JEANNIE ROSE BARKSDALE

PARTNER

Jeannie Rose Barksdale is a creative problem-solver who partners with clients to achieve their goals, leveraging her in-house General Counsel and nonprofit law firm experience to offer legal expertise, strategic engagement, thoughtful risk management, and wise counsel.  

Known for navigating complex challenges and providing innovative solutions, Jeannie Rose blends high-quality service with a genuine commitment to the people and organizations she serves. Her unique approach emphasizes collaboration and a deep understanding of each client’s mission, culture, and risk profile, allowing her to craft tailored legal strategies that work in real-world contexts.

Before joining Castañeda + Heidelman, Jeannie Rose served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for International Justice Mission. In this global non-profit organization, she built a legal function capable of supporting the organization’s global operations. She has also worked extensively with charities, social enterprises, and mission-driven organizations, both in-house and as outside counsel, specializing in corporate governance, risk mitigation, internal investigations, and legal compliance.

Jeannie Rose’s ability to bring a steady hand during crises—whether through board disputes, staff safety concerns, or public relations issues—has made her a trusted advisor to organizations navigating difficult situations. She has extensive experience working across jurisdictions, having incorporated entities overseas in multiple countries and developed innovative solutions to support clients' missions in diverse legal landscapes.

Originally from a small wine-making town in Washington State, Jeannie Rose has lived happily in “east coast exile” for nearly twenty years, currently in Washington, DC with her husband Nate and three children. She is an avid baker, writer, and spiritual director, and operates Rock Creek Sanctuary, a micro-urban retreat space in Washington, DC. Jeannie Rose is also deeply involved in her community, serving on the board of Church of the Advent in Washington, DC, and having previously served on the vestry of All Angels Church in New York City, where she helped found a ministry serving individuals experiencing challenges related to housing, addiction, and mental illness.

Jeannie Rose has a passion for connecting with others cross-culturally and can converse about food in Spanish, Italian, and Thai. She brings this warmth and appreciation for cultural diversity into her professional life, where she seeks to foster strong, meaningful relationships with her clients.

    • Advised a charity through an extortion threat by a former contractor, helping them navigate the legal and reputational risks involved.

    • Successfully supported a claim resulting in unforeseen coverage for crisis management expenses after the tragic death of a staff member in service.

    • Drafted contracts and provided legal guidance for a non-profit merger, including intellectual property acquisition.

    • Developed a novel solution for amending a lease agreement to address client concerns without triggering problematic clauses.

    • Developed and executed strategy for forming wholly-owned LLC charity to address access risks related to a foreign government of a program country. 

    • Incorporated suite of entities with distinct capacities in response to complex law governing charities in a foreign jurisdiction, drafting cooperation agreements to support practical working arrangements.

    • Overhauled charity governing documents to bring it in line with framework of parent entity while adhering to local law.

    • Provided training to non-profit board on board governance and duties.

    • Drafted ethics policies, including whistleblower and anti-harassment policies, aligned with organizational culture.

    • Led an investigation into safeguarding allegations against multiple staff members across several jurisdictions.

    • Oversaw an internal investigation into allegations of financial fraud involving a high-level leader and advised on measures to prevent future occurrences.

    • Spearheaded the implementation of GDPR and other data privacy measures across international operations.

    • Advised on legal risks and drafted policies regarding the performance-based termination of members of protected classes.

    • Drafted severance agreements for departing C-suite executives, ensuring legal compliance and risk mitigation.

Clients and colleagues alike recognize Jeannie Rose for her exceptional legal expertise and unwavering commitment. As noted by those who have worked closely with her:

"Jeannie Rose is a much-sought-after thought partner - an expert problem solver across the range of legal issues we face. She is an excellent attorney and solution-oriented in her approach to providing legal advice. Instead of saying no, she tenaciously seeks alternatives to help our internal clients get to workable solutions that minimize risk, and she does this in such a winsome and collaborative manner that brings out the best thinking from all."

–Stacy McMahan, CFO, International Justice Mission


"Jeannie Rose Barksdale is an exceptional attorney who brings far more than legal expertise to her professional engagements - she is a collaborative and creative problem solver who approaches challenges with a remarkable "can do" attitude. During her two terms on our Parish Council (board of directors), Jeannie Rose consistently demonstrated extraordinary commitment, dedicating significant time and energy to advancing our organization's mission through innovative approaches to HR, structural development, and change management. Unlike many attorneys who might focus primarily on potential risks, Jeannie Rose stands out for her proactive mindset, always working constructively to help her colleagues achieve their goals and find practical solutions to complex issues."

–Deborah Tepley, COO, Anglican Church in North America

Education

  • New York University School of Law, JC, magna cum laude / order of the coif

  • Stanford University, BA, with distinction

Clerkship

  • Eastern District of New York

Bar/Court Admissions

  • New York State

  • Washington, DC

  • Eastern District of New York

Professional Affiliations

  • Board Member, Church of the Advent, Washington, DC

  • Board Member, Christian Legal Aid of DC

  • Former Board Member, All Angels Church, New York City

  • Former Legal Volunteer, Open Hands Legal Services

Publications and Speaking Engagements

Writing
Jeannie Rose has regularly contributed to legal blogs on topics including tax-exempt law, corporate governance, and nonprofit structures, and has published work in the Oxford International Journal of Refugee Law.

Speaking Engagements
Frequent internal speaker at International Justice Mission on topics such as ethics, governance, orientation and employee training.

Certificates

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate, eCornell

  • Employee Training & Development, eCornell