Paralegal
Peggy L. Barnes
She/Her
Peggy Barnes is a paralegal in the Municipal Law practice group of Best Best & Krieger LLP, where she works primarily on transportation and public works projects, with a focus on eminent domain. She assists attorneys with client work which includes pre-condemnation procedural matters, including drafting resolution of necessity documents, preparing and filing eminent domain actions and managing ongoing litigation. Peggy also assists with settlements by negotiated purchase or acquisition through the condemnation (court) process.
Peggy’s extensive experience assisting attorneys with public works projects includes work for the cities of Corona, Covina, Fontana, Goleta, Ontario and Riverside, the Town of Apple Valley, as well as the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the Riverside County Economic Development Agency, Jurupa Community Services District, Western Municipal Water District, San Bernardino City Unified School District and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments.
Prior to joining BB&K, Peggy worked in law firms in Louisiana, North Dakota, Ohio and California. She has an extensive defense background, having worked in mass tort litigation in Ohio as part of the nationwide asbestos litigation, and water rights litigation in California. She also has experience in medical malpractice, insurance defense and insurance coverage litigation.
Peggy is a member of the International Right of Way Association, where she served as president of Chapter 57 (California Inland Empire) in 2008-09 and in 2020-21 and has held other leadership positions, including president-elect, treasurer and secretary. She also served as a member of the IRWA's International Professional Development Committee from 2009-2013 and on the International Electric and Utilities Committee. Peggy is currently the chair of the IRWA International Public Agency Committee. Peggy is also member of Chapter 27 in Sacramento.
Her work with IRWA earned her two Professional of the Year recognitions in 2021.
*Paralegals are not licensed attorneys. Under California law, paralegals are not authorized to provide legal advice.
- International Right of Way Association Public Agency Committee, chair
- International Right of Way Association, Chapter 57 Board of Directors
Presentations
- "Possession After RON," IRWA 2018 Education Seminar & Reception, International Right of Way California Chapter 57, Oct. 11, 2018
- "The Paralegal as a Key Member of the Eminent Domain Team,” CLE International’s 20th Anniversary Southern California Eminent Domain Conference, Jan. 18, 2018