Harry C. Beatty

Practice Areas


J.D., Harvard Law School, 1976
B.A., cum laude, Colgate University, 1973
HCB@KBG-law.com

Biography

A founding partner of Kent, Beatty & Gordon, Harry has been practicing law for more than thirty years. He began his career at a major New York-based firm and then spent eight years at Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc., ultimately as Corporate Counsel and assistant secretary.

At Seagram, Harry's responsibilities included legal matters affecting the consolidated Seagram group throughout the world, including structuring transactions and ventures, and handling SEC and treasury issues, employee relations and benefits, and real estate issues related to the landmarked Seagram Building and other Seagram properties.

Harry's practice today includes the structure, negotiation and closing of sophisticated transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures and ventures both international and national in scope. He has represented clients on diverse transactional matters in Central and South America, Europe and the Far East. Currently he has been handling wine distribution arrangements in China and a power purchase agreement for a client's mine in Peru.

Harry has represented and continues to represent a number of enterprises in the beverage industry, including Royal Crown Cola, Virgin Cola (USA), and the minority owner of Premium Beverages (Seagram Mixers). He has extensive experience with wine and spirits companies, and for over twenty years has served as principal US counsel for Destileria Serrallés, Inc., the oldest rum producer in Puerto Rico. Its Don Q brand historically has been the largest selling rum on the island and its products are distributed throughout the world. Harry also has extensive experience with banking and financial institutions, importers and exporters, and manufacturers and distributors, particularly in the packaging industry.

Harry is an ordained Elder of the Presbyterian Church (USA), a former member of the permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbytery of Newark, and the former President, and a former Chairman of the Finance and the Stewardship Committees, of the First Presbyterian Church of Caldwell, in New Jersey. At Harvard Law School, he was a member of the Board of Student Advisors, an honorary society that ran moot court and other competitions and mentored one-L students. He is an elected member of the Essex County, New Jersey, Republican Committee and Chairman of the municipal committee in his home town. He is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and the American Bar Association, and is admitted to the New York Bar, and in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

"Nothing is more gratifying than helping clients consider ways to maximize commercial opportunities, and then implementing the chosen solution and structure."

Testimonials

Harry represented Seagram when my company purchased their Puerto Rico operations. He was talented and tough, but forthright and fair. When he left Seagram, we wanted him on our side, and we have relied on him ever since.
Felix J. Serrallés, Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Destileria Serrallés, Inc.

Harry has been my go-to guy since 1994, when he engineered and walked us through a very difficult leveraged management buy-out with great success. I feel very protected with Harry on my side. Regardless of the legal issue, I can count on Harry and his team to help us.
Phyllis Cavaliere
METRO Newspaper Advertising Services, Inc.

Being an attorney, I can tell you that there are many firms that can analyze the legal positions but few that can utilize that knowledge and bring about an extremely positive result for the client, which KB&G has done in its representation of us.
Thomas J. Cannon, III, Esq.
Flag Wharf Inc.

KB&G did an excellent job representing us in an extremely complex matter relating not only to asset-based financing in the real estate arena, but also public securities issues. Harry Beatty and Michael Kent were not only absolutely on point on the legal issues, but they were also able to bring about a practical economic solution to our over $50 million problem.
Thomas J. Cannon, III, Esq.
Flag Wharf Inc.

I brought Harry in as General Counsel for several packaging companies which I ran or for which I consulted. He is my lawyer of choice. Harry not only is the preeminent deal lawyer I know, he is a business expert. He is the best business advisor I have in the world.
Jack B. Wielar
Business Consultant (Formerly: DuPont Separation Systems, Georgia Pacific, Norel Paper Company)