Austin P. Anderson

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Associate

Overview

Austin is an associate with Anderson & Kreiger’s Litigation team. He focuses on civil litigation, internal investigations, and government enforcement actions. Austin has worked with both public-sector and private clients in Massachusetts and across the country in areas including constitutional law, land use, contracts, construction, and insurance. Austin has also argued multiple appeals in federal and state court. He has conducted several internal investigations for public and private clients and has served as both an investigator and an adjudicator for Title IX and similar complaints at multiple Boston-area universities. Austin has an active pro bono practice and has worked on matters with organizations including the ACLU, Lawyers for Civil Rights, and the NAACP. Before joining A&K, Austin served as a law clerk to the Hon. Jon D. Levy of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine.

BEYOND THE OFFICE

Austin enjoys spending time with his family, including his two young sons, at home in Roslindale. He is an avid fly fisherman: he once worked as a guide at a lodge in Alaska and planned his law school summer internship at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Missoula, Montana to take advantage of the nearby trout fishing. He also enjoys visiting his extended family in his home state of Maine.

PRACTICE AREAS

Credentials

Education

Harvard Law School, J.D. 2016 cum laude

Yale University, B.A. 2010

Admissions

U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Massachusetts

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Clerkship

Honorable Jon D. Levy, U.S. District Court, District of Maine

Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America©: Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense, Municipal Law, 2022-2025

Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2019-2024

Experience

  • In pro bono matter, briefed and argued complex procedural and substantive issues in federal appeals court on behalf of members of airport commission alleging racial discrimination against State of Mississippi.
  • Prevailed on summary judgment in major preemption case in federal court in California on behalf of large public-sector client.
  • In federal court in Texas, successfully moved to dismiss multi-million dollar lawsuit on jurisdictional grounds.
  • Conducted multiple investigations for higher education clients into allegations of sexual misconduct and race and gender discrimination.
  • At trial in the Superior Court, successfully defended decision of Town board granting permit to construct affordable housing.
  • Conducted review of policies and procedures of Town police department and made presentation to Select Board with recommendations for improving efforts toward equity and inclusion.
  • Successfully avoided indictment of individual client in investigation by federal prosecutors.
  • At trial in the Land Court, successfully defended decision of Town board denying a special permit to private club to develop open space parcel.
  • On behalf of Town client, successfully negotiated agreement with developer of large-scale commercial development to protect against flooding risks.
  • Successfully obtained necessary permits for multiple, large-scale affordable housing developments in Cambridge.
  • In pro bono matter, assisted Greater Boston Legal Services at trial in the Superior Court, successfully overturning decision of City of Boston allowing a development in historic neighborhood that risked damage to neighboring residential properties.
  • In pro bono matter, successfully litigated public records claim for client American Civil Liberties Union against Boston Police Department.
  • On behalf of Town client, successfully negotiated agreement to settle claim of environmental liability.
  • Conducted investigation for public client into allegations of workplace impropriety.
  • On behalf of large corporate client, managed response to subpoena from federal enforcement agency.

Insights

  • Speaker, "Lindke v. Freed and Social Media Use by Municipalities: Applying a New SCOTUS Test for State Action", Strafford Webinars (May 13, 2024)

Austin is an associate with Anderson & Kreiger’s Litigation team. He focuses on civil litigation, internal investigations, and government enforcement actions. Austin has worked with both public-sector and private clients in Massachusetts and across the country in areas including constitutional law, land use, contracts, construction, and insurance. Austin has also argued multiple appeals in federal and state court. He has conducted several internal investigations for public and private clients and has served as both an investigator and an adjudicator for Title IX and similar complaints at multiple Boston-area universities. Austin has an active pro bono practice and has worked on matters with organizations including the ACLU, Lawyers for Civil Rights, and the NAACP. Before joining A&K, Austin served as a law clerk to the Hon. Jon D. Levy of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine.

BEYOND THE OFFICE

Austin enjoys spending time with his family, including his two young sons, at home in Roslindale. He is an avid fly fisherman: he once worked as a guide at a lodge in Alaska and planned his law school summer internship at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Missoula, Montana to take advantage of the nearby trout fishing. He also enjoys visiting his extended family in his home state of Maine.

Education

Harvard Law School, J.D. 2016 cum laude

Yale University, B.A. 2010

Admissions

U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Massachusetts

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Clerkship

Honorable Jon D. Levy, U.S. District Court, District of Maine

The Best Lawyers in America©: Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense, Municipal Law, 2022-2025

Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2019-2024

  • In pro bono matter, briefed and argued complex procedural and substantive issues in federal appeals court on behalf of members of airport commission alleging racial discrimination against State of Mississippi.
  • Prevailed on summary judgment in major preemption case in federal court in California on behalf of large public-sector client.
  • In federal court in Texas, successfully moved to dismiss multi-million dollar lawsuit on jurisdictional grounds.
  • Conducted multiple investigations for higher education clients into allegations of sexual misconduct and race and gender discrimination.
  • At trial in the Superior Court, successfully defended decision of Town board granting permit to construct affordable housing.
  • Conducted review of policies and procedures of Town police department and made presentation to Select Board with recommendations for improving efforts toward equity and inclusion.
  • Successfully avoided indictment of individual client in investigation by federal prosecutors.
  • At trial in the Land Court, successfully defended decision of Town board denying a special permit to private club to develop open space parcel.
  • On behalf of Town client, successfully negotiated agreement with developer of large-scale commercial development to protect against flooding risks.
  • Successfully obtained necessary permits for multiple, large-scale affordable housing developments in Cambridge.
  • In pro bono matter, assisted Greater Boston Legal Services at trial in the Superior Court, successfully overturning decision of City of Boston allowing a development in historic neighborhood that risked damage to neighboring residential properties.
  • In pro bono matter, successfully litigated public records claim for client American Civil Liberties Union against Boston Police Department.
  • On behalf of Town client, successfully negotiated agreement to settle claim of environmental liability.
  • Conducted investigation for public client into allegations of workplace impropriety.
  • On behalf of large corporate client, managed response to subpoena from federal enforcement agency.

News

Publications

Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, "Lindke v. Freed and Social Media Use by Municipalities: Applying a New SCOTUS Test for State Action", Strafford Webinars (May 13, 2024)