Email address
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About
Provided by Andrew Austin
Practice Areas
Andrew handles product liability litigation, commercial disputes and consumer protection issues in the tech, life sciences, FMCG and retail sectors. He helps clients manage regulatory risks and engage with regulators.
He has acted on some of the most complex product liability litigation of the last decade, with particular expertise in the coordination and defence of cross-border class actions. He advises clients on the application of product liability and safety rules to emerging tech. He is a member of the European Commission’s Expert Group on Liability and New Technologies, as well as its Sub-Group on AI, connected products and other new challenges in product safety.
He also advises clients on consumer protection-related investigations.
Andrew is the global co-head of Freshfields' consumer and life sciences sector group and helps lead his firm’s LGBT+ network group, Halo.
Professional Memberships
Member of the British Institute for International and Comparative Law’s product liability forum. Member of the Commission Expert Group on Liability and New Technologies and AI/product safety Sub-Group to the Consumer Safety Network (CSN).
Publications
Andrew has written widely on consumer protection, product liability, and the EU representative actions regime.
Personal
Andrew attended University of Oxford and the College of Law. He speaks English, French and German.
Chambers Review
UK
Andrew Austin is a seasoned product liability litigator with an impressive record defending often multi-jurisdictional claims against life sciences products, including medical devices, vaccines and diagnostic tools. He also advises on risk management and interactions.
Andrew Austin provides both contentious and regulatory counsel to a broad spectrum of clients, including those hailing from the tobacco and food and beverage sectors. He is accustomed to advising on substantial group actions.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"It's very specific know-how you need and Andrew is the only one I would feel comfortable to do such a deal with. He certainly has the technical expertise and the deal experience."
"Andrew is one of the few lawyers actually able to provide not only legal expertise, but also political context around the new rules for liability of defective products."
"Andrew is always a pleasure to work with - he is extremely personable as well as an excellent lawyer."
"Andrew is a fantastically skillful and perceptive lawyer. He focuses on solutions, presenting clear and direct recommendations in simple terms."
"Andrew is highly agile and can handle a lot of documentation."
"Andrew is an extremely talented, commercial and committed professional. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in regulatory matters and is very strategic and pragmatic."
"It's very specific know-how you need and Andrew is the only one I would feel comfortable to do such a deal with. He certainly has the technical expertise and the deal experience."
"Andrew is one of the few lawyers actually able to provide not only legal expertise, but also political context around the new rules for liability of defective products."
"Andrew is always a pleasure to work with - he is extremely personable as well as an excellent lawyer."
"Andrew is a fantastically skillful and perceptive lawyer. He focuses on solutions, presenting clear and direct recommendations in simple terms."
"Andrew is highly agile and can handle a lot of documentation."
"Andrew is an extremely talented, commercial and committed professional. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in regulatory matters and is very strategic and pragmatic."
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Freshfields
London (Firms)
