Overview
Insights
Awards

Barry Abelson represents public and private companies in mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, and public and private offerings of, and investments in, equity and debt securities. Boards of directors, independent board committees, and the senior management of companies rely on Barry for strategic, governance, disclosure, and transactional matters.

Barry serves on the boards of directors of Operation Warm, a nonprofit which distributes new winter coats and shoes to less fortunate children nationally, and Holocaust Music Lost and Found, a nonprofit which focuses on discovering and bringing to life music written in captivity or otherwise during the Holocaust.

Barry received the Judge Learned Hand Award from the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Jewish Committee in recognition of his professional achievements and his dedicated leadership and commitment to the community. He received the Blair Thompson Lifetime Venture Award from the Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance in recognition of his role in furthering the region’s venture capital interests.

Barry is highly ranked as a Senior Statesperson for corporate, M&A, private equity, and securities matters in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America.

Barry is a senior counsel in the firm, and a former chairman of the Executive Committee of Pepper Hamilton.

  • Super Lawyers®: Pennsylvania (2004-2021)
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Corporate Governance Law (2011-2026), Corporate Law (2006-2026), Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2007-2026), Securities/Capital Markets Law (2007-2026)
  • Named Philadelphia Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” for Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2010, 2013, 2019, 2024), Corporate Governance Law (2014), Securities/Capital Markets Law (2011, 2023), and Corporate Law (2009, 2024)
  • Chambers Global: Corporate/M&A, USA Nationwide (2018-2019)
  • Chambers USA: Corporate/M&A and Private Equity and Securities matters, Pennsylvania, “Senior Statesperson” (2021-2025)
  • IFLR1000, M&A (2024)
  • Received the Judge Learned Hand Award from the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Jewish Committee in recognition of his professional achievements and his dedicated leadership and commitment to the community
  • Received the Blair Thompson Lifetime Venture Award from the Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance in recognition of his role in furthering the region’s venture capital interests

Barry Abelson represents public and private companies in mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, and public and private offerings of, and investments in, equity and debt securities. Boards of directors, independent board committees, and the senior management of companies rely on Barry for strategic, governance, disclosure, and transactional matters.

Barry serves on the boards of directors of Operation Warm, a nonprofit which distributes new winter coats and shoes to less fortunate children nationally, and Holocaust Music Lost and Found, a nonprofit which focuses on discovering and bringing to life music written in captivity or otherwise during the Holocaust.

Barry received the Judge Learned Hand Award from the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Jewish Committee in recognition of his professional achievements and his dedicated leadership and commitment to the community. He received the Blair Thompson Lifetime Venture Award from the Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance in recognition of his role in furthering the region’s venture capital interests.

Barry is highly ranked as a Senior Statesperson for corporate, M&A, private equity, and securities matters in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America.

Barry is a senior counsel in the firm, and a former chairman of the Executive Committee of Pepper Hamilton.

  • Super Lawyers®: Pennsylvania (2004-2021)
  • Best Lawyers in America®: Corporate Governance Law (2011-2026), Corporate Law (2006-2026), Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2007-2026), Securities/Capital Markets Law (2007-2026)
  • Named Philadelphia Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” for Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2010, 2013, 2019, 2024), Corporate Governance Law (2014), Securities/Capital Markets Law (2011, 2023), and Corporate Law (2009, 2024)
  • Chambers Global: Corporate/M&A, USA Nationwide (2018-2019)
  • Chambers USA: Corporate/M&A and Private Equity and Securities matters, Pennsylvania, “Senior Statesperson” (2021-2025)
  • IFLR1000, M&A (2024)
  • Received the Judge Learned Hand Award from the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Jewish Committee in recognition of his professional achievements and his dedicated leadership and commitment to the community
  • Received the Blair Thompson Lifetime Venture Award from the Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance in recognition of his role in furthering the region’s venture capital interests
  • Member, Board of Directors: Operation Warm, 2003-present
  • Member, Board of Directors: Holocaust Music Lost and Found, 2021-present

Education

  • University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 1971, Law Review, Order of the Coif
  • Dartmouth College, B.A., 1968, sociology

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania