Attorneys / Barry A. O’Neil
Barry A. O’Neil
Shareholder
Practice Groups
Business & Commercial Litigation, Labor & Employment, Lawyers Professional Liability, Lawyers Professional Responsibility, Professional Liability, Trust and Estate Litigation
Biography
Barry O’Neil is an accomplished trial attorney with a practice focused on professional liability defense, complex commercial litigation, employment-related disputes, and insurance matters. Certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association, Barry brings substantial courtroom and arbitration experience to matters involving professional liability and malpractice claims, with a particular emphasis on claims against lawyers, accountants, and other professionals, as well as contract disputes, shareholder and partnership conflicts, business competition claims, and other high-stakes commercial issues.
In addition to his litigation practice, Barry is a frequent CLE presenter on professional liability, trial practice, ethics, and business litigation topics. His depth of experience and professional standing are reflected in repeated recognition by Minnesota Super Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America©, Minnesota Monthly’s Top Lawyers list, and Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent® rating for legal ability and ethical standards.
Education
- William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1991
- Gustavus Adolphus College, B.A., cum laude, 1986
Bar Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
- Minnesota
Certifications
- Certified Civil Trial Law Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association
Representative Cases
- Summary judgment for defendant legal aid organization in contract action relating to legal malpractice claim
- Summary judgment for defendant law firm and lawyer on abuse of process/malicious prosecution claim
- Statutory dismissal for attorneys and law firms in legal malpractice action
- Defense verdict in legal malpractice action involving family law representation in underlying matter
- Jury verdict for clients in shareholder dispute involving claims of breach of fiduciary duty resulting in buyout of clients’ minority interests in privately-held company
- Defense verdict and recovery on counterclaim and sanctions in favor of small business and property owner
- Defense verdict in employment dispute for small business owner
- Defense verdict in legal malpractice action involving real estate collection dispute in underlying matter
- Summary judgment in favor of defendant law firm and lawyers arising from representation in personal injury proceeding
- Summary judgment for defendant law firm and lawyers in action arising from underlying contract dispute
- Plaintiff verdicts in favor of residents of manufactured housing communities against park owners for violations of Minnesota resident protection laws
Publications
- Agent and Broker Liability, author, Update to Fifth Edition of the Minnesota Insurance Law Deskbook, Minnesota CLE, July 2021
Seminars
- When CAN You Speak to a Represented Party?, presenter, Hennepin County Bar Association, June 2020
- Legal Malpractice Actions and Ethics Issues Related to Bankruptcy Matters, presenter, 2019 Bankruptcy Institute, Minnesota CLE, October 2019
- Legal Malpractice Issues: Plaintiff and Defendant Perspectives, presenter, The Knowledge Group, January 2019
Bar Associations
- American Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Civil Litigation Section
- Labor and Employment Law Section
- Professionalism and Ethics Section
- Hennepin County Bar Association
Professional Associations
- Professional Liability Defense Federation
Honors & Awards
- Top Lawyers list, Minnesota Monthly, Legal Malpractice Law, 2025 and 2026
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Professional Malpractice Law, 2018-present
- Minnesota Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers, 2008-present
- Rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell®
- The highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards from members of the bar and judiciary
