Austin Kessler is a Washington, D.C. native and an Associate in GRSM’s Raleigh office. He has represented clients at all stages of litigation, including pre-suit negotiations, pleadings, discovery, depositions, motions practice, jury trials, arbitrations, and appeals. Austin focuses his practice on professional liability defense, including healthcare matters and medical malpractice.

He takes pride in being an effective courtroom advocate. He was lucky enough to begin his legal career by trying criminal, domestic, and juvenile cases in North Carolina district court for a law firm with a strong regional presence. Austin then moved his practice to an insurance defense firm with a national presence where he conducted jury trials, obtaining a defense verdict and a directed verdict in his first two cases.

Admissions

• North Carolina

Memberships

• North Carolina Bar Association
• North Carolina State Bar
• North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
• 41st Judicial District Bar
• Polk County Bar, President, 2019-2020

• Dismissal of plaintiff’s case against property owner and property management company in premises liability case.
• Dismissal of defendant’s negligence case filed in federal court against a hospital and its healthcare providers.
• Defense verdict in rear-end collision motor vehicle case for defendant driver.
• Directed verdict in rear-end collision motor vehicle case for defendant who admitted liability.
• Summary judgment in federal court for defendant accused of defaming a candidate for political office.
• Summary judgment for property owner and property management company in premises liability case.