William P. Barr

Who is William P. Barr?

William P. Barr is executive vice president and general counsel of Verizon, a position he has held since the companys formation in 2000. Barr began working in telecommunications in 1994, when he joined GTE as executive vice president of government and regulatory advocacy, general counsel. He served in that capacity from 1994 until GTE merged with Bell Atlantic to become Verizon in June, 2000.Prior to his work in the telecommunications industry, Barr was attorney general of the United States under President George Bush, was on the White House Domestic Policy Staff under President Reagan, and served in the Central Intelligence Agency. He started with the Department of Justice as assistant attorney general in charge of the Office of Legal Counsel in 1989, and then served as deputy attorney general before his appointment as attorney general in November 1991. Barr started his legal career as law clerk to Judge Malcolm Wilkey of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. In 1978, Barr joined the law firm of Shaw, Pittman, Potts Trowbridge law firm in Washington, D.C. as an associate. From 1982 to 1983 he served on the White House Domestic Policy Staff under President Reagan, and then returned to the firm where he practiced as a partner until 1989.Barr received a bachelor's degree in government in 1971 and a master's degree in government and Chinese studies in 1973 from Columbia University. He received his juris doctor degree with highest honors from George Washington University in 1977.