AUSTIN & PETHICK IN AIKEN - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Estate Planning Paralegal
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of New Spring Church
- Principal Shareholder, J.D., LL.M., AEP®
Chris Austin leads Austin & Pethick's Estate Planning, Probate and Tax Practice.
Christopher Austin, a principal shareholder and Chief Executive Officer at Austin & Pethick Law Firm, PC, is deeply rooted in Aiken County, being a lifelong resident and graduate of Silver Bluff High School in 2003. His college journey led him to the University of South Carolina, where he earned a degree in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration. Christopher furthered his education, obtaining a Juris Doctorate from Charlotte School of Law in 2010 and an LL.M. (Master of Laws) in taxation from the University of Alabama in July 2021.
Leading Austin & Pethick's Estate Planning, Probate, and Tax practice, Christopher carries over a decade of experience. He adeptly navigates clients through a diverse range of estate planning issues, handling both straightforward and intricate cases. His proficiency extends to managing estates exceeding the unified credit threshold, presently set at $13.61 million, on both domestic and international fronts. Christopher excels in asset protection, estate and trust administration, business succession planning, and tax planning. His professional involvement also encompasses structuring business organizations, commercial real estate transactions, and corporate transactions.
Licensed in SC, GA, and TN, Christopher holds certification as an Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) Distinguished from the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. Fluent in Spanish, he is also certified to practice before the United States Tax Court.
Chris takes pride in serving and being involved in numerous community organizations. Chris is an active member of New Spring Church and currently serves on the Board of Trustees at the Aiken Technical College foundation, while previously has served on several boards including; the Boys & Girls Club of Aiken Advisory Board, SRP Federal Credit Union Advisory Board, and the Steeple Chase Association Board of Directors. He has also previously run for state office as a candidate for State House Representative for District 81.
Chris Austin leads Austin & Pethick's Estate Planning, Probate and Tax Practice. Chris has over a decade of seasoned proficiency that extends from handling straightforward cases to intricate and advance estate planning. His involvement includes asset protection, tax planning, structuring business organizations and corporate transactions.
Job Titles:
- Commercial Real Estate Paralegal / Strategic Business Advisor
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Finance
Kevin Pethick leads Austin & Pethick's Commercial Real Estate & Business Law Practice.
Kevin's experience in commercial real estate spans a 20-year period, with the first 8 years spent as a commercial real estate attorney for two large law firms, including 3 years with Barnes & Thornburg in Indianapolis and 5 years with Smith Anderson in Raleigh. In 2004, Kevin joined WRS Inc., a retail developer that develops Wal-Mart anchored shopping centers throughout the southeast. At WRS, Kevin served as the Director of Development & Operations and managed or directly supported all aspects of the company's operations, including Development, Acquisition, Permitting & Entitlements, Zoning & Subdivision; Closings, Leasing, Property Management, and Construction. Having managed all aspects of real estate development projects directly provided Kevin with unique perspective and insight. Not many real estate attorneys in private practice have a combination of legal training and applied experience.
Kevin also leads the Government Contracts practice of Austin & Pethick.
Following his time at WRS, Kevin served as business development director and general counsel for E2 Consulting Engineers, a small business with 350 employees providing engineering services to the US Department of Energy at the Savannah River Site. In this role, Kevin developed experience in the areas of government contracts, focusing his attention on a variety of small business and government contract issues, including teaming agreements, joint ventures, mentor protégé agreements, SBA rules and regulations, FAR Contracts (including prime and subcontracts and flow-down requirements), NDA's, OCI's, and applicable State and Federal regulations. Kevin's legal experience as an in-house attorney supporting all of the legal needs of an SBA-qualified small business can be applied to the needs of other large and small businesses operating in the government contracts arena.
Kevin is a devoted family man who spends time with his wife and two children. After his children were born, Kevin gave up a promising golf career as a 25 handi-capper (for those who don't golf, this is not good) to focus his time on parenting and community. Kevin is the head coach and program administrator of the SAPC Church basketball team, an assistant coach for the ABA Prospects baseball team, and a mentor to several teenage boys.
Kevin Pethick leads Austin & Pethick's Commercial Real Estate, Government Contracts and Business Practice. Kevin's experience in commercial real estate spans a 20-year period, with the first 8 years spent as a commercial real estate attorney for two large law firms, including 3 years with Barnes & Thornburg in Indianapolis and 5 years with Smith Anderson in Raleigh.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business and Commercial Real Estate
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing and Client Relations
Job Titles:
- Probate & Estate Planning Paralegal