Christina M. Barnes is a highly experienced Senior Paralegal who has been an integral member of Dycio & Biggs since 2010. With more than 20 years of legal experience, Christina brings extensive knowledge, organization, and practical insight to the firm’s litigation, regulatory, administrative, and business-related matters.
Throughout her career, Christina has developed significant experience managing complex matters from inception through resolution. She works closely with the firm’s attorneys and clients to coordinate case strategy and deadlines, conduct legal and factual research, prepare and organize case materials, draft pleadings and other legal documents, manage discovery and document production, and maintain communication with clients, opposing counsel, courts, agencies, and other parties.
Christina’s experience includes legal research, case investigation, litigation preparation, drafting pleadings and correspondence, discovery management, document review and production, court filings, case and deadline management, client communication, regulatory filings, expungement matters, administrative proceedings, business and corporate filings, and client account coordination. She is particularly skilled at organizing and analyzing large volumes of information, identifying critical details, and helping ensure that matters remain accurate, organized, and on track.
A significant area of Christina’s practice is Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control licensing and regulatory compliance. She has assisted with hundreds of retail license applications and has extensive experience navigating the Virginia ABC licensing process, including preparing applications, coordinating supporting documentation, communicating with licensing personnel, addressing application deficiencies, and helping guide matters through the approval process. She also assists with related entity documentation, corporate ownership information, officer listings, organizational charts, and other supporting materials required for regulatory submissions.
Christina also has experience assisting with expungement matters and other court-related proceedings, including preparation of petitions, proposed orders, supporting documentation, and coordination with courts and government agencies. Her background has given her a strong understanding of procedural requirements and the importance of precision in filings and case documentation.
In addition to her litigation and regulatory work, Christina brings substantial experience in law firm operations and legal practice management. She has worked extensively with billing oversight, accounts receivable, trust accounting procedures, payment application, client account reconciliation, case-management systems, internal workflow development, records organization, and office procedures. She has also developed training materials, internal procedures, and detailed standard operating procedures and how-to guides designed to improve consistency, efficiency, and accountability within the firm.
Christina’s operational experience also includes reviewing billing and trust activity, coordinating client payment arrangements, assisting with account reconciliation, identifying outstanding balances, developing internal tracking systems, and helping ensure that firm procedures are followed consistently. Her ability to understand both the legal and business sides of a law practice allows her to recognize potential issues early and develop practical solutions.
She also has experience with business and corporate documentation, including assisting with entity records, ownership structures, operating agreements, officer information, organizational charts, and regulatory submissions involving corporations and limited liability companies.
Christina attended the University of Georgia and earned her paralegal degree with Honors from National Paralegal College. Before joining Dycio & Biggs, she gained experience with a Georgia-based firm concentrating in bankruptcy law and later worked with a Kansas law firm handling bankruptcy, family law, and criminal matters. She also worked with the Division of Child Support Enforcement, where she reviewed and processed complex matters to ensure accuracy and completion, and with the Traffic Division of the Fairfax County General District Court in Virginia.
These varied roles across private practice, government, and the court system have given Christina a broad understanding of legal procedure, client service, and law firm operations.
Clients and colleagues value Christina’s responsiveness, attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to make complicated legal and administrative processes easier to navigate. She takes pride in understanding the specific needs of each client and matter and believes that exceptional legal service requires not only technical knowledge, but also communication, reliability, efficiency, and genuine investment in the client’s needs.
Outside of the office, Christina enjoys spending time with her large family and entertaining friends and loved ones.