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Bar News - September 5, 2003 From Law Practice to the Links By: Lisa Segal Attorney Jay Leonard left traditional practice to work as vice president of a golf management company. THE TALK IN Thomas J. Leonard III’s office used to be about case law and contracts. Now it’s about golf shirts and grass. Although he remains on active status as a member of the NH Bar, Leonard has left private practice behind to work as vice president of Friel Golf Management Company, a family-owned (though not his family) company that owns and operates 13 golf courses across northern New England. Leonard, a third-generation New Hampshire attorney, is now responsible for overseeing Friel Golf Management Co.’s day-to-day business, from the operation of the golf courses to management of the pro shops. From a conference room lined with windows overlooking the lush practice green at Green Meadow Golf Course in Hudson, where Friel Golf Management’s offices are located, Leonard comments that "this isn’t the kind of view you’ll get from your typical law office." Leonard’s career followed a "typical progression," he said. After graduating from Franklin Pierce Law Center, he was admitted to the NH Bar in 1979. He began practicing law in Nashua with his uncle, Richard Leonard (who has since passed away). In 1986, he joined the Nashua firm of Prunier & Leonard (now Prunier, Leonard & Prolman). At first his practice included a wide range of cases, but he eventually narrowed his focus to business law and real estate development. One of the clients whose business and real estate matters Leonard handled was the Friel family. Over 15 years as their attorney, Leonard helped the family grow its golf management company considerably, and, in 1996, the Friels asked him if he’d like to join the company as in-house counsel, to assist with the company’s continued growth. "This opportunity came up and I thought it would be fun to try it. It wasn’t part of my grand plan or anything," said Leonard. Much of Leonard’s work initially involved handling legal matters – he helped to re-organize the business, to purchase and sell golf courses, to buy and lease buildings, he said. After the elder Mr. Friel died, Leonard reorganized the business to be owned by Friel’s three sons. Although he is still in-house counsel for Friel Golf Management Co., Leonard said a "series of things happened" so that his work now focuses more on operations than on legal work. From making sure there is enough merchandise in the pro shops to dealing with employment issues for over 1,000 employees, Leonard’s daily responsibilities vary. Friel Golf owns and operates eight courses in New Hampshire, four in Massachusetts, and one in Rhode Island, so Leonard does a good deal of traveling to the company’s facilities. Most are golf courses with a snack bar or restaurant, but some also have banquet facilities. The company’s offices are located at the 36-hole Green Meadow Golf Course in Hudson, which also features a practice facility and a building that is leased to a golf and ski retailer. Leonard said he doesn’t golf very often, surprisingly – perhaps once a week. He said he used to play quite a bit, and used to be good, but he’s by no means an avid golfer. "My family probably thinks I just come and play golf all day. Lawyers definitely think that’s all I do, but it’s not," he said. In fact, working as vice president of a golf management company and lawyering aren’t all that different, Leonard said. "A legal background is the kind of background that prepares you well for almost any career. It helps you understand process, and you use a lot of the same skills – negotiation skills, being reasonable, understanding different points of view, being able to present your point of view to others," he said. "It was a fairly easy and natural transition from being an attorney to being a business man – except I didn’t grow much grass or buy many [golf] shirts as a lawyer."
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