Robert W. Barton

Bob Barton serves as the Taylor Porter 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.

Bob 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.

Bob 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. He successfully completed mediation training through the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. In 2023, Bob completed the American Arbitration Association Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators training program.

Mr. Barton is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state and federal courts, in the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and in the United States Supreme Court. He is an active member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Baton Rouge Bar Association, and the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel. He served as a member of the LSU National Collegiate Athletic Association Re-accreditation Committee. 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 LABI (Louisiana Association of Business and Industry), the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, and the Manship Theatre. He has been an active supporter of the Capital Area United Way, chairing sections and divisions for the 2003, 2004, and 2005 campaigns, and served for six years as a member of the CAUW’s Board of Directors. He was also CAUW’s 2010-2012 Chairman of Community Investment. Mr. Barton has participated in the Baton Rouge Big Buddy Program and has coached various teams in youth sports.

• Representation of colleges and universities in matters pertaining to NCAA, NAIA and conference rules and regulations, and in other litigation, contract and compliance matters concerning their athletic departments.
• Representation of multiple pharmaceutical companies in litigation brought by the State of Louisiana relative to pricing and reimbursement.
• Representation of publicly traded consumer electronics store in lawsuits involving claims of false arrest, defamation, and premises liability.
• 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 Second Circuit Court of Appeal and the United States Supreme Court.
• 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 provider of lending software solutions in various matters, including its recent acquisition by one of the largest credit reporting agencies.
• 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 multi-million-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, J.D., cum laude, 1994
• University of Georgia, 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

• Louisiana, 1994
• United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
• 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
• LABI (Board of Directors)
• Baton Rouge Business Report Leadership Academy (Class of 2017)
• Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Board of Directors, Economic Development Committee (Former Member)

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

• “Recent Developments in Sports Law,” Baton Rouge Bar Association “CLE By The Hour,” 2016-2020
• “Current Issues in Sports Law” Panel, LSU Law Center, 2016-2018
• “Pathways to Sports Law” Panel, Tulane Sports Law Society, 2022

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