Butler Snow attorney R. Barry Cannada has been recognized as a recipient of the 2025 Capital Area Bar Association (CABA) Professionalism Award for his extensive professional achievements, depth of experience and true dedication to providing exceptional client service. Butler Snow attorneys Orlando (Rod) Richmond, Sr., and Rebecca L. Wiggs were previous winners of the award in 2023 and 2024.
The CABA Professionalism Award honors attorneys who demonstrate consistent adherence to professional standards of practice, ethics, integrity and civility. In addition, these individuals illustrate a clear commitment to the practice of law as a learned profession, vigorous representation of clients, and the attainment of the highest levels of knowledge and skill in law with a significant amount of time and resources contributed to public service. This notable award is amongst the highest honors within the CABA awards program.
Cannada is a member of Butler Snow’s Business Services practice group and focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, complex business transactions and finance and restructuring. He over 40 years of experience in various transactional advisory services, capital formation, joint ventures, private placements and 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. Chambers USA, America’s Business Lawyers noted that interviewees hailed him as “the very best for corporate work,” citing his accounting background and his big-ticket experience as particular assets.
Cannada previously served as the chair of the Butler Snow Business Department. For the past 25 years, he has also served as the President of G&S Enterprises, LLC, the holding company for Stribling Equipment, Empire Trucks and S &G Finance, LLC, and their related affiliates and subsidiaries. Through the firm, Cannada has served as a strategic advisor to various companies in our region.
Cannada is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell® and has been recognized by BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America®, including Lawyer of the Year in Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Chambers USA, Lawdragon and Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers®. He is a member of the American, Capital Area and Mississippi Bar Associations, in addition to the National Lawyers Association.
Alongside his professional accomplishments, Cannada is known for his civic engagement and service outside his professional commitments. He is the current Chairman of the Board of Campus Crusade for Christ International, Inc. He has served on the organization’s board since 1993 and has held various roles for many of its affiliates and subsidiaries. He also serves as director or advisor of various other charitable, faith-based, educational and economic development associations and not-for-profit entities.
Cannada earned his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Mississippi and his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he was awarded the Dean Farly Award, for having attained the highest scholastic average in his graduating class.
