Austin is a Virginian through and through. Born and raised in Richmond, he is the product of Virginia schools at every stage, including college-preparatory education at the Collegiate School, undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Virginia, and law school at Washington and Lee University. He then came home to Richmond to build his career in the same city that raised him. When a client sits down with Austin, they’re not talking to someone who is just passing through. They’re engaging with an attorney who has deep roots in the community he serves.

Before law school, Austin drafted land leases and researched title histories for an energy developer. The work meant digging through deeds and land records to determine who actually owned a piece of property and who had the authority to sign for it. It was a hands-on way to learn that “who owns this” and “who gets to decide” are two different questions, and that disputes often arise in the gap between them. He went on to complete several clerkships: first with the Augusta County Circuit Court while in law school, then with the Henrico County Circuit Court, followed by two years with the Court of Appeals of Virginia. In those roles, he helped judges decide cases involving trusts, estates, and fiduciary relationships that had gone sideways. He also spent time as a civil litigator, handling the fallout when those same kinds of disputes reached the courtroom.

Austin came away from these experiences with an understanding that many problems can be resolved, or avoided altogether, when a lawyer pays closer attention earlier in the process. He knows firsthand the difficulties that come with navigating the death of a loved one, which is why he works to be a calm, competent presence in the room. His goal is to help clients focus on their families instead of the probate system. As the son of two doctors who cared for patients over several decades, he also recognizes what a genuine, long-term client relationship looks like: one built on trust, not a single transaction.

Outside the office, Austin keeps bees, tends to his family’s Christmas tree farm, and brews his own beer, all of which have taught him a lot about patience. He is also a lifelong fan of UVA athletics and plays a variety of racquet sports, where most of that patience gets tested.