Richard Barr focuses his practice on environmental, economic development, real estate, and business law. He possesses significant knowledge regarding the redevelopment of contaminated and obsolete sites by utilizing federal, state, and local incentives.
- Facilitates brownfield development in the presence of environmental roadblocks
- Structures complex brownfield plans, including multiple, layered state and local incentives
- Identifies and pursues tax abatements and other incentives for companies located in Detroit and other communities
- Facilitates site selection and incentives packages for multinational companies seeking Michigan headquarters locations
- Assists clients on development and zoning issues
- Participates in Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy stakeholder groups and outreach efforts
Practice Areas
Representative Matters
- Actively involved in the legislative processes that resulted in the major overhaul of Michigan's primary environmental protection law (known as "Part 201") and the current brownfield incentive programs; served on the Environmental Advisory Rules Committee (established pursuant to Governor Rick Snyder's Executive Order 2011-5) and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Collaborative Stakeholder Initiative
- Negotiated incentive package valued at more than $50 million for multinational company investment in Michigan
- Completed CPA Examination
Education
University of Michigan Law School, J.D.
- cum laude
University of Michigan, B.B.A.
- Accounting
- with high distinction
Admissions
- Michigan
Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2025
- Recognized in practice areas of:
- Economic Development Law, 2010-2024
- Environmental Law, 2010-2024
- Land Use and Zoning Law, 2025
- Detroit Land Use and Zoning Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2025
- Recognized in practice areas of:
- Law Bulletin Media
- Leading Lawyers, Environmental Law, 2017, 2023-2024
- Leading Lawyers, Real Estate Law: Commercial, 2017, 2023-2024
- Leading Lawyers, Tax Law: Business, 2017, 2023-2024
- DBusiness, Top Lawyers, 2010-2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023-2025
- Michigan Super Lawyers, 2006-2019
- Named as one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers, 2008 and 2009
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
- Beta Gamma Sigma, 1978-present
Professional & Community Involvement
- State Bar of Michigan
- Environmental Law Section
- Real Property Law Section
- Business Law Section
- State of Michigan Office of Regulatory Reinvention
- Environmental Advisory Rules Committee, 2011-present
- Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
- Collaborative Stakeholder Initiative, 2012-2014
- Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Environmental & Energy Policy Committee
- Michigan Manufacturers Association
- Environmental Policy Committee
- Yad Ezra (Food Pantry)
- Director, 1991-present
- President, 1994-1995
- Adat Shalom Synagogue
- Board of Trustees, 2014-present
News
- Media |
- Media |
- Media |
- Media |
- Media |
- Media |
- Kenneth C. Gold, S. Lee Johnson and Richard A. Barr are featured as blog authors in the Oakland County Legal News article “Firm Launches Environmental Law Blog”Media |
- Richard A. Barr quoted in Crain’s Detroit Business article "Bill may boost brownfields"Media |
- Richard A. Barr quoted in The Detroit Free Press article “Experts divided on Michigan’s economic development strategy of reducing tax breaks”Media |
- Media |
- Richard A. Barr quoted in Crain’s Detroit Business article “Snyder’s bet: Will lower taxes trump lost incentives?”Media |
- Media |
- Honigman mentioned as a survey sponsor and Richard A. Barr quoted in Crain’s Detroit Business article “Snyder brightens biz outlooks -- Survey: 75% expect he’ll have positive impact”Media |
- Richard A. Barr quoted in Crain's Detroit Business article "CAPITOL BRIEFINGS: Clock ticks down on start of higher UI taxes"Media |
- Media |
- Honigman recognized for their American Bar Association honor in the Crain's Detroit Business article "Green teams: Groups formed to reduce energy use"Media |
- Honigman's Richard A. Barr and Kenneth C. Gold quoted in the Crain's Detroit Business article "Green teams: Groups formed to reduce energy use"Media |
Press Releases
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Events
