Attorney, licensed in Michigan and Illinois
Born and raised in Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, Mich., Barry Conybeare attended high school at Lake Michigan Catholic. He graduated from (and is a big fan of) the University of Michigan (B.A., 1988). Barry received his law degree, magna cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law (J.D., 1992).
After graduating from law school, Barry worked in Chicago as a commercial litigation associate with one of the world’s largest law firms, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom. In 1994, after nearly two years with Skadden, Barry, and his wife Jody, moved home to Southwest Michigan. There he began practicing law with his father, Bruce Conybeare, at Conybeare Law Office.
Barry’s practice focuses on all aspects of personal injury law, including auto collisions; medical, hospital and nursing home malpractice; product liability; insurance claims and most other injury cases. The Best Lawyers in America© has named Barry the 2013, 2017 and 2021 Lawyer of the Year for Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation in the Kalamazoo Region (Southwest Michigan). Recently, Barry was named to the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for his work as a Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Litigation attorney in the Kalamazoo Region (Southwest Michigan).
Barry is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Michigan and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of both states. He is also admitted to practice in various federal courts, including the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, Northern and Central Districts of Illinois and Northern District of Indiana.
Since 2008, Barry has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and since 2009 as a Michigan Super Lawyer. He has the highest peer-review rating of “AV” for professional ability and ethical standards by Martindale-Hubbell, a national directory of lawyers, and is recognized as a Leading Lawyer in Michigan. Barry is also a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates – Michigan Chapter.
He is active with the Michigan Association for Justice, serving on its board of directors since 2003. Barry also served consecutive 3-year terms on the State Bar of Michigan Character and Fitness Candidate Interview Committee for Southwest Michigan. Other professional affiliations include membership in the Berrien County Bar Association (2016-2017 President), State Bar of Michigan, American Association for Justice and Michigan Association for Justice.
Barry has spoken on a variety of topics to many groups of lawyers, including the Michigan Association for Justice, the Illinois and Indiana Trial Lawyers Associations and the Michigan Defense Trial Lawyer Association. He co-authored a chapter on personal injury claims in “The Effective Associate Training and Development Program,” a publication of the American Bar Association Committee on Continuing Legal Education.
Barry is active in political, civic and community affairs. Previously, he has been on the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation Fund Development Committee, the board of directors of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Michigan, Planned Parenthood Mid-Michigan Alliance, Curious Kids’ Museum, Lake Michigan College Foundation and Point O’ Woods Golf & Country Club.
Barry has served as a Trustee on the St. Joseph Public Schools Board of Education since 2016 and is currently the Board President.
When not in the office, Barry enjoys spending time with his wife Jody, and their four children. An avid golfer, he served as the 5-term president of the board of directors of the Point O’ Woods Golf & Country Club (2008-2013).