Barry F. McNeil
From his early days as a federal antitrust prosecutor to his 30 years with Haynes Boone, Barry McNeil has been an aggressive advocate on behalf of clients. Companies and executives turn to Barry because of his experience and capability to take on the most complex and difficult engagements.
Barry has successfully represented his clients in numerous jury trials, in matters ranging from civil and criminal conspiracy, breach of contract and fiduciary duty, RICO, securities and antitrust offenses. One of those cases prompted the National Law Journal to recognize Barry and his colleagues for a “slam-dunk defense verdict,” calling it the “Biggest Defense Verdict of 1999.”
In 2014, clients under Barry’s legal care were victorious in two different matters. In one, his team secured a take-nothing award in its representation of a private equity fund where damages in excess of $17 million were sought. When the fund was charged with breaching its fiduciary duty, Barry’s team mounted a high-energy game plan that resulted in the adversary dismissing the lawsuit and bearing its own fees and expenses.
Also in 2014, Barry and his team brought to an end a three-year antitrust investigation of a Canadian financial institution charged with violating both federal and state antitrust laws. Federal and state agencies had hoped to bring criminal charges and civil penalty damages. Neither criminal nor civil charges were ultimately sought and the Canadian bank reached an out-of-court settlement for insubstantial amounts. For this and other work, Chambers USA, Chambers and Partners ranks Barry as a leading practitioner in antitrust law in Texas (2006-2018) and nationally (2015).
Public and private companies when faced with claims of misconduct often call upon the talent and experience of Barry, co-editor of the widely published handbook, Internal Corporate Investigations, now in its fourth edition.
Barry is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a former Chair of the Litigation Section of the ABA. He teaches White Collar Crime and Policy at both the University of Texas School of Law and Southern Methodist University School of Law.
Barry looks to his representation of Jesus Ramirez and Alberto Sifuentes as his proudest professional moment. The two indigent Mexican nationals were wrongly convicted and sentenced to life for a murder they did not commit. In their seventh year of representing the two men, Barry and his team brought justice to Ramirez and Sifuentes after three weeks of trial. Barry was there when the two men were freed from prison after serving 12 long years.
- American College of Trial Lawyers
- American Bar Association--Chair, Litigation Section (1996-97)
- Adjunct Professor, White Collar Crime, University of Texas School of Law and SMU School of Law
- Member, Board of Trustees, The Center for American and International Law
- Chair, Investment Committee, The Center for American and International Law
- Member, Board of Visitors, UNT Law School
- Recognized by Best Lawyers as a "Lawyer of the Year," Woodward/White, Inc., 2020, 2022, and 2025
- Recognized as one of Who's Who Legal, Thought Leaders - USA in Commercial Litigation and Competition, 2023
- Recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, Inc., in Antitrust Law, 2005-2025; Commercial Litigation, 2006-2025; White-Collar Criminal Defense, 2006-2025; Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2010-2025; Litigation - Antitrust, 2011-2025; Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions, 2011-2025; Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), 2011-2025; Litigation - Securities, 2011-2025
- Recognized by Chambers USA, Chambers & Partners, as a leading practitioner in Antitrust law nationwide, 2015, and in Texas, 2006-2018
- Recognized as a "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers, Woodward/White, Inc., in Litigation - Antitrust, 2011, 2013 and 2016; Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions, 2017
- Recognized by Chambers Global, Chambers & Partners, for both U.S. antitrust and U.S. competition/antitrust, 2015; highlighted as a Senior Statesman in Antitrust: Cartel, 2016
- Named of the Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine, D Magazine Partners, for Antitrust, 2008-2009, 2011-2015; White Collar, 2016
- Recognized in Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, in Antitrust Litigation, 2007-2019; Business Litigation; Criminal Defense: White Collar, 2015-2016
- Recognized as a "2015 Lawyer of the Year" in Litigation by Best Lawyers, Woodward/White, Inc., 2015
- Recognized as a Top 100 Dallas/Fort Worth Region Super Lawyer and a Top 100 Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters, 2010-2013
- AV Peer Review Rated Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
- “Calling All Texans – Texas Foster Children Need Your Help” Key Note Speaker, Champions for Children Luncheon & Holiday Benefit hosted by the Texas Lawyers for Children and the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Institute for Children’s Rights at the SMU Dedman School of Law, Dallas, Texas, December 2, 2016.
Education
J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 1969
B.A., Texas Tech University, 1966
Admissions
Texas
Haynes and Boone, LLP had another significant showing in The Best Lawyers in America directory, with a collection of lawyers from offices across the country recognized in the 2025 edition. Ten Haynes Boone lawyers earned special recognition as Lawyer of the Year in their respective practice areas, while hundreds more were designated as Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch. The Lawyer of the Year winners [...]
5 Haynes Boone Lawyers Named ‘Lawyers of Year’ by Best Lawyers in America
August 19, 2021Barry McNeil to Receive Prestigious Achievement in Pursuit of Justice CAIL Award
May 14, 2021