Austin Birnie is a respected attorney dedicated to finding creative and strategic solutions for the legal needs of his clients. Ready to meet his clients’ challenges, he brings to the table a wide-ranging practice with a particular emphasis on estate planning, general corporate representation, and business litigation.

In his estate planning practice, he serves a broad range of clients, from those with small estates to high net worth individuals and families. Whether a client is looking to avoid probate or seeking creative solutions to minimize estate tax liability, he is skilled in carefully drafting wills, revocable trusts, and other more specialized trusts to meet the specific needs of his clients.

Mr. Birnie also regularly advises corporations and other companies, including tribally owned commercial entities, on a variety of transactions and other legal matters. He has assisted companies ranging from privately held businesses to Fortune 500 companies on business formation and planning, contract review, high-yield bond financings, and the development of internal control standards and accounting procedures.

As a litigator, he has earned the reputation of being a first-rate advocate, combining an effective persuasive style with a strong sense of business judgment. Serving clients in a variety of industries including banking, energy, real estate, and transportation, he has broad experience in federal and state courts in cases involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, UCC remedies and enforcement, fraud, contests for corporate control, collections, and foreclosures.

In addition to litigating at the trial court level, Mr. Birnie has developed a strong reputation as a trusted appellate lawyer, with extensive experience in appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, the Oklahoma Supreme Court, and the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals, as well as appeals from administrative agencies. He applies a strategic and meticulous approach to each appeal, which has resulted in the successful resolution of a number of novel legal issues, most recently including federal preemption of a state statute regulating railroad operations, and contested interpretations of the Oklahoma Trust Act.

In recognition of his accomplishments, Mr. Birnie has been recognized by Best Lawyers as “One to Watch” in the fields of Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Bankruptcy Litigation, and Trusts and Estates Litigation since 2022, and by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” in the fields of Native American Law and Commercial Litigation since 2021.

Mr. Birnie received his Juris Doctor degree from Duke University School of Law in 2014, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Philosophy from the University of Chicago in 2009. As a law student, Mr. Birnie was a lead editor for the Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law.

During law school, Mr. Birnie served as an intern for the Honorable Sam Glasscock, Vice Chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery, and was a summer associate for a boutique firm that specialized in corporate and commercial litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery and Delaware Supreme Court.

Outside of his legal practice, Mr. Birnie is extensively involved in the Tulsa community. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Tulsa County Bar Association since 2019, where he currently serves as the Treasurer. He also has served on the Board of Directors of the Tulsa Opera since 2018.

Honors & Recognitions

Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” – Banking and Finance Law; Bankruptcy/Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Litigation; Bankruptcy Litigation; Trusts and Estates Litigation (2022–present) 

Super Lawyers “Rising Star” – Native American Law; Commercial Litigation (2021–present) 

Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law: Lead Editor (2013–2014) and Staff Editor (2012–2013) 

Community & Professional

Tulsa County Bar Association: Treasurer, 2023–2024; Budget Chair, 2022–2023; Board of Directors, 2019–Present; Member, 2014–Present 

Oklahoma Bar Association: Member, 2014–Present 

Tulsa Opera, Board of Directors: 2018–Present