Rich represents employers exclusively, including in collective bargaining; the litigation of labor claims before the courts, the National Labor Relations Board and arbitral forums; the defense of employment and wage and hour actions; and counseling concerning the labor and employment law implications of corporate restructuring.
As a nationally recognized lawyer, Rich is a fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Rich has been selected for inclusion in Kentucky Super Lawyers® since 2007, in the “Top 10 Attorneys in Kentucky” every year between 2011 and 2017 and received the most votes of any Kentucky lawyer in the 2012 and 2016 Kentucky Super Lawyers® surveys. Rich has been included in The Best Lawyers in America© since 2003. He is consistently ranked first-tier in Chambers USA® for labor and employment law practitioners. Rich served on the leadership council of the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section from 2006 to 2014.
Rich has edited the Kentucky Employment Law Letter since 1989 and written and presented extensively on the National Labor Relations Board and collective bargaining.
“Richard Cleary ably represents employers in a range of matters including significant discrimination and wage and hour litigation. He also is ‘very well regarded by peers’ for his experience handling collective bargaining matters.” – 2018
“Clients ‘always love’ Richard Cleary, an ‘outstanding’ traditional labor attorney who is praised for his handling of collective bargaining agreement negotiations. Commentators say: ‘He is really helpful for negotiations, he is very client service oriented, he is collaborative and he is creative.’” – 2017
“Richard Cleary is known for his representation of employers in a range of disputes including employment defense and wage and hour actions. He is also experienced in counseling employers on the legal effects of corporate restructuring.” – 2016
“The highly regarded and ‘proactive’ Richard Cleary has been labeled ‘first class’ by clients and is seen as an ‘incredible business partner’.” – 2014
“Described by clients as a ‘pragmatic…attorney with top notch knowledge, Cleary acts exclusively for employers defending a wide variety of claims including wage and hour collective bargaining and labor and employment aspects of corporate restructuring’.” – 2011
“Richard is a gifted practitioner who is servant oriented and professional at all times. He is the genuine article who always delivers the goods. I have worked with Mr. Cleary on a variety of labor and employment issues for over a decade. He is a skilled negotiator in collective bargaining and a superior litigator before the NLRB, the courts, and in appellate work. His briefs are always clear and right on the mark. He has a gift for instantly recalling case names and decisions, as well as detailed facts of cases he is handling. He is very intelligent, straightforward, honest, and cost conscious. He has never missed a deadline and is a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend him.” – Associate General Counsel, national logistics company
“Richard Cleary is extremely bright, capable, and responsive. He is one of the best outside counsel that I have ever worked with. He has represented every company for which I have worked throughout my career due to his fabulous expertise and representation.” – Associate General Counsel, international hotel franchisor
“I have had the honor of working with Rich Cleary on multiple labor negotiations and other labor/management issues. During my 20 years in human resources, I have never met an attorney or any other professional with more class or expertise than Rich. Rich is an exceptional attorney, but that is not what makes him different from others like him. His trust, integrity, and ability to communicate at all levels of management and genuine concern and respect for all individuals are only a few of the traits that set him apart. As an attorney, he represents his firm and clients with a passion and he is well respected by both sides of the table. His ability to understand situations, prepare himself and witnesses, and present our position is truly exceptional. Rich truly is one of the best.” – VPHR, major metals producer
Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1981
Washington and Lee University, B.A., Economics, 1978, cum laude
Kentucky, 1981
District of Columbia, 2021
United States Supreme Court, 1990
United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, 1981
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1983
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, 1989
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1993
College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Fellow
Selected for inclusion in Kentucky Super Lawyers®, 2007-2024
“Top 10 Attorneys in Kentucky”, Kentucky Super Lawyers®, 2011-2017 (Top vote recipient in 2012 and 2016)
“Top 50 Attorneys in Kentucky”, Kentucky Super Lawyers®, 2007-2021
Chambers USA, Labor and Employment, 2003-2024
The Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law – Management, 2003-2016; Labor Law – Management, 2011-2025; Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2021-2025
The International Who’s Who of Management Labour and Employment Lawyers, Who’s Who Legal, 2007-present
The International Who’s Who of Management Labour and Employment Lawyers, Who’s Who Legal, 2007-present
Employers Counsel Network, Kentucky representative, 1989-present
American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section, Council Member, 2006-2014
NLRB Region 9 Practice and Procedure Committee, Member, 2002-2008
American Bar Association, Co-Chair (Management), Committee on the Development of the Law Under the National Labor Relations Act, Labor and Employment Law Section, 1999-2002
American Bar Association, Program Co-Chair (Management), Committee on the Development of the Law Under the NLRA, 1996-1999
Kentucky Bar Association
Louisville Bar Association, Member; Former Chair, Labor and Employment Law Section
Pendennis Club, Board of Directors, Secretary and Member of Executive Committee, 2021-present
Ethics Committee, City of Indian Hills, Kentucky 2019-present
River Valley Club, President of Board 2013-2017; Board of Directors 2011-2019; 2021-present
Altar Server, Cathedral of the Assumption
University of Louisville Labor-Management Center Advisory Board, Co-Chair, 2008-2011
2008 Ryder Cup, Governor’s Advisory Board
Washington and Lee University, Parents Council, Member, 2005-2009
Kentucky Country Day School, Athletic Boosters Club, President, 2006-2007
Lawyers Club, President, 2005-2006
Washington and Lee University, National Alumni Board, 1997-2001
American Heart Association, Louisville Chapter Board of Directors, 1996-2001
Georgetown University Law Center, National Alumni Board, 1992-1996
Leadership Louisville, 1990-1991
The Denbarr Club
Federalist Society Chapter
Executive Committee, Member
“NLRB Kicks Workplace Civility, Consistent Treatment, and EEO Laws to the Curb,” Co-author, Employee Benefit Plan Review, May 2023
November 20, 2024 | Publications
Well, here we go again. On November 13, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board), in Amazo...
November 13, 2024 | Publications
Discarding a near-40-year precedent, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) issued Siren...
August 2, 2024 | Publications
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has adopted a new rule reducing employee free choice over ...
September 1, 2023 | Publications
The NLRB will force more employers to bargain with unions based upon signed union cards rather than ...
August 11, 2023 | Publications
On August 2, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or “Board”) issued its long anticipated de...
June 20, 2023 | Publications
In a highly anticipated, but not surprising, decision issued on June 13, 2023, the National Labor Re...
June 5, 2023 | Publications
On May 30, the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) General Counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, issued M...
May 15, 2023 | Publications
This article was republished in the Employee Benefit Plan Review. Are union supporters and others co...
March 23, 2023 | Publications
As predicted in our February, 24 advisory, the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Boar...
February 24, 2023 | Publications
Non-disparagement and confidentiality clauses are standard language in most severance agreements. Wh...
September 21, 2022 | Publications
During the Labor Day week, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “Board”) announced ...
December 3, 2020 | Publications
With the election in the rearview mirror, it is time to brace for potential changes to the National ...
July 23, 2020 | Publications
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently modified its standard for dealing with abusive co...
April 6, 2020 | Coronavirus Response Team
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised many labor issues for employers dealing with their workforces. Stat...