About Brittany K. Barnett

Brittany K. Barnett is a nationally recognized attorney specializing in federal criminal defense, state and federal clemency (pardons and commutations), corporate law, and entertainment law. With a distinguished career advocating for justice and securing freedom for numerous individuals, Brittany is one of the few attorneys in the country to have obtained clemency for nearly two dozen clients across three presidential administrations – Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden – including cases that have helped shape national conversations around justice, redemption, and reform.  

Through her post-conviction work, Brittany has secured freedom for over 60 individuals serving life sentences under federal drug laws, including those convicted in Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE) cases and large-scale federal drug conspiracies. Among her victories, she successfully represented two clients in the Southern District of New York who had been sentenced to life without parole, securing their release after they had served over 33 years in prison. 

Beyond her federal criminal defense and clemency practice, Brittany advises clients in corporate and entertainment law, handling legal matters ranging from general corporate contracts and transactions to complex legal matters in music, film, television, book publishing, and sports. Brittany also provides legal consulting and narrative strategy expertise, helping clients navigate complex legal matters, shape public perception, and drive impactful change. She has served as a trusted advisor on criminal justice reform to some of the most influential voices in entertainment, helping them leverage their platforms to drive systemic change.

​

Brittany began her legal career in corporate law, practicing corporate finance at a major firm before serving as Associate General Counsel at ORIX USA Corporation, a global financial services firm where she focused primarily on mergers and acquisitions. While excelling in corporate law, she dedicated countless pro bono hours to securing clemency for her clients – ultimately obtaining freedom for seven individuals during the Obama administration while working full-time in-house.

​

Her deep commitment to justice is personal. As the daughter of a formerly incarcerated mother, Brittany witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of mass incarceration, igniting her passion for systemic change. This led her to co-found the Buried Alive Project, a nonprofit providing pro bono legal representation to individuals serving life sentences under outdated federal drug laws. Seeking to expand the fight for justice beyond the courtroom, she later founded Manifest Freedom, where she has implemented innovative investment models to support justice-impacted individuals, with a focus on economic justice, advocacy, and reshaping narratives. Additionally, Brittany founded Girls Embracing Mothers, an organization that for over a decade empowered thousands of women and girls affected by maternal incarceration. 

​

Her groundbreaking legal work has been widely recognized, including in The New York Times, Forbes, and NPR. She is the best-selling author of A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom, an NAACP Image Award nominee and Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist. Her TED Talk, The Creativity, Innovation, and Ingenuity Languishing in US Prisons, has reached over 1.7 million views, inspiring a national conversation about justice reform.  

​

Brittany earned her J.D. from SMU’s Dedman School of Law, where she was honored with the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award. Before practicing law, she was a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) at international accounting firm PwC, and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting.