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Dave Bahr
About Dave
Biography
I have been litigating in the public interest for over twenty-five years and represent plaintiffs in public record and environmental cases throughout the United States. My clients currently range from the largest environmental groups in the country to journalists covering the Columbia River salmon wars to a small non-profit Ohio water district locked in litigation with the DuPont chemical corporation. Before establishing my current practice in 2009, I was a senior staff counsel at the Western Environmental Law Center for six years. Prior to that, I represented clients in federal and state environmental, public records, land use, special education and civil rights litigation throughout the country.
The director of the National Archives and Records Administration recently appointed him to the federal Freedom of Information Act Advisory Committee to help improve the administration of FOIA and to recommend legislative action, policy changes or Executive actions. I am a principal in , an internet project intended to foster greater public access to information possessed by state and federal governments. I received the Sunshine Award in 2001 from Society of Professional Journalists. The Award is presented to individuals and organizations which the Society determines have made a significant contribution to public understanding and education about laws governing open records and meetings and to “recognize outstanding efforts in advocacy under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and state public records laws and personal courage in working to keep public information publicly available.” I was also honored to have been awarded the Kerry L. Rydberg Award for accomplishment in public interest environmental litigation by the 1999 Public Interest Law Conference at the University of Oregon Law School
Practice Areas
4
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
Retainer
Sometimes
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Oregon for 35 years
State: Oregon
Acquired: 1990
No misconduct found
Location
Bahr Law Offices, PC
1035 1/2 Monroe Street, Eugene, OR, 97402
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Dave Bahr's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
2 Client Reviews
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What Clients Mention
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge
Posted by Doug | April 20, 2012 | Environmental and Natural Resources
Great lawyer
I have worked with Dave Bahr for over a decade on a variety of environmental and Freedom Of Information Act legal issues. Dave combines great legal expertise, humility and humor, empowering clients to achieve their goals and to enjoy doing it.
Posted by anonymous | April 17, 2012 | Environmental and Natural Resources
Review of Dave Bahr's handling of our USFS Travel Management Planning case
Dave is handling our organization's litigation of a Forest Service Travel Managment Plan, including NEPA, APA and NFMA claims. The case is nearly completed except for finalizing a remedy order. We are quite happy with Dave and his co-counsels' management of this case.
Dave Bahr's Lawyer Endorsements
"Dave Bahr is an eminent legal scholar and formidable advocate. I have had the opportunity to consult with Dave several times on state and federal public records laws. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the law. You would have a hard time finding a better public interest advocate. He is among the best."
Marilyn Heiken
Environmental and natural resources lawyer | Apr 15
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Dave Bahr is one of the most well respected lawyers in our community. He is also a wonderful father and husband."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer.. Dave does very careful, diligent work in the areas of Freedom of Information Act, public meetings law, and other areas of governmental/administrative law."
"Dave is the go-to attorney in Oregon for handling public records requests to federal and state agencies. He knows how to efficiently get the information for his clients and take agencies to task that fail to comply with the law. I wholeheartedly endorse Dave Bahr as an attorney."
"Dave Bahr demonstrates tremendous knowledge and experience in a wide variety of legal matters. His responses on Avvo are thoughtful, articulate, and accurate. He is a true asset to our legal community. It is my pleasure to endorse him."
"I endorse this lawyer. His responses on AVVO are always on-point and of high quality."
Gregg Stark
Environmental and natural resources lawyer | Jul 23
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. With hundreds of well written and highly accurate answers to consumer questions on Avvo.com and recommendations by clients and attorneys alike, along with a great professional reputation, it is easy to endorse attorney Bahr for his knowledge of the law and willingness to help people understand their rights and obligations. If you have a dispute that could end up in litigation, and his office is anywhere near you, I recommend him to you. A lawyer who knows the law and who cares - that's Dave Bahr."
"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Bahr is an outstanding attorney with an exceptional reputation. He is a strong and zealous advocate for his clients and a credit to the legal profession. I highly recommend his legal services."
"I had the pleasure of working for, and learning from, Dave while he was at WELC. He's an incredibly gifted attorney whom I highly endorse."
Kel McClanahan
Administrative law lawyer
Marianne Dugan
Litigation lawyer
Paul Kampmeier
Environmental and natural resources lawyer
Experience
Honors
2016
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2015
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2014
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2013
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2012
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2011
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2010
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2009
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2008
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2007
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2006
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2005
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2004
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2003
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2002
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2001
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
2001
Profled in Lawyers Weekly USA, Lawyers Weekly USA
2001
Sunshine Award (for public records work), Society of Professional Journalists.
2000
BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell
1999
Kerry L. Rydberg Award, Land, Air, Water at the 1999 Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
1996
"Happening Person", The Eugene Weekly newspaper
Work Experience
2009 - Present
Shareholder, Bahr Law Offices, P.C.
2003 - 2009
Senior Attorney, Western Environmental Law Center
2003 - 2009
Instructor, University Of Oregon Law School - Environmental Law Clinic
2002 - 2003
Shareholder, David Bahr & Associates, P.C.
