Kelly S. Austin

Kelly Austin is a partner in the firm’s Denver office and a partner (non-resident) in the Hong Kong office. Kelly served as partner in charge of the Hong Kong office from 2012 to 2022 and has twice served as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. She also served as global co-chair of the firm’s Anti-Corruption and FCPA Practice Group. Her practice focuses on investigations, regulatory compliance and international disputes. She has extensive expertise in government and corporate internal investigations, including those involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws, and anti-money laundering, securities, and trade control laws. Kelly also regularly guides companies on creating and implementing effective compliance programs.

Kelly is consistently ranked Band 1 for Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption in China by Chambers Global, Chambers Asia Pacific and Chambers Greater China Region. A client noted that she, “...provides the highest level of professional advice and guidance needed to effectively and efficiently navigate the legal complexities of the US regulatory environment and local business environment across APAC." Another praised her “great understanding of the region and ability to enable business opportunities while complying with local and international legislation.” She is also regularly ranked as a leading lawyer for Regulatory: Anti-Corruption and Compliance in Hong Kong by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific. Among other recognitions, Kelly has been listed as a Leading Litigator for White-collar Crime in China and Hong Kong by Benchmark Asia-Pacific’s Top 100 Women in Litigation; named a Global Elite Thought Leader and a Leading Individual for Asia-Pacific by Who’s Who Legal: Investigations; recognized as a star in Hong Kong White Collar Crime by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific; named a Thought Leader for Business Crime Defense by Who’s Who Legal: Mainland China & Hong Kong SAR; named by Expert Guides in its World’s Leading Women in Business Law guide and named one of the World’s Leading White Collar Crime Lawyers by the same publication; and awarded The Mentor Award of the Year for Advancement of Women in Compliance by C5.

From 2001 to 2010, Kelly served as the Compliance and Litigation Counsel for General Electric (GE) in Asia. In that role, she coordinated litigation, alternative dispute resolution proceedings, government and internal investigations, and compliance matters for the GE businesses throughout the region.

Before moving to Hong Kong in 2001, Kelly practiced in Washington, D.C., representing individuals and entities in a wide variety of criminal and civil matters in federal and state courts across the United States. Her practice focused on government investigations, including a host of Congressional and Independent Counsel investigations. She also served as general counsel to non-profit organizations, providing guidance on a variety of legal, regulatory, and strategic matters, and regularly counseled individuals on government ethics and regulatory issues. In 2000, Kelly served as Special Counsel to the Executive Office of the President, representing the White House in federal litigation. From 1993 to 1994, Kelly served as a law clerk to The Honorable Boyce F. Martin, Jr., Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Kelly received her Juris Doctor cum laude from Georgetown University and graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia. She is a member of the bars of Colorado, Virginia and the District of Columbia, and is admitted to practice in a variety of district and appellate courts in the United States. She is admitted to practice as a solicitor in Hong Kong.

Capabilities

• Anti-Corruption & FCPA
• Anti-Money Laundering
• Antitrust and Competition
• International Arbitration
• Life Sciences
• Litigation
• Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Data Innovation
• Tech and Innovation
• Transnational Litigation

Credentials

Education:

• Georgetown University - 1993 Juris Doctor
• University of Virginia - 1988 Bachelor of Arts

Admissions:

• Colorado Bar
• District of Columbia Bar
• Solicitor of the High Court of Hong Kong
• Virginia Bar

Clerkships:

• US Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit, Hon. Boyce F. Martin Jr., 1993 - 1994