Austin D. Jones

Competent on the legal work, but communication could improve

I engaged Austin Jones at Goodwin to handle a complex non-compete agreement and separation for a departing senior manager. His knowledge of Massachusetts labor and employment law was evident from our first meeting. He correctly identified several potential pitfalls in the restrictive covenants and provided a solid strategy for negotiation, which ultimately resulted in a favorable severance package for my company. His recognition in Best Lawyers for Labor and Employment Management is well-earned in terms of pure legal analysis. However, my experience was a mixed bag. While the final work product was thorough, there were noticeable delays in receiving drafts and responses to emails, sometimes stretching to several business days. For a matter that felt urgent to us, this created some internal anxiety. Additionally, some of his explanations of legal strategy assumed a level of familiarity with employment litigation that our internal team didn't possess, requiring us to ask for clarification. Austin is clearly a sharp attorney from his Northeastern background, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him for the substantive legal work. Yet, for the overall client service experience—particularly proactive communication and managing client expectations on timelines—there's room for growth to match his legal acumen.