Precedent Setter Awards 2021: Aaron Baer

Baer is now a 31-year-old partner in the firm’s corporate group, and he’s worked tirelessly to stamp out these kinds of time-wasting legal procedures. He achieved that goal, in large part, by bringing modern technology into the office. He introduced software for closing transactions, for instance, that made day-long boardroom closings a thing of the past. And in 2018, he completed a secondment at the legal-tech company Diligen, whose software can review contracts for potential legal issues far faster than any human. He then helped Aird & Berlis incorporate the software into its corporate practice. “Aaron is efficient,” says Fiona Brown, a partner at the firm. “He regularly creates processes to complete work better and faster.”

This June, Baer is taking that expertise to Renno & Co., a fast-growing law firm that offers legal services to tech companies and startups. He’s also launching a business called 4L Academy. His plan is to offer a training program on both legal tech and substantive law to summer students, articling students and lawyers in their first five years of practice.

This new venture dovetails with Baer’s long-time commitment to the most junior members of the profession. As a young lawyer, he often felt like he lacked the competence to handle high-stakes assignments on strict deadlines. To assist those in a similar position, he’s been an active mentor at Aird & Berlis. And at Ryerson University — where his wife, Carly Basian, manages the financial- aid department — he hosts weekly mentorship sessions with first-year students at the brand-new law school. He answers questions on practical topics, such as how to conduct a job search or how to prepare for exams. “I’m truly passionate about training,” says Baer. “I’m trying to provide the support I didn’t have when I was a law student.”