Austin Bodnar

Austin Bodnar, Esq., is a South Florida native and a highly accomplished attorney recognized in every edition of Best Lawyers in America’s “Ones to Watch” list since 2024. Driven by personal circumstances and a desire to honor his father-in-law’s legacy, Austin now acts as the managing partner at Bader Bodnar Law, which has been successfully serving the community in personal injury cases for 35 years. Drawing upon his extensive experience as a litigator, he upholds the family name and provides exceptional legal representation, thereby continuing the firm’s proven track record of winning cases and securing maximum compensation for our clients.

Prior to joining Bader Bodnar Law, Austin worked at Greenberg Traurig, one of the largest international law firms. During his 6-year tenure in the litigation department, he served as a senior associate and handled a wide range of cases, including jury and non-jury trials. His practice encompassed various areas, such as commercial litigation, labor and employment disputes, slip-and-fall accidents, and wrongful death cases. Notably, Austin defended clients against the Department of Justice (DOJ) on multiple occasions, frequently traveling to Washington, DC for meetings. This experience further honed his litigation skills and deepened his understanding of complex legal matters.
Prior to his work at Greenberg Traurig, Austin gained practical experience by serving as a judicial law clerk for Judge Melanie May, the former chief judge of Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeals. Judge May is highly respected in the legal community and has made significant contributions to the development of Florida’s jurisprudence. This clerkship allowed Austin to work closely with a distinguished jurist and refine his legal skills from the perspective of the court.

Austin’s educational background is marked by outstanding achievements, beginning with his graduation from the University of Central Florida, where he was recognized for his exceptional academic performance and inclusion on both the President’s Honor Roll and the Dean’s List. Continuing his academic journey, Austin attended St. Thomas University in Miami for law school. There, he not only graduated 5th in his class with summa cum laude honors, but he also served as the editor-in-chief of the Law Review, won the university’s first-ever “Best Brief” title in the Gibbons National Moot Court competition, and served on the executive board of the St. Thomas chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Austin’s academic prowess and commitment to excellence were recognized through his receipt of eight CALI Book Awards, which are bestowed upon students who achieve the highest grades in specific classes. Throughout his time in law school, Austin consistently appeared on the Dean’s List and even became a published author, contributing a scholarly article titled “Mixed Transactions for Goods and Services: The Need for Consistency in Choosing the Governing Law” in the St. Thomas Law Review in 2015. This publication further showcased Austin’s expertise in complex legal matters.