Lauren Green – Barry’s

When Lauren Green joined Barry’s in 2018, the company was at a turning point. The California-based fitness brand, best known for its high-energy, instructor-led workout classes, was expanding rapidly in the U.S. and abroad. Yet, from a legal standpoint, the infrastructure wasn’t keeping pace with the growth. Barry’s relied heavily on outside counsel, and internally, there was little in place to ensure consistency across policies, procedures, and compliance frameworks.

Lauren Green | Barry’s | General Counsel

Green—having honed her expertise in corporate and employment law—joined the company as in-house counsel and began transforming a reactive, outsourced model into a strategic function embedded in the business. In recognition of that impact, she was promoted today to serve as the company’s first general Counsel, formalizing and leading the department she built, and turning what was once a reactive, outsourced model into a strategic function embedded in the company’s DNA.

“When I arrived, there wasn’t much here from a legal foundation,” she recalls. “I was excited by the challenge of creating something sustainable and impactful.”

Working closely with Greenberg Traurig, Green prioritized immediate needs in privacy, HR, and employment practices—essential for a company with a large non-exempt workforce and studios spanning multiple jurisdictions. Over time, she layered in additional structures around cybersecurity, franchise agreements, and trademarks, creating a blueprint that could evolve alongside Barry’s business model.

Supporting growth with purpose

Founded in 1998, Barry’s—known for decades as Barry’s Bootcamp—pioneered the boutique fitness industry with its unique blend of cardio, strength training, and community-driven culture. Today, Barry’s operates studios worldwide, offering a “Red Room” workout experience that has become iconic in the industry. While new fitness trends emerge every year, Barry’s prides itself on being more than a fad.

“We’ve been around since the ‘90s, and we’ve stood the test of time,” Green says. “There’s something to be said for that legacy.”

That longevity is rooted in consistency, both in the client experience and in operational execution. Green has played a crucial role in protecting that legacy while making sure the company is positioned to grow responsibly. She spearheaded updates to website terms of service, built scalable contract templates, and created a streamlined bonus structure to ensure fairness across the organization. She also introduced internal processes that manage employee expectations and minimize risk, allowing leaders to focus on innovation rather than legal uncertainty.

Her fingerprints were all over the company’s due diligence process during its recent investment from Princeton Equity Group. Green’s preparation reassured investors that Barry’s wasn’t just a beloved fitness brand but a company with strong governance.

“They were impressed with the level of legal diligence we could provide,” she says. “It showed that the foundational work had been done to get us to this point.”

The investment gave Barry’s the resources to accelerate growth, particularly in integrating its UK and Canadian markets, and Green’s legal groundwork was crucial in giving investors the confidence to move forward.

A team of one—plus many others

While Barry’s has grown into a global company, Green remains its only in-house lawyer. That reality brings both challenges and opportunities.

“Everything legally runs through me,” she says, with a wry smile.

On any given day, she might be handling a vendor contract, finalizing franchise agreements, reviewing a new privacy policy, or managing litigation. Her remit includes general corporate law, trademarks, data privacy, employment matters, cybersecurity, and franchise development.

Managing this broad portfolio requires efficiency and collaboration. Green partners closely with Barry’s People and Culture team, ensuring compliance and clarity for the company’s large non-exempt workforce. She also coordinates with outside counsel when specialized expertise is required, balancing bandwidth and budget while staying deeply engaged in strategy. Over the years, she has built strong working relationships with firms like Greenberg Traurig and Akin Gump, ensuring seamless handoffs where necessary.

Her work is evident in franchise expansion. While Barry’s corporate team directly owns and operates most U.S. studios, the company has pursued international growth through franchising. Green ensures that franchise agreements are airtight, trademarks are protected in emerging markets, and local partners align with Barry’s values.

“We want to scale while protecting the brand,” she explains. “That means getting ahead of trademark filings and ensuring every agreement reflects who we are.”

COVID-19 tested both the company and its legal function. Studio closures and evolving regulations required swift adjustments to employment policies, privacy practices, and safety protocols. Green’s ability to adapt under pressure reinforced her value to the leadership team. Coming through that period also deepened her commitment to Barry’s.

“I wanted to see us come out on the other side of that challenge,” she says. “Now, we’re there.”

Building on balance

As Barry’s embraces its next phase of growth, Green is focused on efficiency, inclusion, and global expansion. She continues to streamline internal processes, most recently updating and implementing new policies such as employee expense reimbursement, privacy, and cookie policies to reflect evolving international regulations. She has also rolled out a new employee handbook and revamped the website to meet ADA/WCAG accessibility standards. Her leadership was central to fully integrating Barry’s UK and Canadian businesses, ensuring those teams felt supported and connected to the broader Barry’s culture.

“That emphasis on inclusion, both legally and culturally, really speaks to the company’s values,” she notes.

Outside of work, Green models the same commitment to health and balance that Barry’s promotes. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, she makes time for running and fitness, and she instills those habits in her four children. Though Omaha doesn’t yet have a Barry’s studio, she seeks one out whenever she travels.

“Being active has always been part of my life,” she says. “It’s something I want my kids to see and value.”

As for her career, Green remains open to new challenges. She sees managing people as a likely next step, though for now, she enjoys the autonomy of being a legal team of one. She appreciates Barry’s fun, flexible culture—summer Fridays, work-from-anywhere policies, and approachable leadership—and she values the ability to keep growing in her role.

“As long as there’s room for growth and I enjoy the work, I’m happy here,” she says.

Ultimately, Green’s story is about building something lasting. She didn’t just create Barry’s legal department—she embedded a legal mindset into the company’s culture, ensuring that risk management, compliance, and inclusion go hand in hand with business growth. That legacy, much like Barry’s itself, is built to stand the test of time.