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Attorney, Christopher & Taylor
Co-Founder and General Counsel, Hotel Tango Whiskey
Hilary Barnes represents clients in matters that include personal injury, contract disputes, business transactions, and occasionally, insurance defense work. “I do what I do because it makes our country safer,” she said. “When people are held accountable for what they break, they are more mindful not to break things in the first place.” Among her accomplishments has been securing a substantial settlement for a widow and her newborn son after her husband was killed due to the defendant’s failure to repair a known and serious road defect. She also helped a company avoid foreclosure on a $12 million debt. “In many cases, a path forward exists—it just requires patience and a willingness to work through discomfort.” Barnes also is co-founder, legal counsel and secretary at Hotel Tango Whiskey, providing advice on a variety of legal matters and the strategic direction of the company.
Getting here: Barnes clerked for Judge James Kirsch while in law school. After graduating and passing the bar, she went to work for Christopher & Taylor while also starting Hotel Tango Whiskey with her husband, Travis Barnes, a 2018 Forty Under 40 honoree.
First job: She worked at Geist Lake Marina at age 16, handling everything from running the gas house and cleaning boats to covering pontoons and teaching customers how to operate boat rentals.
Givebacks: vice chair, Indiana Landmarks board; president, Old Northside Foundation
Lesson learned: “I’ve learned that I’m capable of handling far more than I ever thought I could manage. And that resilience and adaptability grow with experience, and I’m always learning just how much I can take on and succeed.”•
Check out more Forty Under 40 honorees.
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