Colliers Barry was originally named the James T. Barry Co., Inc. and was founded in 1921 by James T. Barry, Sr., who had previously been working in residential real estate.  Thus began what is now one of the most well known and respected commercial real estate firms in Wisconsin.  Focusing on commercial and industrial real estate listings, sales, leases, appraisals, property management, counseling and investment sales, Mr. Barry made his mark on the real estate industry by handling all of the real estate needs for First Wisconsin National Bank of Milwaukee (now U.S. Bank) throughout the Depression years and beyond.

James T. Barry, Jr. joined his father in 1959.  At this time, due to the changing needs of the real estate industry, Jim Barry, Jr. began developing land sites that have evolved into some of Southeastern Wisconsin's largest and most prominent industrial and office parks.  These include the New Berlin Industrial Park, Bishop's Woods and several other parks in the Metro Milwaukee area.

Jim Barry, Sr., retired in 1976, leaving Jim Barry, Jr. to act as company president.  Again adapting to the ever-changing real estate industry, the Barry Company shifted its focus back to brokerage, handling some of the largest, high-profile deals in Southeast Wisconsin.  Successful brokerage of challenging deals has won the Barry Company many prestigious awards and recognitions such as several Commercial Association of REALTORS -- Wisconsin "Deal of the Year" awards and SIOR's "Most Ingenious Inter City Transaction" awards.  The Barry Company has also been recognized by several local and national publications such as Midwest Real Estate News, The Business Journal, CCIM Institute and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

In the late 1980s Colliers Barry joined Colliers International which enabled the firm to represent its clients' interests throughout the United States and abroad.  In 2005, the company changed its name to Colliers Barry.

Colliers Barry has now shifted into its third generation of leadership with James T. Barry III joining the firm in 1993 after working at Foley & Lardner practicing real estate law for several years.  Brothers Kevin and David have also since joined the firm.

Colliers Barry remains one of the smaller commercial real estate firms in Milwaukee with a total of 19 brokers and staff members combined.   Its brokers carry the SIOR, CRE and CCIM designations and hold educational degrees in the areas of law, engineering, business, architecture and commercial real estate.  With its unparalleled record of providing clients with successful results, its many years of experience and its well-known reputation, Colliers Barry is regarded as a leader in the Wisconsin commercial real estate industry.