Krissy Katzenstein

Krissy has experience handling a variety of class and single plaintiff matters involving discrimination and harassment claims, equal pay claims, whistleblower claims, wrongful termination claims and pregnancy- and leave-related claims. She also partners with clients to conduct internal investigations of sensitive matters. Krissy’s practice regularly includes conducting extensive data analytics to assess allegations of systemic biases in pay, promotional opportunities and performance ratings.

Krissy also works with clients to develop diversity programs and identify strategies and initiatives to increase diverse representation and foster an inclusive work environment. In addition, she regularly counsels clients on class action avoidance strategies, including conducting pay equity and other self-critical statistical analyses.

• Retained to assist with defense of systemic gender discrimination lawsuit filed by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), alleging systemic sexual harassment and pay, promotion, and termination discrimination.
• Defended a national television network in a high-profile litigation matter alleging claims of sexual harassment, gender discrimination and retaliation.

Prior to joining the Firm, Krissy handled the following matters:

• Defeated class certification in a nationwide race discrimination class action brought on behalf of tens of thousands of Black/African American employees and won summary judgment on the Plaintiffs’ disparate impact claims.

• Successfully moved to dismiss class allegations of systemic race discrimination in hiring and promotion filed against defense contractor and defeated Plaintiffs’ efforts to obtain Rule 23(f) review of the decision.

• Represented defense contractor in putative class action involving allegations of systemic race discrimination in pay, promotion, and performance ratings and successfully avoided class discovery and defeated a Rule 23(f) petition.

• Defended numerous pharmaceutical companies in filed and threatened nationwide gender and race discrimination class actions.

• Defended financial services providers in filed and threatened nationwide cases involving claims of discriminatory compensation practices.

• Selected, Rising Star, Employment Law, Law360, 2019
• Recommended, Dispute resolution: Product liability, mass tort and class action: pharmaceuticals and medical devices – defense, The Legal 500 US, 2018
• Recommended, Labor and employment: Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense, The Legal 500 US, 2018