Michael C. Barnes, JD

Michael C. Barnes, Esq., works daily on some of the top policy issues in the U.S., including the fentanyl crisis, health care access, justice reform, and privacy. As Managing Attorney at Sequel Health Law, Mr. Barnes advises industry, professionals, and not-for-profit organizations on matters involving opioids, cannabinoids, access to treatment, insurance coverage and payment, parity, health information exchange, digital health, correctional health care, and recovery friendly workplaces, among other topics.

Barnes is also Chairman of the Center for U.S. Policy, a not-for-profit organization advancing solutions to substance use disorder and the drug poisoning crisis. He is a member of the advisory board for the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, the board of directors for the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association, and the editorial board for the Journal of Opioid Management. In addition to his advisory and advocacy work, Mr. Barnes co-founded and successfully exited a private residential substance use disorder treatment program.

Barnes’s research and analysis have been published in more than 15 legal, policy, and medical journals. He has provided legal, political, and issue analysis for national news networks, including CNBC, CNN, FOX Business, FOX News, and MSNBC.

Barnes previously served as confidential counsel in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Prior to entering the legal profession, Mr. Barnes worked on political and issue campaigns, and was an editor at a digital national political news organization.

Barnes obtained his Juris Doctor degree from George Mason University School of Law. He earned a master’s degree in international economic policy from La Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he lived and studied as a Rotary Foundation International Ambassadorial Scholar. He received his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Flagler College.

Barnes is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and Virginia.