Meet the Barnes Disability Advocates Team

Jay Barnes

Utah Disability Attorney & President of Barnes Disability

Jay Barnes is a Social Security Disability lawyer with more than 21 years’ experience helping thousands of people win crucial disability benefits when they can’t work because of health problems.

He’s motivated in his work by seeing people, often friends and neighbors in Utah, gain access to life-changing disability benefits that they earned through years of hard work. Jay is willing to help anyone he thinks can technically qualify for disability benefits—even if they have a challenging claim. He instilled the values in the firm that EVERYONE MATTERS.

Jay founded Barnes Disability Advocates in 2009, trains its attorneys and staff members, and is also a technology expert who manages the firm’s computer systems. Jay got his bachelor’s degree and law degree from Brigham Young University.

Read Bio ›

Natalie Bolli

Chief Attorney at Barnes Disability Advocates

Natalie Bolli has 28 years of experience helping thousands of people with Social Security Disability claims. As chief attorney at Barnes Disability Advocates, she helps you understand the disability process, helps you file the best possible case, and speaks to a disability judge for you.

Natalie appeals disability denials to federal court when appropriate. It’s the highest level of disability appeals, and it’s not something most disability attorneys do.

“I have seen firsthand the difficulty that results from chronic illness,” Natalie says. “One of my children has a chronic illness that has required navigating our difficult medical system to keep him healthy and able to function. This work means a lot to me because I know the difference it makes when someone can get consistent medical care and not worry about whether they can afford basic needs while doing it.”

Read Bio ›

Matt Ormsby

Utah Social Security Disability Lawyer

Matt Ormsby is a Utah Social Security Disability lawyer at Barnes Disability Advocates who focuses on representing people in their disability appeals hearings with administrative law judges.

He has over 11 years of experience in disability law. He values helping hardworking people regain stability after serious health problems disrupt their livelihoods. Matt aims to make a difficult process easier for his clients.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and his law degree from the University of Virginia. He developed his interest in helping people early, volunteering as the Head of Delegation for the Special Olympics team while in college at Utah State.

Read Bio ›

Todd Renda

Utah Social Security Disability Lawyer

Todd Renda is a Utah disability lawyer with over 34 years of experience helping people with Social Security Disability and long-term disability insurance claims. He studied economics at Brigham Young University and earned his law degree from Seattle University School of Law.

If he’s your disability attorney, Todd will help you gather the medical evidence you need for your claim, prepare you to testify for a disability judge, fight for your right to economic relief at every level of appeals—and make sure you’re treated with personal care and compassion along the way.

“Utahns have a good work ethic and often view disability as a last resort after exhausting all available avenues to maintain employment despite disabling medical or psychological conditions” Todd says. “This makes representing them a joy, and helping them in a difficult situation is very rewarding.”

Read Bio ›

Nicole Hansen

Chief Operating Officer

Nicole Hansen trains, guides, and supervises the Barnes Disability Advocates staff, always with the ultimate goal of building the strongest possible claims for disability benefits to steady the lives of people who can no longer work.

She has extensive experience with Social Security Disability cases as a paralegal who has filed thousands of disability benefits appeals. She supports the Barnes Disability Advocates culture of placing top priority on helping people in times of need.

Nicole has a bachelor’s degree in English, paralegal certificates from the national paralegals’ association, NALA, and she is working toward a master’s degree in business administration.

Read Bio ›

Lisa Blake

Disability Benefits Payments Manager

After you’re approved for Social Security Disability benefits, Lisa Blake, payments manager at Barnes Disability Advocates, follows up to be sure you’re receiving the disability income you should. If there’s a problem, she works with the Social Security Administration to fix it.

“It is great to hear the relief people feel when their payments begin,” Lisa said. “These are people who need this assistance to have secure housing, food, and medical care. I get great satisfaction from my work.”

She also tracks down payments Social Security owes the firm for successfully representing people in getting benefits. And she is a master gardener who spent years working at a garden center helping design and install landscapes. She’s also a volunteer and community leader in her church.

