IRVIN V. CANTOR
EDUCATION
J.D., University of Virginia: 1978
B.A., University of Virginia: 1975
Attorney Irvin Cantor, founding partner of the Richmond, VA law firm of Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci, has been dedicated to the families of those who have suffered serious injuries or wrongful death since 1979. His work has resulted in more than 2,000 favorable verdicts and settlements for his clients, including more than 500 traumatic brain injury cases. He has recovered more than 50 verdicts and settlements larger than $1 million for his clients. The vast majority of Irv’s cases are referrals from other trial lawyers. Many professionals in the field have asked Irv to represent them in their own injury cases, including attorneys, judges, claims adjusters, and physicians.
Traumatic brain injury cases comprise the largest portion of Irv’s practice. He has successfully handled brain injury cases for over 40 years. He wrote the chapter dealing with legal aspects of brain injury cases for the seminal medical textbook on the subject, Brain Injury Medicine. Irv was featured on the cover of the 2015 Virginia and West Virginia Super Lawyers® magazine, with the cover story featuring Irv’s career in handling brain injury cases. Irv served as chairman of the national legal conference for the Brain Injury Association of America. He is a past president of the Brain Injury Association of Virginia and was the 2010 recipient of the Weinstock Award from BIAV.
Irv has been voted by his peers as one of the Top 10 Lawyers in Virginia in the Super Lawyers® poll every year from 2012-2018. He was one of only 33 members named in Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 2018. He was also voted Plaintiff Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year in Richmond by Best Lawyers in America® in 2014 and 2016, as well as Plaintiff Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year in 2020.
Irv is a past president of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the American Board of Trial Advocates – Virginia Chapter. Irv is the current president of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Foundation.
Irv is a frequent lecturer throughout Virginia and the U.S. to other trial lawyers on numerous subjects, including traumatic brain injuries, truck accident cases, and elements of trial. He is the co-author with
Judge Samuel Johnston of the book, The Art and Science of Mastering the Jury Trial.
Irv is also the founder and president of Jury Impressions, a jury consulting company which, among other
services, arranges mock trials and focus groups for trial lawyers throughout the country. Irv also serves as a mediator and arbitrator in a wide variety of cases dealing with catastrophic injuries and death.
Irv has been married to Karen Cantor for 35 years and they have three sons, Joseph, Jackson, and John.
In his spare time, Irv enjoys playing tennis and golf.
• 1968 – Ball Boy for Arthur Ashe in US Davis Cup match at Byrd Park
• 1968-1969 – Played on State Championship Teams at Thomas Jefferson High School
• 1970 – Played on State Runner-Up Team at Thomas Jefferson High School
• 1971 – Played No.1 for Thomas Jefferson High School -Virginia State High School Champions
• 1971 – Won City 18 and Under Tournament
• 1971 – Won Home Beneficial 18 and Under Tournament
• 1972 – Finalist, Southeastern Open Men’s Tournament - Battery Park
• 1972 – Played Richard Raskind (later became Renee Richards) in tournament in NY
• 1971-1974 – Member UVA Varsity Tennis Team
• 1972-1975 – Summer Employee of RTPA at Byrd Park – ran junior tournaments (City
Tournament, Home Beneficial, Sam Woods) and ran tennis clinics on Richmond public parks in
conjunction with Richmond Parks & Rec Dep’t. (My RTPA job was the best job I ever had)
• Late 1970s – Was Co-Director of City Tournament with Bill Correll
• Late 70’s and early 80’s – Assisted Lou Einwick with Professional Tournament
• 1982 – Served as Legal Counsel and co-promotor for Borg-Connors Exhibition at Richmond
Coliseum
• 1983-1987 – Worked as a Co-Director of World Class, Inc.
o promoted tennis exhibitions with Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, Roscoe Tanner, and others in the US
o put together a professional tennis team for Best Products, including Rodney Harman, Mark Vines, Eliot Teltscher, and Robert Van’t Hof
o promoted Sudafed Open Tournament in Raleigh, NC for junior veteran players, including Ken Rosewall.
• 1992 – Chaired Committee to bring the Davis Cup Finals to the Richmond Coliseum
• 2020-2023 – Working with Mayor’s Office and Parks & Rec Department of the City of Richmond
to revitalize tennis program and build an indoor facility at Byrd Park
• 2022-2023 – Board Member of RTA
• 2023 – Committee member – Tennis Under The Lights
• 2023 – Committee member – Black Tennis Hall of Fame Celebration.
As the Vice President of Liquid, INC, a family owned and operated construction company in Richmond, VA, David has lead in partnership with his father for the past 29 years. With a commitment to leadership, craftsmanship and a desire to keep society moving through quality construction practices, he has maintained a high level of integrity. Through those three ideals, David has encouraged and fostered a culture in Liquid, INC of excellence, integrity and sustainable growth.
Throughout his career, David has lead and participated on several teams and charitable organizations. Most recently, David was the visionary and influencer for the historical re-naming of “Boulevard” a street with no name, to Arthur Ashe Boulevard, after his iconic uncle. He also volunteers for Metro Richmond Tennis Club as an instructor teaching underserved youth tennis.
On the 22nd of June 2019, the day of the street dedication, David founded & launched The O’Brien Foundation, an organization committed to education, athletics, leadership, community development and social justice. Additionally, he serves as a deacon at Fifth Baptist Church, vice president of the Black Business Alliance of Virginia and board member of the Challenge Discovery Project. Additionally, David earned a degree in Finance & Banking from the HBCU Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA as a student athlete.
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