Austin J. Riter

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Direct: 801-257-7932
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Seated photo of Austin J. Riter Attorney at Parr Brown Gee and Loveless
LANGUAGES
  • Spanish
EDUCATION
  • 2007, J.D., University of Utah, Order of the Coif, Editor-in-Chief of the Utah Law Review

  • 2003, B.A., Yale University, summa cum laude, President of Yale Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa

BAR ADMISSIONS
  • 2007Utah

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
  • Member of American Law Institute

  • Utah State Bar

  • Member of Utah Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct

  • American Bar Association

  • Federal Bar Association

  • Member of Media Law Resource Center

  • Graduate of 2017 Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce Leadership Utah Class

  • American Inns of Court, Sutherland Inn II

  • Utah Private Guardian ad Litem

CLERKSHIPS
  • 2007, Honorable Paul G. Cassell, U.S. District Judge for the U.S. District of Utah

  • 2007-2008, Honorable Jennifer W. Elrod, U.S. Circuit Court Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

  • 2008-2009, Honorable Milan D. Smith, Jr., U.S. Circuit Court Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Austin J. Riter

Shareholder

Direct: 801-257-7932
Email:

Austin Riter is a commercial litigator.  He has broad experience representing clients in an array of complex business and commercial litigation matters, including First Amendment, employment, intellectual property, appellate, contract, tort, real property, securities, and other general business disputes.  He has particular expertise in First Amendment and media litigation, including open records laws, access to court proceedings, defamation, and privacy; and in public and private employment law, including employment contracts and policies and procedures, employee misconduct, investigations, termination and discipline, and civil rights.

Mr. Riter is a member of the American Law Institute, a frequent lecturer on federal courts and media and employment law-related issues, and an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law.  He also dedicates a significant portion of his practice to pro bono legal work, including helping to staff the Utah Freedom of Information Hotline at Parr Brown, which provides free legal assistance to Utah journalists; representing plaintiffs in civil rights and wrongful conviction cases; and representing children as a Utah Private Guardian ad Litem in cases involving issues of custody, visitation, abuse, or neglect.

Mr. Riter’s experience includes trial and appellate litigation, mediation, and arbitration, and he is admitted to all state and federal courts in the State of Utah as well as the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.  His philosophy for his law practice is to be a problem solver for his clients, helping them to find legal and practical solutions to their disputes in a cost-effective manner.

From 2013-2024, Mr. Riter has been named to the Mountain States Super Lawyers list, a recognition received by the top five percent of Utah lawyers each year.  He has most recently been recognized by Utah Business magazine as one of Utah’s Legal Elite “Up & Coming” lawyers. Mr. Riter was included in the 2022-2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Labor and Employment.

Publications & Speaking Engagements:
  • Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, 2011
  • MLRC MediaLawLetter, August 2014
  • KSL Broadcast News, August 2014
  • KUER – NPR Utah, April 2015
  • Utah Municipal Clerks Institute and Academy Conference, April 2015
  • Utah Local Governments Trust Conference, March 2016
  • Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, 2018
  • MLRC, 2018
  • MLRC, 2018
  • MLRC MediaLawLetter, July 2018
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Publications & Speaking Engagements:
  • Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, 2011
  • MLRC MediaLawLetter, August 2014
  • KSL Broadcast News, August 2014
  • KUER – NPR Utah, April 2015
  • Utah Municipal Clerks Institute and Academy Conference, April 2015
  • Utah Local Governments Trust Conference, March 2016
  • Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, 2018
  • MLRC, 2018
  • MLRC, 2018
  • MLRC MediaLawLetter, July 2018

Distinctions

Parr Brown is consistently recognized by peers and clients for its sophisticated legal work.

Attorney Austin J. Riter | Rated by Super Lawyers 2020 Legal Elite | Top Lawyers 2017