Prior to joining WTJ, Kristi was a Partner in the Professional Liability and Business Litigation Practice Groups of McCormick Barstow where she started her legal career as a Summer Associate in 2009. Kristi has successfully taken several cases through arbitration, trial, and appeal on behalf of her clients and truly enjoys being in the courtroom, and the more complex the matter, the better.

Kristi has also worked as a Law Clerk at The Law Offices of David I. Semco, a private criminal defense firm, and Fitzmaurice & Demerzian, a general civil litigation firm in San Diego, CA. Additionally, she worked in the counterfeit and fraud division of the United States Secret Service before attending law school. As part of that assignment, she held a top-secret security clearance.

Kristi’s favorite pastimes are spending time with her husband and four children—most of the time outdoors on the boat, hiking, skiing, golfing, or wine tasting.

Experience

Kristi has handled a variety of matters and focuses heavily on civil litigation. Her main focus is in professional malpractice defense, public entity representation, and commercial litigation, including trade secret, fraud, defamation, breach of contract, unfair business practice, water litigation, and corporate and partnership dissolutions, as well as complex real estate, agriculture and land use matters. Kristi also regularly advises government and private entities on legal issues in an effort to help clients implement litigation prevention strategies.

Honors & Awards

Kristi has been selected for inclusion in the Northern California Rising Stars list from 2015 through 2022 for her primary area of practice in Business Litigation. She is also AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Community Involvement

Kristi was an Adjunct Professor at Fresno City College where she taught Legal Research and Writing. Additionally, Kristi has volunteered as a coach for Fresno State’s Mock Trial Team and Buchanan High School’s Mock Trial Team. She currently serves on the Executive Leadership Board for the American Heart Association Heart Ball.

Credentials

  • California Western School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2010, Trustee Scholarship recipient, Dean’s List 2009-2010, Moot Court Honors Board Executive Board Member, Student Ambassador, Volunteer Small Claims Court Mediator
  • California State University, Fresno, Bachelor of Science, Criminology, Law Enforcement, 2007, Smittcamp Honors College Scholarship Recipient, Honors Criminology Member, Outstanding Student Award, Criminology Department, 2007, President’s Spirit of the Community Award, 2006, Mock Trial Team, Founder and President, Regional Mock Trial Outstanding Attorney Award, 2006, Maddy Scholar, Dean’s List, 2004-2007
  • Kristi is a Mediator certified through the Better Business Bureau of Fresno, CA and is admitted to practice law before all California State Courts and all U.S. District Courts within California.

Professional Associations

Kristi is a member of the State Bar of California, American Bar Association and the Fresno County Bar Association. She is also a member of the Fresno County Young Lawyers Association and served on the Executive Board for several years.

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