MIDDLE WESTERN PROVINCE
and acquisitions, government rela- tions and affairs, corporate gover- nance, capital raises, joint ventures, and commercial real estate transac- tions. My clients include directors and executives of public companies, owners of closely held companies, and others in a wide range of indus- tries including software and technol- ogy, retail, gaming, hospitality, food and beverage, financial services, and manufacturing. I also advise profes- sional athletes and coaches (profes- sional and collegiate) on sports law matters and commercial pursuits. As a former in-house counsel, I routinely advised corporate legal departments as well as served as general counsel for lower- to middle -market companies. As a corporate attorney, I routinely work with emerging growth compa- nies therefore increasing jobs in the marketplace, decreasing unemploy- ment and positively affecting the economy. Journal: What would you say is the purpose of the law from your vantage point? Barry: Black’s Law Dictionary defines Law as “Law…in its generic sense, is a body of rules of action or conduct prescribed by controlling authority, and having binding legal force.” Ultimately, as a corporate attorney, I advise my clients on the rules of action or conduct prescribed by the controlling authority in some cases the Security Exchange Com- mission or Gaming Commission to name a few. I guide or help clients/ companies operate within the rules and still find a way for them to be successful and competitive in the open market. Journal: Given the myriad organiza- tions in which you have served, what responsibility do you think a lawyer has to be involved in the commu- nity?
has to be involved in the community. If one is not interested in benefiting or positively affecting the commu- nity to be better, such individual should not be involved. No matter if you are a doctor, lawyer, architect or sanitation worker, if you do not have the right intentions, I would rather you stay on the sideline. However, because of a lawyer’s education, if your intentions are in the right place lawyers can be extremely helpful in the community as social advocates or providing voluntary pro bono services to name a few. Simply put, having someone in the community or in your organization that under- stands the law can go a long way. Journal: What motto do you live by? Barry: As my mother and father taught me a long time ago, my three keys to success are as follows: (i) Do unto others as you would have them do unto to you (the Golden Rule) (ii) Be a leader not a follower and (iii) be happy, but never satisfied. Journal: How does truth, justice, impartiality and liberty factor into the legal process? Barry: These are important factors that set the moral fabric of the legal process. Just take the definition of impartiality—Impartiality (also called evenhandedness or fair-mind- edness) is a principle of justice hold- ing that decisions should be based on objective criteria, rather than on the basis of bias, prejudice, or preferring the benefit to one person over another for improper reasons. Again, this sets the moral fabric of the legal process, the key is—how is it being implemented? Journal: What do you like most about your job? Barry: Negotiating deals—I am a deal junky. It is exhilarating and thrilling—closing a deal for a client meanwhile assisting companies to
grow and find their potential (usually through a liquidating event). Journal: How has Kappa Alpha Psi ® played a role in your legal or educa- tional career? Barry: I have benefited tremen- dously from becoming a member Kappa Alpha Psi ® . Kappa Alpha Psi ® played an important role in assist- ing me in becoming a well-rounded individual and fully enjoying my undergraduate experience. Prior to joining Kappa, I was a starter on the UW football team and on the All-PAC 10 Academic team, but I was not involved in community activities as I should have been. After becoming a member of Kappa, I was surrounded by like-minded individuals with high aspirations and expectations. The one thing that I can say I learned and continue to use in my business and legal career is Robert Rules of Order and how to conduct a meeting. I must thank my Dean of Pledges Aaron Agenbroad, Esq. who is currently a Partner at a national firm in San Francisco for forcing us to learn and understand how to properly conduct a meeting by utilizing Robert Rules of Order. Again, I use this skill as I chair board meetings or run a fraternity meeting. Next, I received a summer associate job after my first year in law school with a National law firm based in Omaha, Nebraska. We had a class of 22 summer associ- ates from all over the country and a majority of them were from top 10 law schools. I will admit, at first, I was more nervous competing for a job against them than when I played in front of 100,000 screaming fans at the Rose Bowl. But, Jonathan Nash, a Partner at the firm and a Kappa man, took me under his wing and ensured I was going to be a success. He learned I was a Kappa because my resume was sent to all of the Firm Partners. Brother Nash could not do my work for me but he did show me the ropes and how to
Barry: I do NOT believe a lawyer
110 | SUMMER 2017 THE JOURNAL
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