Richard (Rich) Bar is the President and Executive Committee member of GKG Law, P.C., where he heads the firm’s Association Practice Group. Rich has been practicing law for nearly 40 years. He serves as general counsel to his for-profit and non-profit clients and advises his clients in all areas of the law, including corporate compliance, corporate governance, non-profit law, antitrust, hotel and convention contracts, corporate transactions, real estate, employment, and intellectual property. In addition, Rich specializes in certification and credentialing. He has counseled several trade and professional organizations with their international expansion, including into Asia, Europe and South America.

Rich’s work demonstrates a keen understanding of his clients’ often complex needs. He is both a legal and strategic advisor, and seamlessly assists clients with both large corporate matters and day-to-day operational issues.

Rich is a noted public speaker and has led presentations for the American Society of Association Executives, Association TRENDS, Institute for Credentialing Excellence, U.S. Transactions Corporation and the American Bar Association. He has authored articles on topics including certification and credentialing, antitrust enforcement, hotel contracts, employment procedures, intellectual property, and board governance and standards.

Rich has taught at Goucher College on the topic of association law, including issues such as hotel and convention contract law. Rich was recognized as one of Washingtonian’s “Washington, D.C. Top Lawyers” and has been named to the Washington, DC Super Lawyers list for Nonprofit Organizations law since 2020.

Rich graduated from Skidmore College in 1983, magna cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received his law degree from the George Washington University National Law Center in 1986.

Rich resides in Delaware and is happily married with four children. Rich played college soccer and was his team’s most valuable player his freshman year. He loves all sports and still plays basketball regularly; he coached youth soccer, baseball and basketball for ten years. Rich is an avid music lover, and, for the past 20 years, he and his family regularly attend the New Orleans Jazz Festival.

Education

  • George Washington University (Juris Doctor, 1986)
  • Skidmore College (B.A., summa cum laude, 1983)
    • Highest Honors
    • Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia, 1987
  • Maryland, 1987

Professional Background

  • Clerk, Honorable Albert Blinder, Supreme Court, New York, 1984

Honors and Publications

  • Named to the Washington, DC Super Lawyers list for Nonprofit Organizations law since 2020
  • Selected as one of Washington, D.C.’s top lawyers by Washingtonian Magazine
  • Published in numerous trade association journals and legal publications, including Association Trends, Bloomberg Law and Law360, with articles relating to accreditation, corporate governance, corporate documentation and management, hotel and convention contracts and antitrust matters

Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association, Business Law Section
  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • Maryland State Bar Association, Real Property Section
  • Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland
  • American Society of Association Executives

Presentations

  • Speaker at Association of Test Publishers
  • Panelist/Lead Instructor for U.S. Transactions Corporation’s Presidential Forum and other events
  • Speaker at Association Trends Seminars
  • Speaker at Certification Institute CEO Summits
  • Speaker and presenter at National Organization for Competency Assurance annual convention
  • Presenter to D.C. Certification Networking Group
  • Speaker at ASAE Annual Meeting for association executives
  • Speaker at NBI corporate and real estate transactional seminars

Civic & Professional Activities

  • Coached youth basketball, baseball and soccer
  • Plays basketball
  • Avid music lover