Kristen's litigation practice focuses exclusively on representing companies on a national scale, both in federal and state courts, with respect to a wide-range of business, commercial, and employment matters. Kristen has extensive experience litigating on behalf of corporate clients involved in business and employment related disputes, including in the areas of breach of contract, fiduciary duty, wage and hour, whistleblowing, unfair competition, discrimination and harassment, trade secrets, and retaliation. She has also assisted businesses with their complex litigation, mediation and alternative dispute resolution needs, and frequently handles litigation matters in the class and multi-plaintiff context, including litigating complex matters with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and addressing the intricacies of e-discovery in the federal courts.

Kristen has successfully tried business and employment cases and appeared in many state and federal courts throughout the country on behalf of corporate clients. She also assists clients in navigating administrative processes and addressing challenging personnel and employment policy matters. In 2012 and 2013, Human Resource Executive magazine and Lawdragon named Kristen one of the nation's "Most Powerful Employment Attorneys" and Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers recognized her as a "Rising Star." Her pro bono work has also been featured in The Kansas City Star.

Before joining SHB, Kristen served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Scott O. Wright of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Kristen's experience working in the federal judiciary has provided her with a meaningful perspective on litigating employment matters and trying cases in the federal courts.

During law school, Kristen was the editor-in-chief of the UMKC Law Review and member of the Order of the Bench and Robe. Kristen also received the Charles E. Whittaker Award for Academic Excellence.

Co-Author, High-Stakes EEOC Class Action Litigation in America, The International Comparative Legal Guide to Employment and Labour Law 2013 (Global Legal Group Ltd, London) View

Co-Author, The EEOC’s Systemic Initiative And High-Priority Enforcement Areas: Compliance Strategies For Employers, The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, September 2012 View

Co-Author, Employment Class Actions in America – Implications for the Global Employer, The International Comparative Legal Guide to Employment and Labour Law 2012 (Global Legal Group Ltd, London)

Co-Author, Employment Class Actions in America – Implications for the Global Employer, The International Comparative Legal Guide to Employment and Labour Law 2011 (Global Legal Group Ltd, London)

Co-Author, Winning In Wage And Hour Litigation: Compliance, Experts And The Certification Process, The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, October 2011 View

Co-Author, Social Networking in the Workplace, Employment Law Strategist, December 2009

Co-Author, Representing Both Defendant-Employer and Defendant-Employee, Employment Law Strategist, July 2009

Kristen is admitted to practice in Missouri and Kansas, as well as in various federal district and appellate courts throughout the United States.

2001   J.D., with distinction, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law

1997   B.A., magna cum laude, Truman State University (Communications)

Board of Directors, Children’s Therapeutic Learning Center (CTLC)