R. Barry Cannada

R. Barry

Cannada

Legal & Consulting Services, Vice-Chair

Overview

Barry Cannada focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, complex business transactions and finance and restructuring. He has extensive experience in various transactional advisory services, capital formation, joint ventures, private placements, financings (including distressed financings). He formerly served as the Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel overseeing all the administrative functions for a client earning approximately $3 billion in revenues and employing approximately 20,000 employees. Barry is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America®, Chambers USA and Mid-South Super Lawyers® for his work in corporate law. 

Industry

Experience

  • 30+ years of experience in various transactional advisory services, regularly representing numerous public and private companies in the management of a broad range of significant transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, capital formation, private placements, private equity investments, joint ventures, licensing and various forms of financings.
  • Significant experience in managing the financing and restructuring (in and outside of bankruptcy protection) of distressed institutions. 
  • Experience in representing clients in a broad range of industries including various forms of manufacturing from device to chemicals, multiple major retail businesses, distributors, franchised operators, real estate developments, healthcare companies (from service providers to device and pharma suppliers), large agricultural ventures and cooperatives, various companies focused on the energy business, financial services, insurance providers and numerous types of technology companies.
  • Served as Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel of a client for whom he had performed substantial corporate finance and other transactional work, where he performed various legal and financial functions while overseeing all the administrative functions for the company which, at its height, earned in excess of $3 billion in revenues and employed in excess of 20,000 employees.
  • Chambers USA, America’s Business Lawyers noted that interviewees hailed Barry as "the very best for corporate work," citing his accounting background and his big-ticket experience as particular assets.

Distinctions

  • Martindale-Hubbell®
    • AV®-Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
  • Best Lawyers in America®
    • Corporate Law, 2006-2024
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2007-2024
    • Lawyer of the Year, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business
    • Corporate/Commercial (Mississippi), 2014-2023
  • Super Lawyers®
    • Mid-South Super Lawyer, Business/Corporate, 2007-2013
  • Lawdragon 3000
  • Mississippi Technology Association and Mississippi Energy Institute, Chairman Emeritus

Bar Admissions

  • Mississippi, 1980

Education

  • University of Mississippi, J.D., cum laude, 1980
    • Farley Award, graduated first in class
  • University of Mississippi, B.B.A., Accounting, magna cum laude, 1977
  • Clerkship, Judge Robert A. Ainsworth, U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit

Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • National Lawyers Association
  • Mississippi Bar Association
  • Capital Area Bar Association

R. Barry

Cannada

Overview

Barry Cannada focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, complex business transactions and finance and restructuring. He has extensive experience in various transactional advisory services, capital formation, joint ventures, private placements, financings (including distressed financings). He formerly served as the Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel overseeing all the administrative functions for a client earning approximately $3 billion in revenues and employing approximately 20,000 employees. Barry is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America®, Chambers USA and Mid-South Super Lawyers® for his work in corporate law. 

Industry

Experience

  • 30+ years of experience in various transactional advisory services, regularly representing numerous public and private companies in the management of a broad range of significant transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, capital formation, private placements, private equity investments, joint ventures, licensing and various forms of financings.
  • Significant experience in managing the financing and restructuring (in and outside of bankruptcy protection) of distressed institutions. 
  • Experience in representing clients in a broad range of industries including various forms of manufacturing from device to chemicals, multiple major retail businesses, distributors, franchised operators, real estate developments, healthcare companies (from service providers to device and pharma suppliers), large agricultural ventures and cooperatives, various companies focused on the energy business, financial services, insurance providers and numerous types of technology companies.
  • Served as Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel of a client for whom he had performed substantial corporate finance and other transactional work, where he performed various legal and financial functions while overseeing all the administrative functions for the company which, at its height, earned in excess of $3 billion in revenues and employed in excess of 20,000 employees.
  • Chambers USA, America’s Business Lawyers noted that interviewees hailed Barry as "the very best for corporate work," citing his accounting background and his big-ticket experience as particular assets.

Distinctions

  • Martindale-Hubbell®
    • AV®-Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
  • Best Lawyers in America®
    • Corporate Law, 2006-2024
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2007-2024
    • Lawyer of the Year, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business
    • Corporate/Commercial (Mississippi), 2014-2023
  • Super Lawyers®
    • Mid-South Super Lawyer, Business/Corporate, 2007-2013
  • Lawdragon 3000
  • Mississippi Technology Association and Mississippi Energy Institute, Chairman Emeritus

Bar Admissions

  • Mississippi, 1980

Education

  • University of Mississippi, J.D., cum laude, 1980
    • Farley Award, graduated first in class
  • University of Mississippi, B.B.A., Accounting, magna cum laude, 1977
  • Clerkship, Judge Robert A. Ainsworth, U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit

Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • National Lawyers Association
  • Mississippi Bar Association
  • Capital Area Bar Association