Barry Black

Barry Black | partner

212-382-4303   

Barry Black is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer.  He represents religious institutions, municipalities, clergy and other litigants in a variety of issues ranging from governance, property and employment disputes to religious liberty other First Amendment claims.  He has extensive knowledge of and experience with administration and governance issues in religious organizations.  Mr. Black has represented religious organizations and associations of various faiths and denominations, and provided counsel to municipal and corporate clients on a wide array of matters connected with Religion Law.  He has counseled and represented both religious institutions and ministers on clergy-related issues, from parsonage and tax matters to intraorganizational disputes, in federal and state court as well as in mediation and arbitration.

A former litigation partner at a New York City law firm, Mr. Black’s clients have ranged from municipalities and banking institutions to corporations involved in international litigation.  Mr. Black is experienced in trial and appellate advocacy.

Mr. Black is the Religion Law columnist for the New York Law Journal.

Education

• Hofstra University, B.B.A. 1991
• Hofstra University School of Law, J.D. 1994

Bar Admissions

• New York State
• United States District Court, Southern District of New York
• United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
• United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• Supreme Court of the United States of America

Publications

• “The Long Reach of the Federal Gov’t In Protecting Religious Liberty,” New York Law Journal (2022)
• “Secularism and the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause,” New York Law Journal (2022)
• “Religious Schools Anticipate Landmark U.S. Supreme Court Ruling,” New York Law Journal (2022)
• “How RLUIPA Protects the Right To Use Land for Religious Purposes,” New York Law Journal (2021)
• “Is ‘Substantial Equivalency’ The Next Religious Freedom Fight?,” New York Law Journal (2021)
• “When a Corporation’s Members, Not Its Trustees, Make the Decisions,” New York Law Journal (2020)
• “U.S. Supreme Court Expands Religious Freedom in Key Rulings,” New York Law Journal (2020)
• “Considerations for Religious Institutions in Time of Crisis,” New York Law Journal (2020)
• “Security for Houses of Worship: The Law, and Practical Steps To Take,” New York Law Journal (2020)
• “Hiring and Firing Clergy of Congregational Houses of Worship,” New York Law Journal (2019)
• “Broad Tax Exemptions Benefit Congregations,” New York Law Journal (2019)
• “When Can Courts Decide Between Local Churches and Their Denominations?” New York Law Journal (2019)
• “How Courts Paved the Way for the Eruv,” New York Law Journal (2019)
• “Religious Institutions and Trustees: An Unorthodox Relationship,” New York Law Journal (2018)
• “Religious Accommodations: How Far Must Employers Go?,” New York Law Journal (2018)
• “When #MeToo Leads to Litigation Against the Church,” New York Law Journal (2018)
• “Congregations Transferring Real Estate: When is Court Approval Needed?,” New York Law Journal (2018)
• “Exceptions and Exclusions Benefit Religious Institutions and Clergy,” New York Law Journal (2017)
• “When Can State Courts Decide Religious Disputes?,” New York Law Journal (2017)
• “Congregations Transferring Real Estate: When Is Court Approval Needed?,” New York Law Journal (2017)