Few people have experienced as much in their lifetime as Tommy Baer. Born in Berlin, Germany, a U.S. citizen, he was able to escape Nazi Germany with his parents, settling first in Newport News, Virginia, then Richmond after the war. There he grew up, fighting racial and religious prejudice, and committing himself to community service in gratitude to the country that gave him life and opportunity.

Mr. Baer attended the University of Richmond where he graduated with distinction, elected President of the Senior Class and tapped into four honorary societies, including Phi Beta Kappa. He received his law degree from the Georgetown Law Center where he was a member of the Law Review.  After serving one year as a law clerk to a U.S. District Judge, Mr. Baer was appointed Assistant United States Attorney by Attorney General Robert Kennedy. During his tenure as a federal prosecutor, he was assigned several important cases, including one that is part of the curriculum of ethics courses taught in law schools throughout the country.

In private practice for over 50 years, Mr. Baer has distinguished himself as a respected attorney among his peers, as evidenced by awards of public service from the Virginia State Bar and the Richmond Bar Association. He also served as President of the Henrico County Bar Association and was appointed a Commissioner in Chancery. His practice is a varied one and includes corporations and business law, contracts, family law, personal injury and litigation. He also has an extensive immigration practice.

Mr. Baer’s civic activities are equally extensive. Among them he served as the International President of B'nai B'rith, meeting with the heads of state, ambassadors and other foreign leaders of over 35 countries. Mr. Baer also served for nine years as the Chair of the First Freedom Center, a national organization founded in Richmond to promote the Jeffersonian vision of religious freedom and was elected Honorary Chair. He has also held several gubernatorial appointments, including the State Board of Volunteerism, the State Council of Higher Education, and the Virginia-Israel Commission. For his extraordinary civic service, Mr. Baer has received numerous awards and tributes, among them a commending resolution from the Virginia General Assembly.

Mr. Baer has written a number of Op Ed articles for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and lectures on leadership, the Middle East, international terrorism, and religious freedom.

Most of all, Mr. Baer has a love for the law and treats every client’s case with the attention and importance it deserves. His is a reputation built upon honesty, integrity and competency.

Recent Professional and Civic Positions:

Partner, Canfield Baer, LLP, Richmond, Virginia

Commissioner in Chancery, Henrico County Circuit Court

Member, Virginia-Israel Advisory Board (appointed by Governor of VA)

Board of Directors, World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond

Board of Trustees, Richmond Historic Riverfront Foundation

Board of Directors, Virginia Poverty Law Center

Board of Directors, Brandermill Woods Foundation

Advisory Member, Historic Polegreen Church Foundation

Board of Trustees, First Freedom Center (Past Chair for 10 years)

Board of Governors, B’nai B’rith International (Past International President)

Past Professional and Civic Positions:

Law Clerk, United States District Judge, Oren Lewis, Alexandria, Virginia,
   1963-1964

Assistant United States Attorney (Federal Prosecutor), Eastern District of
   Virginia (Richmond Division), 1964-1967

President, Henrico County Bar Association, 1984-1985

Member, Committee on Professionalism, Richmond Bar Association

Founder, Richmond Criminal Bar Association

Treasurer, Richmond Chapter Federal Bar Association, 1992-1994

Chair, Board of Trustees, First Freedom Center, 2001-2009

International President, B’nai B’rith

Member, University of Richmond Board of Associates

Board Member, Richmond Human Rights Coalition

Member, National Board of HIAS (National immigrant resettlement agency)

Member, Strategic Task Force, Brandermill Community Association

Member, 360 West Corridor Committee
Advisory Board, Tredegar National Civil War Center Foundation

Member, State Council of Higher Education

Chairman, Virginia Department of Volunteerism Advisory Committee

Member, Richmond Ad Hoc Floodwall Gallery Committee

Appointment to State Task Force to Improve Efficiency, Virginia State
   Corporation Commission

Member, Richmond Citizens Community Study To investigate Metropolitan
   Richmond housing conditions and suggest remedial measures

Member, Executive Committee, AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs
   Committee)

Member, Executive Committee, World Zionist Organization

Member, Executive Committee, Jewish National Fund

Founding Member, Religious Leaders Middle East Dialogue

Chairman, Community Relations Committee, Richmond Jewish Federation

Member, Monitoring and Advising Committee, Commonwealth of Virginia Board
   Member, National Conference of Christians and Jews (Richmond
   Chapter)

National Commissioner, Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith

Chairman Virginia Regional Advisory Board, Anti-Defamation League of
   B’nai B’rith

Founding President, Congregation Or Atid (Richmond, Virginia)

Chairman, Richmond Jewish Community Forum Series

Chairman, Richmond Jewish Community Holocaust Commemoration

Board, Richmond Jewish Community Center

Board, Richmond Jewish Community Federation

Contributing Editor, Richmond Jewish News

Chairman of the Board, Oak Hill Country Club

Board Member, Temple Beth El

Professional and Civic Honors and Awards:

Tradition of Excellence Award, Virginia State Bar

Hill-Tucker Public Service Award, Richmond Bar Association

Outstanding Alumnus Award, Omicron Delta Kappa

Humanitarian Award, Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities

Religious Freedom Award, First Freedom Center

Distinguished Alumni Service Award, University of Richmond

Commending Resolution, Virginia General Assembly

Immigration Super Lawyers in Virginia, Richmond Magazine

Legal Elite in Immigration, Virginia Business Magazine

Distinguished Community Service Award, Richmond Jewish Community
   Federation

Chesed Community Service Award, Rudlin Torah Academy

Outstanding Service Award, Congregation Or Atid

Young Leadership Award, Richmond Jewish Community

Young Leadership Award, First Recipient, B’nai B’rith International