1994 - 2002
Shareholder, Bahr & Stotter Law Offices, P.C.
1992 - 1993
Attorney, Sorenson Law Offices
1990 - 1992
Managing Attorney, Rainier Legal Services
Associations
2015 - Present
United States District Court for the District of ColumbiaAttorney Member
2009 - Present
Multnomah Bar AssociationAttorney Member
2009 - Present
United States Court of Appeals For the Tenth CircuitAttorney Member
2007 - Present
American Society of Access ProfessionalsAttorney Member
1994 - Present
United States Court of Appeals For the Ninth CircuitAttorney Member
1992 - Present
United States District Court Of OregonAttorney Member
1990 - Present
Oregon State BarAttorney Member
Sample of Legal Cases
Annicelli v. United States Department Of Defense, 1:16-cv-00547-EGS (D.D.C. 2016)
Favorable settlement
Stein v. United States Department of Commerce, 3:15-cv-03510-JST (N.D. Cal. 2016)
Favorable settlement
Alpine Lakes Protection Society et al v. United States Forest Service, Case 2:15-cv-01066-RSL (W.D. Wash. 2016)
Stipulated settlement providing plaintiff all relief requested in complaint
Friends of the Clearwater et al v. United States Forest Service, Case 3:13-cv-00515-EJL, 2015 WL 1119593 (W.D. Wash. 2015)
Win
Sierra Club et al v. Environmental Protection Agency, 75 F.Supp.3d 1125 (N.D.Cal. 2014).
Stipulated settlement providing plaintiff substantially the relief requested in complaint
Heart of Am. Nw. Research Cntr. v. Energy Northwest; Benton Cty.(Wash.) Superior Court No. 11-2-00585-0 (2012)
All relevant non-exempt records to be released pursuant to settlement agreement
Audubon Soc. of Portland v. U.S. Nat'l Res. Conservation Serv., 841 F. Supp. 2d 1182 (D. Or. 2012).
Complete win for Audubon, the court ordered the records to be released
Ctr. for Sierra Nev. Conservation v. U.S. Forest Serv., 832 F. Supp. 2d 1138 (E.D. Cal. 2011)
Judge ruled for plaintiffs and closed 42 motorized routes that cross meadows
Hawley v. United States Department of Commerce, et al; 3:10-cv-00140-KI (D. Or 2010)
Negotiated complete release of all records
Sierra Club et al v. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 3:09-cv-05662-MEJ (N.D. Cal. 2010)
Negotiated complete release of all records
Int'l Cntr. For Tech. Assessment v. SW Clean Air Agency; No. 10-2-01010-0 (Clark Cnty. Superior Ct. (Wash.), 2010)
Negotiated complete release of all records
Education
1990
University of Oregon School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1985
University of Wisconsin, Madison
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2016
Public Interest Environmental Law Conferencee
Citizen Use of Public Records Laws
2015
Public Interest Environmental Law Conferencee
Citizen Use of Public Records Laws
2014
Public Interest Environmental Law Conferencee
Citizen Use of Public Records Laws
2013
Public Interest Environmental Law Conferencee
Citizen Use of Public Records Laws
2012
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
A Guide to Using the Freedom of Information Act and State Public Records Laws
2012
Oregon J School Society of Professional Journalists Spring Meeting
The Popular Media's Use of Public Records Laws
2011
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Citizen Use of the Freedom of Information Act
2008
ASAP 2008 Annual Symposium & Training Conference
Intoduction to Common Problems for FOIA requesters outside of DC
2007
ASAP 2007 Annual Symposium & Training Conference
The Requester Community and FOIA
2004
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Citizen Use of the Freedom of Information Act
2003
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Citizen Use of the Freedom of Information Act
2002
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Citizen Use of the Freedom of Information Act
2001
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Citizen Use of the Freedom of Information Act
2001
"Best of CLE"
Fundamentals of FOIA Litigation
2000
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Citizen Use of the Freedom of Information Act
1999
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Citizen Use of the Freedom of Information Act
1998
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Citizen Use of the Freedom of Information Act
1997
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Citizen Use of the Freedom of Information Act
1996
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Citizen Use of the Freedom of Information Act
1995
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Citizen Use of Freedom of Information Act
1994
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Freedom of Information Act
Publications
2015
Oregon Trial Lawyer, Spring 2015
File Share: How to Use Public Records Laws
2005
White Paper
Mining In Oregon: Current Impacts, Future Options
1995
Wildlands CPR
The Road-Ripper’s Guide to the National Parks
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
Do I still have to respond to discovery questions even if the plaintiff's attorney has requested to withdraw as counsel?
12 Sep 2012
Q&A
Can an injunction be filed against the Federal Government:
06 Sep 2012
Q&A
Can a petitioner send a respondent court documents via USPS Certificate of Mailing, Certified Mail with Return Receipt?
05 Sep 2012