Judge Byer is a partner in the Pittsburgh Office of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, where he concentrates in appellate practice, civil litigation and administrative law. He was admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1977, following his graduation from the University of Pittsburgh Law School, where he was an editor of the University of Pittsburgh Law Review. He received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh in 1973, and conducted post-graduate studies at Harris Manchester College, Oxford University.

For nine years, Judge Byer was a member of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania's Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee, which he chaired from 1993 through 1998. He is a co-author of Modern Pennsylvania Civil Practice (George T. Bisel Co.) and has authored numerous articles and monographs on various topics. Judge Byer frequently develops, teaches and writes course materials for continuing legal education programs on appellate advocacy, appellate procedure and civil procedure. He has served on the faculty of the National Judicial College, is an Adjunct Professor at Duquesne University School of Law and has lectured at law schools and seminars throughout the United States.

Judge Byer is an elected member of the American Law Institute, which has appointed him to the Members Consultative Groups for the Federal Judicial Code Revision, International Jurisdiction and Judgments Project and Principles and Rules of Transnational Civil Procedure. He is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a former member of the Board of Directors of the American Judicature Society. Judge Byer chaired the Pennsylvania Bar Association Civil Litigation Section from 1989 to 1991, he served in the Pennsylvania Bar Association House of Delegates from 1981-1996, and he has served as a member and officer of numerous professional organizations.

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