© 2016 The Texas Lawbook.
By Patricia Baldwin
As one of his colleagues notes, Tom Barber is a “true subject matter expert” when it comes to details and complicated construction law. So it was only natural for him to analyze his survival chances after lung cancer surgery in 2009. They were “not terribly favorable,” the shareholder at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr in Houston recalls.
“I decided to slow down and smell the roses.”
On the professional side of life, Barber downsized his legal practice by transferring clients to other attorneys.
On a personal level, he began training for triathlons to inspire others and to honor three family members who had succumbed to lung cancer.
Then something unexpected happened: He didn’t die.
Since then, the 61-year-old has done a lot of living.
A little more than year ago, he joined Munsch Hardt to expand the firm’s footprint in construction law.
He remains active in the construction bar, serving as chair of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and president of the Texas Construction Law Foundation. In 2014, he was named Houston Construction Law’s “Lawyer of the Year.”
And he continues to beat the odds against deadly diagnoses.
Three years ago, he had surgery for melanoma. His most recent checkup showed that the disease had not spread.
“There are very few survivors of lung cancer and melanoma,” he says as he marks the passage of another annual Lung Cancer Awareness Month. “I’m about the luckiest guy on the planet.”
And, as he re-builds his legal practice, he’s also become one of the busiest.
Barber has been involved with many local construction projects, such as Sugar Land’s Constellation Field and the soon-to-open Smart Financial Centre, an $84 million indoor performance venue.
He’s also advising a conglomerate of water authorities, which are partnering with the City of Houston to expand the Northeast Water Purification Plant. The $1.3 billion project is the largest progressive design-build project of its kind presently underway in the United States.
Barber’s practice focuses on representing public and private owners and general contractors, with an emphasis on the preparation of project design and construction documentation, complex construction case workouts, and lien and bond claim prosecution and defense.
Ben Wheatley, a shareholder in the Munsch Hardt Austin office, says Barber is a “true subject matter expert whose practice is much more technical than 99 percent of the lawyers out there who say they practice construction law.”
Wheatley describes Barber as a “natural teacher and mentor,” adding that he has been very active working with the firm’s younger lawyers to teach them about complex construction contract language, liens, surety bonds and project workout.
“Tom has been very energized about the opportunity to market his skills internally to other Munsch lawyers – we have a huge real estate practice – as well as to existing and potential clients,” Wheatley says. “Tom has thrown himself into the task of helping our firm build our construction brand, our ability to deliver construction services out of all three firm offices and expanding our construction presence in the marketplace.”
Barber acknowledges that he enjoys the role of mentor and says he’s gratified that the law firm sees value in his ability to recruit new attorneys and develop business.
He also prioritizes time for a volunteer network at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, which counsels new cancer patients and survivors. He’s a frequent speaker at both legal meetings and cancer causes, such as the recent Lung Love Walk Houston.
He still donates his triathlon keepsakes, such as swimmers’ caps and runners’ bibs, to M.D. Anderson where they are displayed with a simple message: Anything is possible.
And, when asked, Barber is quick with “multi-faceted” advice to cancer patients.
“My first advice is: Do not give up hope. You can survive. I’m living proof.”
The second nugget: “If you don’t believe in something, start.”
Next: “Do something to impact your outcome. Walk around the block. Do some activity to keep your body ready to fight the disease.”
Finally, he reassures patients, “You can live a wonderful life. It can be really, really good.”
Mark Carden, executive pastor of Clear Creek Community Church, first sought legal advice from Barber as the church grew from a start-up to three campuses in Clear Lake, Friendswood and League City. The two subsequently became friends.
“It was encouraging for me to see how he dealt with a seemingly devastating lung cancer diagnosis,” Carden notes. “He never gave up, but constantly drew on his faith.”
The pastor suggests that Barber’s healing means his work on earth is not yet done.
Barber agrees: “I’m a believer. I don’t think this result is possible except from a greater force.”
Do you have a special avocation, hobby or other lifestyle interest to share? Please email patricia.baldwin@texaslawbook.net.
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