Frederick Martin "Fred" Baron (June 20, 1947 – October 30, 2008[1]) was an American trial lawyer best known for representing plaintiffs claiming toxic and chemical exposure.

Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Fred spent his early years in Rock Island, Illinois until Baron and his mother moved to Smithville, Texas when he was fifteen.

As a young lawyer in 1975, Baron became a pioneer in the application of strict liability causes of action in asbestos litigation using the then-recently adopted Restatement Second of Torts Section 402a.

[5] One academic estimated that Baron & Budd, along with Ness Motley, was one of two firms responsible for half of the hundreds of thousands of asbestos litigation claimants in the country.

Most clients resided in the West Dallas public housing complex that was located directly in the path of the prevailing southerly winds that had blown lead particles released in the air by RSR Corp. into the lives of the children in the neighborhood.

[10] Baron was an active figure in politics as a prominent fund-raiser for the Democratic Party and fellow trial lawyer, Sen. John Edwards.