Richard H. Bauch, a founding member of BAUCH ZUCKER HATFIELD LLC, limits his practice to the representation of management in labor, employment, civil rights and education law matters.

Mr. Bauch has successfully represented both private and public employers in numerous labor and employment law cases including race, sex, age, disability and military veterans discrimination and harassment cases, as well as in whistleblower and alleged retaliation cases in the state and federal court systems at the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Bauch also practices before the National Labor Relations Board and New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission, representing or defending management in a variety of traditional labor law matters including union representation elections, unfair labor practice matters, and grievance and interest arbitrations.

Mr. Bauch also regularly practices before various administrative agencies including the State Department of Personnel (formerly Civil Service Commission), U.S. and N.J. Departments of Labor, U.S. Office of Civil Rights, N.J. Division on Civil Rights, U.S. and State Departments of Education, N.J. Office of Administrative Law and N.J. Division of Pensions regarding a variety of labor, employment, civil rights and education law matters, including civil service disciplinary and appointment appeals, tenure dismissals, school finance disputes, discrimination and harassment charges, wage and hour audits and complaints, first amendment complaints, family and medical leave complaints, as well as denials of disability pensions.

He regularly serves as chief spokesperson or consultant for management during collective bargaining. He has consulted in management’s preparation for and response to union strikes and job actions. In this role he has been responsible for preparing management’s strike manual, training supervisors in documenting strike misconduct and handling security situations and litigating in State and Federal courts obtaining back-to-work orders and sanctions against unions, union officers and employees.

Mr. Bauch has been recognized as one of New Jersey’s top labor and employment lawyers, being selected in 2005 and 2006 by New Jersey Monthly and Law & Politics magazine as one of New Jersey’s “Super Lawyers”* in the Labor and Employment category.

He frequently is requested by clients to provide in-service training to management and supervisory staffs on emerging labor relations, personnel, and education law topics and presents to numerous organizations including the National Business Institute, Industrial Relations Research Association, Metropolitan Arbitration Group, New Jersey School Boards Association, and New Jersey Association of School Administrators. He has served as a labor relations instructor in Rutgers University's continuing education course on collective bargaining in the private sector and in the University’s program for certification of municipal attorneys. He also serves as an internal investigator in response to workplace misconduct and harassment complaints.

Mr. Bauch has been involved in significant litigation fighting for the rights of employers. In 1993, Mr. Bauch successfully argued on behalf of the board of education before the New Jersey Supreme Court in the landmark tenure case of Dennery v. Passaic County Regional High School District Board of Education, in which he also served as trial counsel. Mr. Bauch is the author of "Nelson v. Old Bridge Board of Education: A Brief Detour on the Administrative and Supervisory Tenure Road," NJASA Perspective, Vol. XIII, No. 1, p.19 (1996). Mr. Bauch formerly served as President of the New Jersey Association of School Attorneys (2002-2004) and currently is a Trustee in that organization.

Prior to co-founding BAUCH ZUCKER HATFIELD LLC, Mr. Bauch was an associate (1989-1993), partner (1993-1998) and name partner (1998-2000) in DeMaria, Ellis & Bauch, LLC, a labor, employment and education law boutique in Newark, New Jersey. He was an equity partner in Schenck, Price, Smith & King, LLP, a 75-attorney general practice law firm in Morristown, New Jersey from 2000-2008, exclusively representing management in labor, employment, education, and civil rights matters.

Before commencing his legal education, Mr. Bauch served as a reading specialist in a large urban school system, as well as Educational Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County, Inc. (1979-81). He also was a founding member and Vice President of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Hudson County, Inc. (1984-1987).

When not practicing law, Mr. Bauch is a competitive road cyclist who has raced throughout North America and Europe in events ranging from 15 to over 100 miles, including the United States Masters Cycling Championships in Park City, Utah, the Coupe des Ameriques (North American Masters Championships) at Mont Sutton, Quebec, the Ciclolonga di Campitello Matese and the Ciclolonga di Capracotta in Molise, Italy. During 2005 he was ranked as the No. 1 cyclist in New Jersey in the masters category by the United States Cycling Federation. He lives with his wife Lisa, their daughters Lauren and Anna, and their dog, Phil, in Tewksbury Township, New Jersey in Hunterdon County.

* The “Super Lawyer” designation is a peer rating based upon a survey of members of the New Jersey bar using criteria identified at www.superlawyers.com ®. It is not a state certification.