|
Law Practice Barry R. Shapiro is the Chair of the Corporate Law practice of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C., having joined the firm in January 2003. Mr. Shapiro’s broadly-based practice focuses on representing businesses from birth, through growth, to maturity, and to ultimate disposition. Clients range from start-up ventures, to mid-size and multi-national concerns, and include manufacturers, distributors, service providers, professionals, corporate executives, venture capitalists, not-for-profit organizations and lending institutions. Mr. Shapiro concentrates in particular on mergers and acquisitions, employee relations, financings and day-to-day business counseling.Professional Profile From 1988 until 2003, Mr. Shapiro headed the corporate practice group at Uniondale-based Rivkin Radler LLP. He was the Partner-in-Charge of the Corporate Practice Group at Farrell Fritz, P.C. from 1983 until 1988. From 1974 until 1983, he served as Vice President and General Counsel of Avis, Inc. Mr. Shapiro held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Sunsource International, Inc. in 1997.Professional Affiliations Mr. Shapiro is a member of the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association and the Nassau County Bar Association, where he is a member of the Committee on Corporate Law.Community Involvement In addition to his legal activity, Mr. Shapiro is deeply involved in community affairs. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Public Television Station WLIW21; Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Public Television Station Thirteen/WNET New York; lay representative to the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcasting System; the Chairman Emeritus of the Long Island Philharmonic; and a member of the Board of Overseers of the Tilles Center. Mr. Shapiro was the 2003 Chair of Celebrity Sports Night, an event that raised over $1.1 million for Abilities! (formerly the National Center for Disability Services) on Long Island, where he has been counsel for over twenty years. In June 2006, he delivered the commencement address to the graduating class of the Henry Viscardi High School in Albertson, New York. The school allows students with significant physical disabilities and medical impairments to achieve high standards of academic rigor in a barrier free environment. Recognition Among his numerous achievements, Mr. Shapiro has been named one of the most influential individuals on Long Island by Long Island Business News, as well as one of the Island’s top attorneys. He was the 1998 recipient of Dowling College’s Tribute Award for community service. In 1996, he was presented with the Excellence in Cultural Support Award by Public Television WLIW21 and was the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s Man of the Year in 1995. He received the distinguished Long Islander in Law Award from the Epilepsy Foundation in 1994. Mr. Shapiro is rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest level in professional excellence and ethics.Presentations Called one of the best known names in corporate practice by Long Island Business News, Mr. Shapiro has been published in Newsday, Crain’s New York Business, and Long Island Business News. He has written for the newsletter of the General Practice Section of the New York State Bar Association. Mr. Shapiro is a frequent lecturer at the Pace University School of Law and the Nassau Academy of Law | 