Barend graduated in 1994 at the University of Pretoria and began his career as an examiner at the Pretoria Deeds Office. In 1999, Barend was promoted to Senior Examiner having already obtained three merit A awards.

Barend was involved in the training of, and assistance to, the personnel for the commission for Land Restitution. He also headed the Sectional Title, Information and other administrative departments in the Deeds Office. He was involved in streamlining the process for the registration of properties in the former TBVC-Homelands and became an expert in the application of the laws of succession in respect of estate properties.

In 2006 Barend served his articles at Strydom Britz Mohulatsi Attorneys, and it came to no one’s surprise that, after one year of employment, he was appointed as Head of Estate Transfers and Correspondents section within the Strydom Britz Conveyancing Department. Barend is an expert in township and sectional title developments and has assisted local authorities in drafting their conditions of establishment for township development.