Austin T. Powell, Esq.

Mr. Powell understands that the adequacy of the defense is determined by the quality of the work done well before anyone walks into a courtroom. That conviction shapes how every file is handled, from first fact through final verdict. He defends insurance carriers, self-insured companies, and their insureds in high-exposure civil litigation throughout Florida. His practice focuses on premises liability and negligent security, motor vehicle accidents, transportation and trucking, products liability, and construction site incidents, which often lead to catastrophic injuries and wrongful death claims. He has tried wrongful death and punitive damages cases to verdict and knows that bad outcomes cost real money and cause real reputational harm. Every case is defended with that in mind.

Many cases are won or lost in the investigation stage, long before anyone picks a jury. Mr. Powell works cases hard on the front end to lock down facts, find witnesses, preserve what matters, and obtain an accurate read on exposure. Knowing whether a case is suited for early resolution or trial is important, but every case is built from day one as though it will be tried. Clients receive consistent and transparent communication, contemporaneous status updates, and prompt case assessments. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Powell spends a significant amount of time researching and implementing Artificial Intelligence into the practice of law to help identify liability drivers, quantify exposure, and surface strategic vulnerabilities to inform defense planning early. He has built customized workflows into his practice which allow him to move faster and dig deeper without cutting corners or missing details.

Mr. Powell is a proud third-generation Tampa Bay native. He graduated from Clearwater High School, earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Central Florida, and returned home for law school at Stetson University College of Law, where he graduated with a Certificate of Concentration in Advocacy. During law school he served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Rex Barbas in the Civil Division of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County and as a certified legal intern with the Office of the State Attorney in the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County. After graduation, Mr. Powell practiced at two large insurance defense trial firms. At the latter, he was elevated from Associate to Junior Partner within just two years, served as a Strategic Growth Officer, and received the Guiding Light Award as firm Mentor of the Year, which recognized his meaningful impact on colleagues across the firm and commitment to shaping the next generation of legal professionals. His strong ties to the community and work history are not incidental. Familiarity with the courthouses, judges, local plaintiff and defense attorneys, and jury patterns on both sides of the bay is part of what a client gets when a case comes to the firm. Mr. Powell speaks regularly to carriers, insureds, and defense counsel on Florida's post-HB 837 landscape, claims handling, risk mitigation, early investigation strategy, social media evidence, fraud networks, and evidence preservation. He most recently presented at the Florida Defense Lawyers Association Annual Conference on the use of social media and fraud investigations. Outside of the office, Mr. Powell competes in CrossFit and trains in Brazilian jiu jitsu. He spends most of his remaining free time outdoors, on the water or on a trail, often with his golden retriever, Winston. He regularly heads north to hike in the mountains of western North Carolina.