I've lived in Florida my entire life and I am a graduate of the University of Central Florida (B.A., summa cum laude, 1979) and the University of Florida, Levin College of Law (J.D. 1989). After being admitted to The Florida Bar on April 27, 1990, I first served as an Assistant State Attorney in Brevard County, Florida.  I then focused my practice in Tampa, Florida, first, in the representation of chapter 7 bankruptcy trustees and, second, in the representation of the standing chapter 13 trustee, as the trustee's senior staff attorney, a position I held for almost 24 years. Following  26 years of experience in the Tampa bankruptcy court, I opened a private law practice, the Law Office of M. Eric Barksdale, P.A., in 2017. My practice is focused primarily on consumer bankruptcy law, both chapter 7 and chapter 13.  As a sole practitioner, I am uniquely qualified to use my broad experience representing the "other side" to help individuals and small businesses through financial problems with individualized attention to clients.  Currently, I am a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association. 

I enjoy life with Kathleen, who I married over 30 years ago.  We love bicycling, the beach, our wonderful daughter (who lives in Boston) and our two pets, Shadow Cat, and Bono.