Richard B. Bar
Richard (Rich) Bar is the Chief Financial Officer 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 35 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 was named to the 2020 Washington, DC Super Lawyers list for Nonprofit Organizations law.
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 Maryland 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
- Pennsylvania, 1986
Professional Background
- Clerk, Honorable Albert Blinder, Supreme Court, New York,1984
Honors and Publications
- Named to the 2020 Washington, DC Super Lawyers list for Nonprofit Organizations law
- 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
- Panelist/Lead Instructor for U.S. Transactions Corporation's Presidential Forum and other events
- Annual 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
- George Washington University (Juris Doctor, 1986)
- Skidmore College (B.A., summa cum laude, 1983)
- Highest Honors
- Phi Beta Kappa
- District of Columbia, 1987
- Maryland, 1987
- Pennsylvania, 1986
- Clerk, Honorable Albert Blinder, Supreme Court, New York,1984
- Named to the 2020 Washington, DC Super Lawyers list for Nonprofit Organizations law
- 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
- 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
- Panelist/Lead Instructor for U.S. Transactions Corporation's Presidential Forum and other events
- Annual 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
- Coached youth basketball, baseball and soccer
- Plays basketball
- Avid music lover
- To Sign or Not to Sign: The In Person Event Dilemma
- Assessing and Managing the Inherent Risks to Your Certification Program
- Association/Nonprofit Board of Directors: Governance, Risk Management & Training
- CONFERENCE CANCELED -- Now What?
- To Sign or Not to Sign: The In Person Event Dilemma
- GKG Law's Rich Bar and Katie Meyer Speak at the 2018 Institute for Credentialing Excellence Exchange
- GKG Law's Rich Bar Speaks at the 2018 Association TRENDS' Learnapalooza
- GKG Law’s Rich Bar and Katie Meyer Speak at the 2018 ASAE Association Law Symposium
- Using The Pro-Competitive Benefits Of Industry Standards, Accreditation And Certification Programs To Overcome Antitrust Law Restrictions On Restraining Trade
- Professional Boards, Take Heed
- New Legal Support for Continuing Education Requirements in Certification Programs
- SmileDirect Decision Reveals Antitrust Risk For State Boards
- Trade Groups Face Antitrust Questions In Pandemic Response
- Nonprofit Member Lists May Be Trade Secrets
- Associations Face Damage Control After Canceling Convention Contracts
- Is Your Business Ready For COVID-19?
- Coronavirus Decisions: Hotel and Convention Contracts
- Association Executive 411
- Three Tips to Check Your Data Privacy Hygiene
- GKG Law Report: Current Trends in Credentialing Organizations' Use of Criminal Background Checks
- Certification & Credentialing 411
- UPDATED: The Effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on Tax-Exempt Associations
- Escaping Newly Enacted Socially Controversial Laws
- Hotel Contracts: It's Still A Buyer's Market
- Associations and International Antitrust Enforcement
- U.S. Tax Exempt Organizations Doing Business in China: Three Components for Entering the Chinese Market
- Boards: When Duty Calls
- Remembering the Value of Credentials
- Administering Credentialing Exams under the ADA
- Negotiating A Graceful Departure: Creating A Successful Exit Strategy For Association Executives
- Can a National Credentialing Organization be Sued in All 50 States?
- Hotel Contracts: It's Still a Buyer's Market
- Board Members Must Remember Their Duties
- Non-Compete Agreements ??" Where Are We?
- DOL Seeks Comment on Proposed Rule for Classifying Contractors and Employees
- Six GKG Law Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers
- GKG Law Sponsors Association TRENDS' "Salute to Association Excellence"
- GKG Law’s Rich Bar and Katie Meyer Speak at the 2018 ASAE Association Law Symposium
- Updated: The Effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on Tax-Exempt Associations
- Non-Compete Agreements ??" Where Are We?
- DOL Seeks Comment on Proposed Rule for Classifying Contractors and Employees
- Navigating New Antitrust Snares While Driving Post-COVID Economic Health and Revenue
- No Longer a "Secret": Member Lists Can Be Trade Secrets
- FTC Supports Expanding Advanced Practices Registered Nurses Authority But Raises Antitrust Concerns Over License Board Composition