgiveness Application Available,” the Taylor RePorter Legal Blog, May 18, 2020

• Hope Ministries (Former Board Chair)
• Manship Theatre (Board of Directors)