David C. Barrett Jr., Partner

David, one of the founding partners of the firm, grew up on his family’s livestock and grain farm in Washington County, Ohio.  His early involvement in farming, along with his participation in 4-H and FFA activities, forged his commitment to agriculture that has carried over into the practice of law.

In addition to David’s private practice experience of working with agricultural producers and agribusinesses, he served for over 10 years as in-house legal counsel and national secretary for the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) in Washington, DC.  While he advised the NGFA on a broad range of legal, legislative and regulatory issues, David also had oversight of the NGFA Trade Rules and administered the industry’s arbitration system.  During that time he also successfully completed the London (England)-based Grain and Feed Trade Association’s Gafta Trade Foundation Course on international grain contracts and arbitration at Churchill College, Cambridge, United Kingdom.  David is a frequent speaker on agricultural contract and business legal issues at industry meetings throughout the U.S.  He is also is a multi-year recipient of the “Ohio Super Lawyer” designation from Law & Politics Magazine and was recognized as a “Top Lawyer” by Columbus CEO Magazine.

When he is not practicing law, David spends time with his active family.  David also is an active member of the Knights of Columbus and Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Parish, Bismarck, North Dakota.

• Administrative Law
• Arbitration
• Agribusiness
• Agricultural Cooperatives
• Business & Corporate Law
• Civil Litigation
• Commercial Contracts
• Commodity Law
• Commodity Technology License Disputes

• Employment Law
• Food/Feed Safety
• Government Regulation
• Livestock
• Mediation/Dispute Resolution
• Real Estate Law
• Trade Associations
• Transportation
• Uniform Commercial Code

Mr. Barrett has received an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

CERTIFICATION MARK REFERENCE: “CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.”

RATING EXPLANATION: Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Ratings fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.

According to Martindale-Hubbell: “An AV rating is a significant accomplishment – a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence. A lawyer must be admitted to the bar for 10 years or more to receive an AV rating.”

Bar Admissions:

Ohio, 1981;
District of Columbia, 1990;
North Dakota, 2018;
U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 1982;
U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 1988;
U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana, 2000;
U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana, 2013;
U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 2004;
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 2017;
U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 2007;
U.S. District Court District of Nebraska, 2009;
U.S. District Court District of North Dakota, 2015;
U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee, 2011;
U.S. Tax Court, 1983;
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 2015;
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1984;
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2019;
U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2020;
U.S. Supreme Court, 1987

Education:

University of Toledo College of Law, Toledo, Ohio, 1981
J.D.
Honors: Cum Laude
Honors: Six American Jurisprudence Awards

Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
June, 1978
B.S.
Major:  Agriculture (With Honors in Ag. Econ.)

Published Works:

Arbitrating Agricultural Disputes: The National Grain and Feed Association’s Experience, 68 North Dakota Law Review 539, 1992

Hedge-to-Arrive Contracts, 2 Drake Journal of Agricultural Law 153, 1997

Agricultural Law Update, Ohio CLE Institute, 2001

Agricultural Law Update, Ohio CLE Institute, 2002

Representative Cases:

Farmers Crop Ins. Alliance v. Laux, 442 F. Supp. 2d 488 (S.D. Ohio 2006)

Farmers Crop Ins. Alliance v. Laux, 422 F. Supp. 2d 898 (S.D. Ohio 2006)

In re Wakehill Farms, 123 B.R. 774 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 1990)

In re Miller, 106 B.R. 136 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 1989)

In re Miller, 98 B.R. 311 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 1989)

Consolidated Grain and Barge Co.(Fayette, Iowa ) vs. Paul Regan, Maury Regan and Mike Regan(d.b.a Regan Farms) Arbitration Case #2352

Consolidated Grain and Barge Co.(Fayette, Iowa ) vs. Paul Regan, Maury Regan and Mike Regan(d.b.a Regan Farms) Arbitration Case #2352 (2009)

Consolidated Grain and Barge Co.(Cincinnati Ohio ) vs. Christopher Huff, Arbitration Case #2373 (2009)

Classes/Seminars Taught:

Speaker, Symposiums, American Agricultural Law Association, 1991, 1996, 2008

Honors and Awards:

Young Professional Achievement Award, The Ohio State University College of Agriculture Alumni Association, 1985

Awards Chair, American Agricultural Law Association, 1998

AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Ohio State Bar Association
July 1, 2005 -June 30, 2008 Chair, Agricultural Law Committee
2017-Present, Council of Delegates

American Agricultural Law Association, 1982 – Present

Federal Bar Association

Delaware County Bar Association

Courts Committee

Appointments:

Legal, Tax & Accounting Committee, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, 2017 – Present

Arbitrator for U.S. Surface Transportation Board, 2022

Past Employment Positions:

National Grain and Feed Association, Counsel for Public Affairs/National Secretary, January 15, 1990 – August 14, 2000

Owens Technical College, Instructor of Business Law and Real Estate Law, 1982 – 1985

Fraternities/Sororities:

Phi Kappa Phi
Alpha Zeta
Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity