Gary Barkin

Gary Barkin runs the Barkin Handel Group at Compass. His team offers an elevated level of personalized service to its clients, with an expertise in the purchase, sale, and renovation of luxury homes and investment properties. With Gary's 20+ years as a licensed attorney, his clients also benefit from the negotiation skill and unparalleled attention to detail of a seasoned attorney.

After graduating from Harvard Law School, Gary began his career as an executive at Columbia Pictures and then the William Morris Agency. He then established his own boutique law firm, specializing in the structuring and negotiation of business, entertainment, and real estate transactions.

Gary obtained his real estate broker's license to better serve his legal clients, initially managing property transactions exclusively for his law firm's clientele and colleagues. But as word spread, his real estate business grew. In 2013, Gary established his own real estate brokerage, L.A. Realty & Design, which doubled its sales and revenue in each successive year. In 2016, Gary merged his brokerage into Gibson International, now part of Compass, to provide even greater resources and services to his sophisticated client base.

Over the years, Gary has also purchased, remodeled, leased, and sold multiple rental properties, giving him a thorough understanding of the renovation process and local rental markets. Gary's experience renovating both investment properties and personal residences allows him to provide invaluable advice to buyers, sellers and investors who are considering the purchase or sale of properties in need of updating. Gary has turned several houses into "dream homes" and is always happy to share his insights, vendors, and resources.

Hailing originally from New York, with additional years spent in New England and Australia, Gary has been a Westside resident for more than 25 years and offers well-informed insights into the area's neighborhoods, communities, and schools. In his spare time, Gary enjoys skiing, biking, spending time with his wife and sons, and poking around architectural salvage shops and design showrooms in search of inspiration for his next renovation project.