BARRY F. WHITE
Position: Member
Firm: Farris Bobango Branan PLC
Basics: White, who has practiced law in Memphis for almost 35 years, has been named to the Best Lawyers in America 2010 edition for Real Estate Law.

Barry F. White, a member of Farris Bobango Branan PLC, has been named to the Best Lawyers in America 2010 edition in the area of Real Estate Law.

White also practices in finance, secured transactions, commercial law and commercial contracts law.

He received his juris doctor degree from the University of Michigan. He has practiced law in Memphis for almost 35 years, first with the former Armstrong Allen law firm, then as in-house counsel in the hotel and casino businesses for Holiday Corp./Promus Cos., and, since 1991, at Farris Bobango Branan.

White is a member of the Memphis, Tennessee and American bar associations and the Real Property and Business Law Sections and the Legal Opinion Committee of the ABA.

Q: As a local real estate attorney, what do you think are some of the biggest real estate hurdles the city faces?

A: We need to maintain the viability of existing residential and commercial neighborhoods. The metro area population is not increasing at a fast enough rate to feed all the newer housing and retail being built out east and in the suburban counties. People and businesses are moving out of older areas into the newer areas. This leaves a depleted core of the city, which is an economic drain on the city and, ultimately, the entire metro area.

Q: Since the economy went downhill, do you think Memphis has remained generally viable in the area of commercial real estate?

A: Rental rates have come down and there is more space available for lease. This can be great for businesses looking to lease facilities, although it’s not so great for developers. However, the developers with strong capitalization and quality products can still do well if they can afford to take a long-term view.

Q: Large projects could have major environmental impacts that concern citizens. How much, if any, of your real estate practice deals with environmental issues as they relate to real estate?

A: Our law firm has significant expertise in dealing with environmental issues that have to be tackled before a development, purchase or financing transaction takes place.

Q: Who – or what – has been one of the biggest influences on the way you practice law?

A: My first mentors as a rookie in law practice were Benjamin Goodman and Walter Armstrong Jr. Mr. Goodman taught me the fine points of careful legal document drafting. Mr. Armstrong taught me the customs and protocols in writing legal opinions for lending and business transactions.

Q: In practicing in commercial and finance law, what have you found to be one of the most difficult aspects?

A: It is a challenge to draft documents that are clear and relatively short, and yet cover all the details that might be important if something goes wrong. In my opinion, a good transactional document covers all the important details but does not overwhelm the reader with a lot of complication.

Q: In your spare time, what do you like to do for fun?

A: I sing baritone as a member of my church choir (Idlewild Presbyterian) and as a member of the Memphis Symphony Chorus. My wife and I enjoy classical and jazz music. We love to travel and have done a number of hiking and walking trips over the years. I also ride a road bike as much as 100 miles a week in good weather, and I am a member of the Memphis Hightailers bicycle club.

Q: Excluding the law, what would be your No. 2 career choice?

A: Realistic choice: an executive in the hotel development and management business.

Fun choice: talking head on a sports broadcast show.