Overview
Tom Barba represents clients in complex civil litigation and federal regulatory matters nationally. He has defended federal class actions, charges of federal civil regulatory violations, and cases involving industrial and consumer products. For the last decade, he has also brought and defended litigation against the US government involving the mineral extraction industry, particularly involving Clean Water Act permitting. Tom’s broad-based litigation practice during his 30 years at Steptoe has spanned various industries, including US and foreign automobile component and equipment manufacturers, mineral resources development, wind power, and the consumer products industry.
Earlier in his career, Tom served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice and earlier as a junior lawyer at the Civil Division’s Federal Programs Branch. In defending various Executive Branch agencies for nearly a decade, Tom learned how the US government views and defends important cases. He participated and led defense of claims against the government under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) , Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), employment discrimination, and challenges to regulatory authority. He also brought and tried cases in federal court enforcing various federal statutes for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other federal regulatory agencies.
For more than a decade, Tom served as Steptoe's general counsel. That experience has led him to work advising and defending law firms and members of the bar in matters involving allegations of professional liability. He also advises on law partner mobility, legal ethics, and the law of lawyering.
- District of Columbia
- J.D., Temple University Beasley School of Law, 1979
- B.A., Temple University, 1976
Areas of Work
News & Publications
Press Releases
March 29, 2023
Media Mentions
E&E News Covers Steptoe’s Environmental Regs in New Administration Webinar
December 16, 2016
Events
Webinars
Environmental Regulation in the New Administration
December 15, 2016
Speakers: Thomas M. Barba, Seth Goldberg, Leslie A. Belcher, Micah S. Green
Noteworthy
- Awarded, US Department of Justice “Distinguished Service Award"