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Barry

Barry A. Abbott

Retired

Prior to retiring in 2023, Barry Abbott represented established corporations and startups in all aspects of their corporate, financial services, internet, payments and e-commerce businesses. He is nationally recognized for his work advising clients on developing ground-breaking consumer financial services products and in dealing with federal and state financial service regulations and regulators.

Barry was a pioneer in e-commerce lending matters. Notably, Barry was:

Involved in developing the legal documents for the first equity line product (for Crocker Bank in the late 1970s)
Principally responsible for developing all legal documents for the first major reverse mortgage program (for Transamerica HomeFirst in the late 1980s)
Original legal counsel responsible for organizing the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NCREIF)
Chief Legal Officer of the REX Group, which developed the first true home owner-occupied option investment product and marketplace

Barry has been commended for his work by Chambers® USA’s Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, with one source stating, “he is extremely professional and able to quickly navigate complicated issues from both a corporate and a regulatory perspective.” He has also been named the Financial Services Regulation "Seattle Lawyer of the Year" three times by Best Lawyers®.

Experience

Developed Crowd Funding Program for Small Business Organizations
Advised on all corporate and financing documentation for new crowdfunding site for small business financings.
Organized New National Residential Mortgage Lender
Advised major national real estate broker in connection with its organization of a new, national residential mortgage lender affiliate.
CustomArray Inc. Acquisition by GenScript Biotech Corp.
Represented CustomArray Inc., a major DNA oligo pool synthesizing company, and its stockholders in connection with the sale of of its business to GenScript Biotech Corp.
Documentation Development for First Reverse Mortgage Product*
Drafted all documentation for the first national reverse mortgage product.
Factoring and Merchant Cash Advance Advice
Represented a large pension cash flow purchaser and merchant advance business with product design and dealing with various state regulators.
Greenpeace U.S. Restructuring*
Advised Greenpeace with regard to its reorganization the United States.
Payment Advice for National Gaming Company*
Provided all federal and state payment advice to a major national gaming company.
501(c)(3) Corporate Merger for The Bar of San Francisco*
As principal outside corporate counsel to The Bar Association of San Francisco, merged two of its affiliated 501(c)(3) corporations.
The Rex Group Corporate, Securities, M&A and Equity Option Contract Work*
As Chief Legal Officer for The REX Group (now called Unison), negotiated and documented a $21 million C-Round and a $115 million private fund financing and developed the documentation for the first multistate true home equity option contract program.

* Denotes experience at a previous firm

Professional Experience

Lane Powell PC

Shareholder (2016-Present)
Counsel to the Firm (2013-2015)

Arnold & Porter LLP (and predecessor, Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk & Rabkin, P.C.)

Of Counsel (2006-2013)
Director (1994-2006)

The REX Group, Chief Legal Officer, Director of Government Relations and Corporate Secretary (2006-2009)

Morrison & Foerster LLP

Partner (1983-1994)
Associate (1977-1983)

Community Involvement

Federal Reserve Board Consumer Advisory Council and Chairman of its Consumer Credit Committee (Washington, D.C.), Former Member

American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers, Former Board Member and Officer

Conference on Consumer Finance Law, Governing Committee, Member

American Bar Association, Consumer Financial Services Committee and Banking Law Committee, Member and Former Committee and Subcommittee Officer

State Bar of California, Business Law Section, Financial Institutions Committee and Insurance Law Committee, Member and Former Section, Committee and Subcommittee Officer

The Royal Society of Arts (London), Fellow

Bar Association of San Francisco, Former Board Member and Committee Chair

Barristers Club of San Francisco, Former Board Member and Officer

Thought Leadership

August 18, 2022News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 Recognizes 90 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
June 1, 2022News
Lane Powell Again Ranked Among Top Firms in 2022 Chambers® USA
Awards & Honors
August 19, 2021News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2022 Recognizes 90 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
May 20, 2021News
Lane Powell Again Ranked Among Top Firms in 2021 Chambers® USA
Awards & Honors
February 18, 2021News
Abbott Featured in World Law Group ‘Member Voices’ Profile
In the News
August 20, 2020News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 Recognizes 92 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
August 15, 2019News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2020 Recognizes 63 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
2018Publication
Current Banking Issues in the Cannabis Industry
Conference on Consumer Finance Law Quarterly Report
August 15, 2018News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2019 Recognizes 62 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
August 15, 2017News
Fifty-nine Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers® in America 2018
Awards & Honors
October 19, 2016Publication
Puget Sound Area Should Get in on Fintech Revolution
Puget Sound Business Journal
August 17, 2016News
Fifty-one Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017
Awards & Honors
March 24, 2016Publication
US Supreme Court Fails to Resolve Guarantors’ Status Under ECOA
Financial Institutions Legal Update
January 4, 2016News
Lane Powell Announces Four New Shareholders
Firm Announcement
August 17, 2015News
Forty-eight Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016
Awards & Honors
October 21, 2014Publication
Banks and the EB-5 Funds: Look Before You Leap
Issues and Answers
August 18, 2014News
Fifty-One Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015
Awards & Honors

Education

University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D., 1975
- Order of the Coif
- University of Florida Law Review, Board Member
Stanford University, M.B.A., 1977
Dartmouth College, A.B., magna cum laude, 1972
- With High Distinction in History
- Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

Washington
California
District of Columbia
Florida
New York
U.S. Supreme Court

Honors

Fellow, American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers

"Seattle Lawyer of the Year," Best Lawyers®, Financial Services Regulation (2014, 2015, 2017)

Chambers® USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2019-2022)

"Northern California Super Lawyer,” Thomson Reuters, Business/Corporate

AV Preeminent® in Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™

Award of Merit, Bar Association of San Francisco (1985, 2004, 2011)

Who’s Who in America

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