Austin Sistrunk

Austin Sistrunk is an experienced litigator who has devoted her career to representing corporate clients across a broad range of matters.  Austin is licensed to practice in state and federal courts in North Carolina and Alabama, where she represents clients in claims involving healthcare, premises liability, hospitality, cybersecurity, products liability, and commercial litigation.  In addition, she routinely counsels clients on effective risk mitigation and negotiates on their behalf in alternative dispute resolution.

Before joining Cranfill Sumner, Austin practiced for several years in Alabama.  There, she was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (2021, Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants) and named as one of Birmingham’s Rising Star Lawyers for 2018 by the Birmingham Business Journal.  Austin is active in the professional community and serves on the Board of the Coastal Women Attorneys Chapter of the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys.

Healthcare

Austin enjoys analyzing and understanding complex medical issues to effectively defend healthcare providers in medical malpractice actions, including cases involving catastrophic injuries.  She also assists clients with investigations before the North Carolina Medical Board and litigates premises liability claims in the healthcare setting.  Over the years, she has handled employment law matters for healthcare facilities, including advising on policies, risk management, and defending discrimination claims.

In addition, Austin has frequently represented pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers and distributors in product liability litigation.  She also has experience with healthcare cybersecurity litigation, specifically alleged privacy violations and data breaches.

Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality

Austin has represented retail, restaurant, and hotel operators in a wide array of matters involving premises liability, slip and falls, business disputes, breach of contract, breach of warranty, tortious interference, unfair and deceptive trade practices, fraud, dram shop liability, negligent security, and data breach notification.  She has drawn on her healthcare experience to defend clients against Legionnaires’ disease, asbestos exposure, and foodborne illness claims.  Austin is always up for the challenge of a novel or complicated legal issue and loves working with her clients to effectively and efficiently resolve their matters.

Austin earned her J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law, where she served as a Senior Editor of the Alabama Law Review.  Austin graduated from the University of Alabama with a B.S. in Marketing.  In her spare time, Austin enjoys exploring North Carolina’s beautiful coast with her husband and two dogs.