Austin Chestnut

Austin is an Attorney/CTFA®/ATFA with over 20 years of practice experience. He is a graduate of the Norman A. Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University (J.D., 2002), the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business at Campbell University (M.B.A., 2002), and North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management (B.S. Business Management and Corporate Finance, 1998). In addition to the practice of law, he is also a Certified Trust & Financial Advisor® (2018), as accredited by the American Bankers Association, and an Accredited Trust & Fiduciary Advisor (2024), as accredited by Campbell University and the Trust Education Foundation. From 2014 to 2018 Austin stepped away from private practice and served as a Vice President and compliance counsel for the private wealth division of SunTrust Bank.

As an attorney, Austin concentrates his practice in advanced estate planning and asset protection techniques; probate and trust administration; fiduciary litigation; guardianships; charitable organizations; and corporate law focusing on general business matters and succession planning.

Austin’s Other Accomplishments

• Member of the Bars of the Supreme Court of the United States (2006), United States Tax Court (2004), United States Court of Federal Claims (2021), and the Federal District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina (2007)
• Graduate of the American Bankers Association Trust School (2018)
• Faculty of the Southeastern Trust School at Campbell University
• Adjunct Professor, Masters of Trust & Wealth Management, Lundy-Fetterman School of Business at Campbell University
• Vice President (2023) and President (2024, 2025) of the Moore County Bar Association
• Vice President (2024) of the 29th Judicial District Bar
• Member of the North Carolina Bar Association including the Business Law, Elder Law, and Estate Planning Sections
• Author of a number of white papers in the areas of estate planning and small business topics
• Member of the First Health Foundation Center Professional Advisory Council, Pinehurst, NC
• Member of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity International
• Continuing Education Lecturer on the topics of Estate Planning and Asset Protection
• Member of the Board of Directors for Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina Children's Foundation, Inc.
• Vestry Member and Treasurer of Christ Church Anglican, Southern Pines, NC

Although he primarily grew up in Raleigh, Austin is a native of Southern Pines. During his off hours, he is a student of genealogy having traced his family roots back to the 1500s. In addition, he is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys tinkering on fine British motorcars. His social memberships include the British Automobile Touring Society, Carolina Jaguar Club, and the Moore County Bar Association Sporting Clays Team. He has two teenaged sons, is a member of Christ Church Anglican in Southern Pines, and resides in Pinebluff.