• Austin Manes advises clients on the expanding landscape of privacy and data protection laws, as well as legal issues surrounding artificial intelligence. Austin has extensive experience applying domestic and foreign privacy laws, including sector-specific regulations in healthcare, finance, internet, advertising, education and critical infrastructure. He also provides risk assessments on companies’ privacy and data security programs, often in the M&A context, and leverages years of experience litigating cybersecurity patents to advise on industry-standard security practices. Austin has implemented privacy programs and policies for Fortune 500 companies, and smaller organizations across a broad range of industries. Austin has obtained the following certifications in privacy law from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP): CIPM (Privacy Program Management); CIPP/US (US Privacy Laws); CIPP/E (European Privacy Laws); and PLS/FIP (Fellow of Information Privacy, the IAPP’s most advanced privacy law certification).

    Austin is an accomplished trial lawyer with over 10 years of experience in complex commercial litigation. His notable cases include representing an early innovator in cybersecurity whose intellectual property generated more than $350 million, and helping an internet security company obtain the largest patent infringement verdict in U.S. history. Austin represents insurance companies and advises clients on cybersecurity liability coverage. He has also won numerous appeals in the 9th Circuit, Federal Circuit and California Courts of Appeal, and has successfully litigated against federal administrative agencies.

    Austin dedicates significant time to pro bono matters. He has secured asylum from religious or social persecution for many applicants before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and once won a complete reversal from the Board of Immigration Appeals. Austin also volunteers his time and legal services to veterans' associations and serves on the board of a Bay Area charity that donates millions to local causes.

    During law school, Austin worked in the chambers of the Honorable John T. Noonan Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit and the Honorable A. James Robertson II of the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, assisting those judges with their deliberations on many written and oral appellate arguments as well as in multiple trials.

    Prior to his legal career, Austin served a distinguished four-year enlistment in the U.S. Army. As an infantry team leader, he had the distinct honor of being selected as a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. He was decorated twice for exceptionally meritorious service and achievement during that time.

    Experience

    • Developed, maintained and updated privacy programs for a Fortune 500 investment company.

    • Drafted privacy policies in response to new laws for a Fortune 500 financial services company.

    • Developed top-level, HIPAA-compliant privacy guidance for a major conglomerate of insurance services providers.

    • Helped multiple international data brokers comply with complex, newly enacted privacy regulations.

    • Assisted an internet security company in obtaining the largest patent infringement verdict in U.S. history.

    • Represented a cybersecurity innovator whose intellectual property generated more than $350 million.

    • Represented minority shareholders in a fiduciary duty dispute involving hundreds of millions of dollars.

    Credentials

    Education

    • J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 2011
      • Merit-based Dean’s Scholarship Recipient (2008-2010)
    • B.A., Victoria University of Wellington, 2007

    Bar Admissions

    • California, 2012

    Clerkships

    Judicial Externships

    • Honorable John T. Noonan, Jr., U.S.C.A., 9th Circuit, 2011
    • Honorable A. James Robertson II, San Francisco Superior Court, 2010

    Court Admissions

    • U.S.C.A., 9th Circuit
    • U.S.D.C., Central District of California
    • U.S.D.C., Eastern District of California
    • U.S.D.C., Northern District of California
    • U.S.D.C., Southern District of California

    Professional Affiliations

    • International Association of Privacy Professionals, 2020 – present
      • CIMP, CIPP/US, CIPP/E, PLS, FIP

    Languages

    • Spanish