Neil Austin
Neil Austin’s litigation practice has a strong focus on securities matters and general corporate disputes. His areas of emphasis include business crimes and related government investigations, accountants’ professional liability, contractual disputes, and business torts. Neil's recent experience includes defending a major publicly-traded company in an investigation conducted by a committee of the United States Senate, securing a lucrative settlement on behalf of local advertising agency as the jury deliberated its breach of contract claims against a former client, and successfully representing an international procurement company in two federal trials on commercial contract claims. Neil has also defended corporations and individuals in criminal and civil investigations related to alleged insider trading, manipulation of stock option grants, and market timing and late trading of mutual funds.
In addition to his business litigation practice, Neil maintains an active pro bono practice focused on issues of immigration law. He has helped numerous immigrants obtain legal status through the Boston Immigration Court and, as part of his representation of a Boston-based legal services organization, successfully challenged the federal government’s erroneous interpretation of a key provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Before entering law school, Neil gained useful commercial litigation skills by working as a Research Associate at Princeton Economics Group, where he provided economic research and data analysis for clients involved in antitrust, securities and general commercial litigation.
Bars and Court Admissions
- Massachusetts
- U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Representative Experience
The following is a brief summary of Neil's experience and accomplishments:
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Represents international pension funds in disputes with investment management firms over alleged breaches of fiduciary duty
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Represents manufacturer of surgical products in trade libel suit brought by former distributor
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Represented software company in internal and SEC investigations regarding timing of stock option grants
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Represented international auditing firm in mediation of federal securities claims
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Represented bank officer in U.S. Attorney’s Office investigation of insider trading
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Achieved swift dismissal of plaintiff’s claims in federal False Claims Act lawsuit on behalf of local defense contractor falsely accused of defrauding the federal government and retaliating against the purported whistleblower
professional / civic involvement
- Co-Chair of the Pro Bono Committee of the Boston Bar Association’s Business Law Section (current)
- Member of the Boston Bar Association’s Public Interest Leadership Program (2009-2010)
- Recipient of PAIR Project, Inc.’s Detention Attorney Award (2008)
- Recognized by the Supreme Judicial Court for pro bono representation of immigrant detainees (2007)
- American Bar Association, Member
- Massachusetts Bar Association, Member
- Boston Bar Association, Member