Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes
Attorney, Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A.
A Florida native, attorney Rosalyn "Sia" Baker-Barnes began her law career even before earning her law degree, serving former Governor Lawton Chiles as an intern in the Executive Office of Communications. Today, she is among the seasoned lawyers at Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. In her legal practice, she focuses primarily on pursuing justice for victims in personal injury, medical negligence and wrongful death cases. Her compassion for clients and her passion for her career are evident in the extra steps she takes to put her clients and their families on the road to recovery. In her career, she has achieved many multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, including her most recent verdict of $2.47 million in August 2010 against tobacco giants RJ Reynolds and Phillip Morris, USA. She has been an active member of the National Bar Association for ten years, receiving the Association's Presidential Award in 2007 for her service as Co-Chair of the Gertrude E. Rush Annual Dinner. Dedicated to making a difference in her practice and in the community, Baker-Barnes was recently elected to serve of the Board of Directors of the Palm Beach County Bar Association, where she chairs the Personal Injury/Wrongful Death Continuing Legal Education Committee and serves on the Committee for Diversity & Inclusion. She spearheaded the effort to develop the association's diversity website, highlighting the importance of diversity in the legal community. In addition, she chairs the Board of Directors of the Inlet Grove Community High School, Inc., where she manages a multi-million dollar budget for a "B" local career academy. She is a Past President of The Links, Incorporated's West Palm Beach Chapter, chairing the National Trends & Services Facet, which directs the "Stamping Out Childhood Obesity" Program; is the Southern Area Links Ethics & Standards Committee Chairperson, serves on the organization's National Ethics & Standards Committee and is a fellow of the organization's prestigious Scott-Hawkins Leadership Institute. She sits on the Board of the Florida Justice Association, where she is a past Chair of the Young Lawyers Section, and serves on the board of the Florida State University College of Law Alumni Association. She is a member of the West Palm Beach Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. A multi-faceted public servant, mentor and community leader, Baker-Barnes has been recognized by Florida Super Lawyers magazine, which has recognized her as a "Rising Star" in medical malpractice litigation since 2009, and was recently recognized by Business Leader Media as a "2011 South Florida Woman Extraordinaire." She received her law degree from Florida State University College of Law, where she was awarded the Virgil Hawkins Fellowship for academic achievement, and her undergraduate degree in Communication from Florida State University. A busy working Mom, she is married to Attorney Edrick E. Barnes, Esq., and is the mother of 3 year-old daughter Selia Elizabeth Barnes.
