James J. Barnes is a Reno family lawyer and partner at Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P. He was born in Reno and has lived in Northern Nevada his entire life. Mr. Barnes focuses his practice on divorce and family law and has successfully represented clients in all areas of family law, including high asset divorce, paternity actions, post-judgement litigation, temporary protective orders, and child support and alimony modifications, among other issues.
Mr. Barnes is a board-certified Family Law Specialist, a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and serves as a member of the State Bar of Nevada Board of Certified Family Law Specialists. Mr. Barnes served as the Chair of the State Bar of Nevada, Family Law Execute Council where he volunteered his time to improve the practice of family law in the state of Nevada. Nevada Business Magazine named Mr. Barnes to their Legal Elite 2013: Top Attorneys in Nevada list, confirming Mr. Barnes’ status as one of the top lawyers in Northern Nevada. In furtherance of his dedication to excellence as a family law attorney, Mr. Barnes attended the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute for Family Law Associates in 2016 where he trained with the nation’s premier family law attorneys in order to expand his knowledge and further increase the quality of his practice.
In addition to his experience in family law, Mr. Barnes is a former Deputy District Attorney, serving Lander County prior to joining Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P. His duties as a Deputy DA involved prosecuting felonies and gross misdemeanor crimes, including DUI, domestic violence, burglary, and battery. He also represented the county in civil cases, specifically representing the county commissioners and other departments. He conducted litigation, drafted contracts, and analyzed contracts in this role.
His experience as an aggressive litigator serves Mr. Barnes in court as a family law attorney. Though the context is quite different, the ability to cross-examine witnesses and reveal the truth over the course of a hearing or trial is an invaluable skill—no matter the practice area.
Mr. Barnes earned his law degree at the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He demonstrated his understanding of family law early on, as he taught classes on divorce in Nevada. He was invited to join the Society of Advocates team as well as the National Moot Court Competition.
Mr. Barnes earned his undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Nevada. He graduated with high distinction, and also won the Top Finance Student Award. These early awards belie Mr. Barnes’ commitment to achieving incredible things, both in his educational career and in his legal one.
Mr. Barnes is admitted to practice law in all Nevada courts and is currently a member of the Washoe County Bar Association, a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and serves as a member of the State Bar of Nevada Board of Certified Family Law Specialists.
Bar Admissions
- Nevada
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Nevada
- U.S. District Court District of Nevada
- The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
