Barley Snyder Partner John T. Reed Named ''Lawyer of the Year'' in Family Business Law for Third Time

Lancaster, Pa. – Barley Snyder partner John T. Reed has been named a "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America® in its 2027 edition. Reed was designated the "Lawyer of the Year" in Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law in the Harrisburg metropolitan area.

The “Lawyer of the Year” (LOTY) designation is awarded to the attorney receiving the highest overall peer-review rating in a specific practice area and geographic region, making it a prestigious honor. This marks Reed's third LOTY recognition in Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law, after being recognized in the 2020 and 2025 editions. 

"I am humbled by this recognition from my peers in the legal community," said Reed. "It is a privilege to work alongside family-owned and closely held businesses as they navigate opportunities, challenges and transitions. I am grateful for the trust my clients place in me and for the support of my colleagues at Barley Snyder."

Reed is a member of Barley Snyder’s Business Practice Group and chair of its Family Owned Business Practice Group. With three decades of experience, he counsels family-owned and closely held businesses through all stages of growth and transition, often serving as “virtual” general counsel and advising clients on strategic planning, governance, succession planning, ownership transitions and business transactions.

Active in the family business community, Reed is one of the founding members of the S. Dale High Center for Family Business at Elizabethtown College and currently serves as the lead facilitator for the original CEO Peer Group of the High Center. He has also held leadership positions with numerous organizations throughout Lancaster County and beyond, including the Lancaster Alliance, the Lancaster City Revitalization & Improvement Zone Authority (CRIZ) and the Lancaster City Alliance. He currently serves on the boards of The Wenger Group and Farm Fresh Turkey Products.

Barley Snyder's Family Owned Business Practice Group advises privately held businesses, family enterprises, entrepreneurs and organizations on matters ranging from formation and governance to mergers and acquisitions, succession planning and complex business transactions. Learn more here.

About Barley Snyder
Barley Snyder is a law firm based in Pennsylvania with more than 120 attorneys practicing from offices located in Lancaster, York, Reading, Harrisburg, Lebanon, Malvern, Hanover, Gettysburg and Schuylkill Haven, Pa., and Hunt Valley and Columbia, Md. The firm serves businesses, individuals and organizations in all major areas of civil law including business, employment, immigration, employee benefits, finance & creditors' rights, intellectual property, litigation, estate planning and administration, real estate, tax, construction, environment and energy, health care, education, municipal authority, hospitality, senior living, cybersecurity and food and agribusiness.