Austin P. Anderson

he/him/his (What is this?)

Associate

Overview

Austin is an associate in Anderson & Kreiger’s Litigation team. He works with private and public-sector clients on issues related to public sector law, municipal law, land use and zoning, white collar defense, and internal investigations. He handles zoning and land use litigation for both private and municipal clients, advises public clients regarding state and federal regulations, and conducts investigations relating to employment law, including sexual harassment. Austin has also assisted with pro bono matters with organizations including the ACLU, Lawyers for Civil Rights, and the NAACP. Before joining Anderson & Kreiger, Austin served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Jon D. Levy of the United States District Court for the District of Maine.

BEYOND THE OFFICE

Austin is an avid fly fisherman. He worked as a fishing guide at a lodge in Alaska after college, and spent his summer at the Montana U.S. Attorney’s Office exploring the nearby world-class trout waters. He also enjoys camping and other outdoor activities, as well as brewing beer and traveling.  He likes spending time with his large family in his home state of Maine.

PRACTICE AREAS

Credentials

Education

Harvard Law School, J.D. 2016 cum laude

Yale University, B.A. 2010, Department Honors in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Admissions

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, 2022-2023

The Best Lawyers in America©: Ones to Watch, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2022-2023

The Best Lawyers in America©: Ones to Watch, Municipal Law, 2023

Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2019-2021

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 in Anderson & Kreiger’s Litigation team. He works with private and public-sector clients on issues related to public sector law, municipal law, land use and zoning, white collar defense, and internal investigations. He handles zoning and land use litigation for both private and municipal clients, advises public clients regarding state and federal regulations, and conducts investigations relating to employment law, including sexual harassment. Austin has also assisted with pro bono matters with organizations including the ACLU, Lawyers for Civil Rights, and the NAACP. Before joining Anderson & Kreiger, Austin served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Jon D. Levy of the United States District Court for the District of Maine.

BEYOND THE OFFICE

Austin is an avid fly fisherman. He worked as a fishing guide at a lodge in Alaska after college, and spent his summer at the Montana U.S. Attorney’s Office exploring the nearby world-class trout waters. He also enjoys camping and other outdoor activities, as well as brewing beer and traveling.  He likes spending time with his large family in his home state of Maine.

Education

Harvard Law School, J.D. 2016 cum laude

Yale University, B.A. 2010, Department Honors in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Admissions

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, 2022-2023

The Best Lawyers in America©: Ones to Watch, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2022-2023

The Best Lawyers in America©: Ones to Watch, Municipal Law, 2023

Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2019-2021

  • 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)