Barry F. MacEntee
Barry F. MacEntee
Partner
"I litigate and try high-stakes commercial cases."
Barry F. MacEntee
Partner
"I litigate and try high-stakes commercial cases."
About Barry
Barry represents international, national, and regional accounting firms in federal and state court litigation. He also defends accountants in disciplinary matters before regulatory authorities, representing firms in grand jury subpoena responses and advising on licensing and disciplinary proceedings.
In addition, Barry regularly represents national and regional law firms in litigation and arbitration, and counsels them on ethics and risk management. He tries cases in state and federal courts, including at the appellate level, and before arbitration tribunals.
Barry’s experience extends to representing plaintiffs and defendants in commercial disputes involving claims for accounting malpractice, legal malpractice, breach of contract, tortious interference, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, civil Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO), and fraudulent transfers.
Barry is a leader of Hinshaw’s accounting firm defense service.
Areas of Focus
Industries:
Initiatives:
Experience
- Secured a directed verdict in a high-exposure accounting malpractice case tried to a jury in New York state court, with plaintiffs recovering none of the $30 million in claimed damages.
- Obtained a complete defense award with no damages from the arbitrator in a "bet-the-firm" legal malpractice case arising from a patent infringement matter, successfully defending a law firm client against a $60 million legal malpractice claim brought by a public company.
- Won a high-exposure legal malpractice trial in Illinois state court. After a two-week trial, the jury deliberated for less than two hours before returning a defense verdict, rejecting the plaintiff's claim that the law firm negligently drafted an agreement.
- Represented a national accounting firm in claims brought by an investment fund arising from a consulting engagement, prevailing on summary judgment, which was affirmed on appeal, resulting in zero recovery of more than $20 million in claimed damages.
- Secured a dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction in a suit against an accounting firm alleging fraud, accounting malpractice, and breach of fiduciary duty arising from a financial statement audit of a Bahamian mutual fund.
Recognition
- Illinois Super Lawyers, 2011, 2013 – 2016
- Chicago Lawyer, "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch," 2015
Credentials
Education
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD, 2001
- John Carroll University, BA, with honors, 1998
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Thought Leadership
Presentations
-
Panelist, "Risk Communications," 2025 GC Law Firm Risk and Liability Conference, London, United Kingdom, October 9, 2025
- Panelist, "AI: Risks & Opportunities," Global Access Week 2025, London, United Kingdom, March 13, 2025
-
Panelist, "International Trends in the D&O Space," Global Access Week 2025, London, United Kingdom, March 13, 2025
- Moderator, "We Were Promised Jetpacks," Hinshaw's 24th Annual Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference (LMRM), Chicago, Illinois, March 5, 2025
- Panelist, "Lateral Hires & Firm Acquisitions," RPC's 2024 GC Law Firm Risk and Liability Conference, London, U.K., September 25, 2024
Events
- Barry MacEntee Discusses Risk Communications at the RPC 2025 GC Law Firm Risk and Liability Conference, Oct 9, 2025
- John DeLascio and Barry MacEntee Present at Firm-Sponsored Global Access Week 2025 Conference in London, Mar 11, 2025
- Barry MacEntee to Present in London at RPC’s General Counsel Law Firm Risk and Liability Conference Co-Sponsored by Hinshaw, Sep 25, 2024
In The News
Press Releases
- Illinois Appeals Court Affirms Win by Hinshaw Legal Team in $4 Million Legal Malpractice Case Filed by Minor League Baseball Association, Jan 4, 2019
- Hinshaw Legal Team Prevails in $4 Million Legal Malpractice Case Filed by Minor League Baseball Association, May 19, 2017
- Barry MacEntee Included in Chicago Lawyer's 2015 "40 Under 40", Oct 20, 2015
Interests
Did you know...
Barry enjoys playing tennis with his wife and daughters in the summer, and skiing the Front Range with his son in the winter. When he is on his own, his favorite place in the world is the Chicago lakefront path, where he has run thousands of miles and trained for too many marathons. Barry loves the Chicago Cubs and Liverpool F.C.
Community/Civic Activities
Barry has an active pro bono practice that has spanned from trials to immigration matters.
Thought Leadership
Presentations
-
Panelist, "Risk Communications," 2025 GC Law Firm Risk and Liability Conference, London, United Kingdom, October 9, 2025
- Panelist, "AI: Risks & Opportunities," Global Access Week 2025, London, United Kingdom, March 13, 2025
-
Panelist, "International Trends in the D&O Space," Global Access Week 2025, London, United Kingdom, March 13, 2025
- Moderator, "We Were Promised Jetpacks," Hinshaw's 24th Annual Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference (LMRM), Chicago, Illinois, March 5, 2025
- Panelist, "Lateral Hires & Firm Acquisitions," RPC's 2024 GC Law Firm Risk and Liability Conference, London, U.K., September 25, 2024
Events
- Barry MacEntee Discusses Risk Communications at the RPC 2025 GC Law Firm Risk and Liability Conference, Oct 9, 2025
- John DeLascio and Barry MacEntee Present at Firm-Sponsored Global Access Week 2025 Conference in London, Mar 11, 2025
- Barry MacEntee to Present in London at RPC’s General Counsel Law Firm Risk and Liability Conference Co-Sponsored by Hinshaw, Sep 25, 2024
In The News
Press Releases
- Illinois Appeals Court Affirms Win by Hinshaw Legal Team in $4 Million Legal Malpractice Case Filed by Minor League Baseball Association, Jan 4, 2019
- Hinshaw Legal Team Prevails in $4 Million Legal Malpractice Case Filed by Minor League Baseball Association, May 19, 2017
- Barry MacEntee Included in Chicago Lawyer's 2015 "40 Under 40", Oct 20, 2015
Barry's Insights
In The News
Apr 9, 2024
Media Coverage of Hinshaw's 2024 Legal Malpractice and Risk Management (LMRM) Conference
Press Release
Oct 20, 2015
Barry MacEntee Included in Chicago Lawyer's 2015 "40 Under 40"