Read Bio ›

Sarah Ferre

Disability Hearing Manager

Most people who apply for Social Security Disability benefits receive denials. The most important step in appealing a denial is testifying in a hearing with a disability judge. Sarah Ferre, hearing manager at Barnes Disability Advocates, helps you prepare.

Sarah helps with paperwork and evidence for your claim, answers any questions you have, and makes sure the disability attorney handling your hearing has all the documentation they need. Sarah has over 15 years of experience with multiple aspects of Social Security Disability claims, from understanding if you might qualify for benefits to seeing you through the end of your case.

Sarah studied community health at Utah Valley University and held health insurance and life insurance agent licenses for several years. “The community we serve has a special place in my heart,” she says. “As a mother to a child with a disability, I feel a need to advocate for people who may not be able to do so for themselves.”

Read Bio ›

Brianna McFadden

Disability Hearing Manager

She answers your questions, files hearing appeals, tracks down missing medical records, and makes sure that your file is complete and ready for your hearing. She answers your questions, helps you with the paperwork involved in getting disability benefits, tracks the status of your application, and files your appeal for reconsideration if you’re denied benefits.

She says working at Barnes Disability Advocates allows her to help people in meaningful ways. People seeking disability benefits struggle with the rules, forms and deadlines. She uses her advanced writing skills to help them tell their stories and build stronger cases for benefits approval.

Brianna has a master’s degree in technical writing from Utah Tech University, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Southern Utah University, and associate’s degrees in Mandarin Chinese, intelligence operations, and general studies from various institutions. She also serves in the National Guard.

Read Bio ›

Rachel Milligan

Disability Claims Legal Assistant

Rachel Milligan could serve as a key point of contact for you at Barnes Disability Advocates. As a legal assistant, she helps you with paperwork, keeps track of your disability claim, and files an appeal if you’re denied benefits.

“The people we work with are going through more than most people know,” she says. “We are here to give them the best representation possible to help them feel that they matter. People with disabilities are often forgotten, and I love being able to fight for them.”

Rachel previously worked as a teacher and has long supported people with disabilities, including some of her students and two of her own siblings. She has a bachelor’s degree in teaching from Brigham Young University. She did missionary service work for over a year in Paraguay, became fluent in Spanish, and now helps the firm’s Spanish-speaking clients.

Read Bio ›

Allina Reier

Disability Claims Legal Assistant

If you work with Barnes Disability Advocates on your disability benefits claim, you may meet Allina Reier, who helps you with Social Security Disability paperwork, keeps track of your claim from applying to appealing a denial, helps file your initial appeal of a denied claim, makes sure your medical evidence is complete, and communicates with the Social Security Administration for you.

With a younger brother with special needs, Allina has a lifelong commitment to helping people who need an advocate. She makes a point of listening and understanding what you’re going through when you’re seeking help that you hoped you’d never need.

Allina earned her bachelor’s degree in community health education from Utah Valley University. She has additional certificates and training in customer service and fitness training.

Read Bio ›

Kandice Warr

Disability Legal Assistant & Intake Specialist

Kandice Warr could be one of the first people you see at Barnes Disability Advocates. She helps new clients start out with our firm. She helps you gather the information you need to apply for Social Security Disability benefits, and she files your application.

Kandice has seen firsthand how major health problems can disrupt your life. She’s had several family members injured in accidents or diagnosed with disabling conditions. Those experiences motivate her to help others.

Her work history is full of roles helping others, including teaching; law enforcement; working in mental health, medical and physical therapy offices; and administering state benefit programs. Kandice holds a bachelor’s degree in communication/theater arts and English, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and a paralegal certification.

Read Bio ›

Meet the Barnes Disability Advocates Team

Jay Barnes

Natalie Bolli

Matt Ormsby

Todd Renda

Nicole Hansen

Lisa Blake

Sarah Ferre

Brianna McFadden

Rachel Milligan

Allina Reier

Kandice Warr

Brett Poulson in Google Reviews

CONTACT US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION