Maynard & Gale is pleased to welcome three Shareholders—Erica Williamson Barnes, Noah “Chip” Hicks, and Robert Jones. All experienced litigators, Ms. Barnes joins the Firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice in Birmingham, and Hicks and Jones both join the Firm’s Government Solutions Practice in Huntsville.

“We are excited to have each of these talented lawyers join our expanding litigation practice,” said William Wahlheim, Chair of Maynard’s Litigation Section. “Each lawyer brings outstanding credentials and first-hand experience to further enhance the services provided by our White Collar Defense & Investigations and Government Solutions practice groups.”

Erica Barnes returns to Maynard’s Birmingham office after serving for four years as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for the Northern District of Alabama. As an AUSA, Erica investigated and prosecuted a wide variety of criminal offenses, including all manners of fraud, and worked with numerous federal agencies and state and local law enforcement. She has over ten years of experience handling litigation matters and has served as lead counsel in trials in state and federal court. Erica’s practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, government and internal investigations, false claims act defense, global anti-corruption compliance, and civil litigation with a criminal or governmental component. She is licensed to practice in Alabama and Georgia. She received her J.D. with High Honors from Duke University School of Law, and she holds a B.A. summa cum laude in Political Science and Economics from Vanderbilt University.

“We are extremely happy that Erica has returned to Maynard,” said Anthony “AJ” Joseph, Co-Chair of Maynard’s White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice Group. “She is very talented and has a remarkable passion for the practice of law, particularly when it comes to understanding the sensitive nature and complexities of representing clients facing a government investigation or enforcement action.” Harrison Smith, Practice Group Co-Chair, adds, “Erica is an outstanding lawyer and will bolster our ability to provide top-notch service to clients across the state and around the world.”

Chip Hicks brings over 15 years of experience to Maynard’s Government Solutions Practice Group. Prior to joining the Firm, Chip served as a senior management level in-house attorney for a large government contractor and Fortune 500 international enterprise. He has represented both publicly traded and privately held entities in government contract claims, business torts, construction, design and engineering, employment, and other commercial disputes. Chip has worked extensively with clients in the nuclear industry and energy and construction sectors. Chip is licensed to practice in South Carolina and Virginia, and he will work from Maynard’s Huntsville office. He earned his J.D. cum laude from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and he holds a B.A. in History from Augusta University.

Robert Jones joins the Firm’s Huntsville office as a member of the Government Solutions Practice Group as well. Robert has represented businesses and contractors in a variety of areas, including real property and construction litigation, contract disputes, environmental law, and regulatory compliance. In addition to his litigation practice, Robert regularly counsels clients on best practices for litigation avoidance and effective dispute resolution. He is licensed to practice in South Carolina and Alabama. Robert received his J.D. cum laude from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, and he holds a B.A. magna cum laude in History from Wofford College.

“The experience and geographical coverage that Chip and Robert bring to our Government Solutions Practice Group, particularly in the area of contract disputes, adds depth and momentum to the services we provide to our government contracting clients throughout Huntsville and across the United States,” said Andy Watson, Chair of the Firm’s Government Solutions Practice Group. “They have already hit the ground running, which is how we operate in this dynamic industry.”