- Continuing Education Program for Licensed Real Estate ProfessionalsEvent | 2016 and 2017 | Presenter on incentives issues
- Planning for Your Personal Property Tax ExemptionEvent | Webinar | | Michigan Manufacturers Association | Co-presenter
- Environmental Legal Aspects of Plant DecommissioningEvent | Troy, MI | | Presenter
- Tax Incentives to Enhance Facility Reuse and ValueEvent | Troy, MI | | Presenter
- Making Brownfield Redevelopment Work During Tough Economic Times: Leveraging Michigan Brownfield Incentives with Other Development IncentivesEvent | Detroit, MI | | Air & Waste Management Association | Co-presenter
- Driving Environmental ProgressEvent | Detroit, MI | | The Air & Waste Management Association's 102nd Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE) | Participant
- Tax Credits and IncentivesEvent | Grand Rapids, MI |
- Event | Novi, MI |
- Leveraging Michigan's Brownfield Incentives with Other Development IncentivesEvent | Detroit, Michigan |
- Current Status of Michigan Brownfield Redevelopment IncentivesEvent | February 5-6, 2008 | Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Seminar
- Honigman SBT Replacement Tax SeminarEvent | Novi, MI | | Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
- All Appropriate Inquiry SeminarEvent |
- Making Your Development Work: Redeveloping Brownfields and Greyfields into GoldfieldsEvent |
- Brownfields 2003Event |
- Proposed Part 201 RulesEvent |
- Banking Institution In-House Brownfield/Environmental TrainingEvent |
- Understanding and Using Tools and Incentive for Brownfield RedevelopmentEvent | | Central Macomb County Chamber of Commerce
- Brownfield Financing and Incentives: Tricks, Traps and Surprises from Early Applications of Acts 381 and 382 to Brownfield DevelopmentsEvent | | Michigan Economic Developers Association
- Cleanup Criteria and Due Care Requirements for Contaminated PropertyEvent |
- An Insider's View of the Redevelopment of Detroit, Environmental IssuesEvent |
- Beyond RBCA - Hot Tips on UST SitesEvent |
- Environmental Issues in Real Property ValuationEvent | 1996-1997
- Practical Solutions to Complicated ProblemsEvent | October 27-28, 1995 | State Bar of Michigan Environmental Law Section Conference
- Environmental Issues in Real Property ValuationEvent | | Wayne County Association of Assessing Officers
- New Michigan Environmental Clean-Up Legislation: Liability, Remediation and Real Estate TransfersEvent | | State Bar of Michigan Environmental Law Section and The Institute of Continuing Legal Education
- Overview of Changes to Former Act 307Event | | Michigan Development Finance Association
- How to Take Advantage of Recent Changes in Michigan's Contaminated Site and UST Closure LawsEvent | | Techna Corporation
- Sharing and Shifting Environmental Liabilities and CostsEvent | June 23, 1995 and June 8, 1995 | State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section and The Institute of Continuing Legal Education
- Current Michigan Environmental IssuesEvent | | Oakland County Bar Association Business Law Section
- Environmental Challenges and Opportunities for Municipal OfficialsEvent | | Wayne County Association of Assessing Officers
- Building On Environmentally Impacted Land: Where Are The Hurdles, What's Been Successful, How Can You Win?Event | | Michigan Housing Council
- Financial Incentives for Brownfield and Other RedevelopmentEvent |
Alerts
Publications
- Chapter 37 (Michigan)Publication | Implementing Institutional Controls at Brownfields and Other Contaminated Sites, American Bar Association, Second Edition |
- Publication | State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Bar Journal, Volume 88, No. 10, P. 32 |
- Publication | State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Real Property Review |
- Deed Restrictions and Institutional Controls in MichiganPublication | Implementing Institutional Controls at Brownfields and Other Contaminated Sites, American Bar Association |
- Brownfield RevitalizationPublication | Michigan Bar Journal |
- Brownfield Case Study-Southeast Oakland County, MichiganPublication | The Michigan Environmental Professional |
- The 2000 Brownfield Amendments: How to Turn Contaminated, Blighted or Obsolete Property into Successful Brownfield Redevelopment ProjectsPublication | State Bar of Michigan, Real Property Law Section Michigan Real Property Review | Winter 2000