Barry Black

Barry Black | partner

212-382-4303   

Barry Black has practiced primarily in the fields of civil and criminal litigation, contract negotiation and dispute resolution.

An  ordained and practicing clergyman for thirty years until stepping down to form Nelson Madden Black in 2016, he has focused much of his law practice on religious institutions and clergy, from employment issues to dispute resolution and criminal matters.  Mr. Black has extensive knowledge of and experience with administration and governance issues.  He has represented religious organizations and associations of various faiths and denominations, and provided counsel to municipal and corporate clients on matters connected with the First Amendment and Religion Law.  He has counseled and represented both religious institutions and ministers on clergy-related issues, from parsonage and tax matters to intraorganizational disputes.

Mr. Black practiced law independently from 2011 to 2016.  Prior to that he was a litigation partner at a New York City law firm.  His clients have ranged from major banking institutions to U.S. corporations involved in international litigation.  Mr. Black is experienced in trial and post-verdict litigation.

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

Publications

• “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)