Barry J. MacNaughton

Barry MacNaughton has spent more than 35 years litigating and resolving significant business and commercial litigation matters for clients in the real estate, construction, manufacturing, technology and environmental sectors in Southern California. He solves clients' problems, litigates their disputes and advocates for them at trial.

Barry understands the impact of disputes and litigation on business—he not only litigates matters once disputes arise, he actively preaches and manages pre-litigation problem resolution and litigation avoidance.

Distinctive among Southern California litigators for his depth of experience and knowledge, Barry has more than three dozen trials or arbitrations to his credit. Areas of significant experience include:

Real estate disputes

Construction close-out, scope and change order claims

Construction defect litigation

Purchase and sale disputes

Contract disputes

Inverse condemnation and eminent domain

Corporate and LLC governance matters

Trade secret and unfair competition litigation

Business tort claims

Trademark rights

Insurance coverage litigation on behalf of policyholders

A co-managing partner of Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP, Barry has served in that leadership role since the position was created. His more than 10 years on the firm’s Executive Committee includes acting as the primary partner for strategic planning and internal financial management. During his tenure, the firm’s profits have more than doubled and attorney headcount has grown significantly. Barry's breadth of experience helps him not only understand trial and litigation practice and tactics—he also understands how businesses work and how to increase profitability and collaboration in a company and among business teams.

Barry brings both his business and legal acumen to representing clients, many of whom rely on him as a trusted business advisor and sounding board. He works with them in the style of an outside general counsel who provides sound business judgment, and creativity for commercial and legal issues far beyond litigation and dispute resolution.