Bernard R. “Robin” Baker III, Esq.

Bernard R. “Robin” Baker III, Esq. is a director emeritus of Premier Title Company. He is also of counsel to the law firm of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A.

Law Practice Areas

  • Private Clubs

  • Golf and Amenities, Master-Planned Community Development

  • Club Membership Plans

  • Real Estate Development and Finance

Education

  • Case Western Reserve University, J.D., 1972

  • University of Toledo, B.A., 1969

Civic and Community Service

  • Palm Beach County Association for Retarded Citizens

    • President, 1984
    • Director, 1979-84

  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, director, 2000-01

  • Palm Beach Civic Association Transportation Committee Member, 2006-07

  • Palm Beach Board of Realtors Education Committee Member, 2007-10, 2017-present

  • Palm Beach Sailing Club

    • Commodore, 1979 and 2000-01
    • Director, 2001-08

  • World Affairs Council of the Florida Palm Beaches,

    • Director, 2009-10
    • Vice President, 2010

Seminars and Presentations (partial listing)

  • “Ask the Experts: Golf and Golf Communities,” The Urban Land Institute,

    • Charleston, SC, 2001
    • Scottsdale, AZ, 2000
    • Washington, DC, 1999

  • “Development Decisions and Golf Course Positioning—The Legal Angles,” Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, MA, 1996-1999

  • “Global Leisure Development,” South African Property Owners Association, Sun City, South Africa, 1997

  • “Breaking the Mold: Innovative Golf Marketing Concepts,” The Urban Land Institute, Napa Valley, CA, Moderator, 1996

  • “The Earth is Flat, My Advertising is Working and Other Erroneous Assumptions,” The Urban  Land Institute, Cleveland, OH, Moderator, 1996

  • “Raise More Money from Memberships,” Crittenden Golf Inc. Expo, Atlanta, GA, and Monterey,  CA, 1994

  • “Maximizing Your Return From Membership Sales,” Crittenden Golf Inc Expo, Nashville, TN, 1993

  • “New Trends In Club Membership Programs,” Institute for International Research Golf Course Development, Financing and Operations Conference, Orlando, FL, 1992

  • “Designing a Membership Plan,” Golf Course Europe ‘90, Paris, France, 1990

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • The Florida Bar, admitted 1976

  • Ohio Bar, admitted 1972

  • Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Bar Grievance Committee Member, 1981-86
    (vice chair, 1984-85)

  • United States Tax Court, admitted 1972

  • National Golf Foundation, Sponsor member

  • National Club Association, Director 2011 – 2014

  • Urban Land Institute

    • Community Development Council,
      • Blue Flight, Vice-Chair, 1995-2001
      • International Council, member, 1995-96
      • Program Committee, member, 1997-2002

  • American Bar Association

    • Corporation, Banking and Business Law Section
    • Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section

  • Palm Beach County Bar Association

Honors

  • Florida Bar President’s Award for Meritorious Public Service – 1985

  • AV Rated (means that his legal ability and ethical standards are very high to preeminent) as independently determined by Martindale-Hubbell

  • Appointed permanent member of faculty of Harvard University School of Design, 1998.

Publications (partial listing)

  • “Membership Law,” The Legal Reference Guide for Private Clubs, National Club Association, Washington, D.C., 2010, Contributing Author

  • “Joining the Club,” Florida Trend Magazine, 1998

  • “Private Clubs Tee Up To Remedy Discriminatory Practices,” The Club Marketing Report, 1995

  • “Club Memberships and Real Estate Sales: Resolving the Tensions Between Marketability and Flexibility,” Golf Development Magazine, 1992

  • “International Memberships: New Capital Markets for Golf Projects?” Urban Land 24, 1991

  • “Equity Membership Plan Concepts,” “Membership Plan Concepts/Non-Equity or Annual Programs,” and “Equity Clubs – Maximizing the Value of Golf and County Club Amenities,” National Golf Foundation Executive Summaries, National Golf Foundation, 1990

  • “A Tax-Wise Equity Club Structure”, Urban Land 23, 1990, Co-Author; “New Equity Club Structure Improves Cash Flow,” Land Development 21, 1990

  • “New Equity Structure Improves Cash Flow,” 2 Golf Course News 29, 1990.