MATTHEW R. BARNES is an associate at Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP. He is a member of the Litigation Practice Group.

Mr. Barnes has significant experience advocating for online businesses, direct-to-consumer brands, and Ecommerce retailers, and he regularly represents companies throughout the country who face lawsuits about digital accessibility brought under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He holds the distinction of being the first attorney to successfully argue in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania that online-only businesses cannot be sued for website accessibility under Title III of the ADA in federal courts located within the Third Circuit, encompassing Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Western District Court acknowledged the significance of the case, noting that the argument was “one of those occasions when oral argument is actually very helpful to the Court.” This groundbreaking decision was the first of its kind in the Western District and provides crucial support for online companies facing suit in the Third Circuit and beyond.

Mr. Barnes understands the unique and evolving legal issues facing online companies, and he has applied that understanding to secure favorable outcomes for his clients, such as the voluntary dismissal from suit of an online company with international reach.

Beyond Ecommerce, Mr. Barnes’ practice covers a variety of civil and commercial litigation. On behalf of plaintiffs, he has participated in the securing of a multimillion-dollar jury verdict and the securing of multimillion-dollar settlements. On the defense side, he has successfully defended local and multinational corporations in both state and federal courts.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Barnes worked as a commercial litigation associate for a leading international law firm.

Mr. Barnes’ commitment to excellence in trial advocacy is rooted in his legal training. A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, Mr. Barnes was a member of the Georgetown Law Criminal Justice Clinic, where he represented clients in Washington D.C. Superior Court. For his work in the clinic, he received Georgetown’s Alan J. Goldstein Award, an honor given to the clinic member who best demonstrates “the use of intelligence, creativity, and resourcefulness in defending clients; the pursuit of excellence as a lawyer; and the ability to lead and inspire others to maximize their potential as lawyers.” Mr. Barnes was also a member of Georgetown’s Moot Court team and served as a judicial intern for Chief Justice Debra Todd of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Mr. Barnes graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, summa cum laude, with a B.A. in History. While at the University of Pittsburgh, he was the Opinions Editor of The Pitt News.

Mr. Barnes is active in the Greater Pittsburgh community. He has been a featured speaker at local community organizations and serves on the board of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, an organization devoted to the training of future civic and community leaders.