Attorney
Kristina is a member of Cairncross & Hempelmann’s Employment team. Her legal experience has provided her with the ability to focus on human resources/employment matters, DEI, risk management, regulatory compliance, litigation, privacy/cybersecurity and fraud, employment and whistleblower investigations on behalf of employers.
Through her analytical and candid approach, Kristina has helped her clients identify major risk areas and prioritize areas of focus in which policies and procedures have been developed and implemented within the company’s operations. Traditionally, companies have looked at compliance as hindering operations and negatively impacting the bottom line, but Kristina has a unique approach in understanding the company’s operations and implementing new compliant strategies while taking her client’s business to another level and becoming more competitive in the marketplace.
Kristina has served on a number of non-profit Boards of Directors, and currently serves on the Board of Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle (MAMA Seattle), an organization designed to empower attorney mothers and encourage professional success while celebrating their roles as attorneys. Kristina has founded a number of groups to support the success of women in business as well as grassroots organizations to address social problems.
Introduction
Kristina is a member of Cairncross & Hempelmann’s Employment team. Her legal experience has provided her with the ability to focus on human resources/employment matters, DEI, risk management, regulatory compliance, litigation, privacy/cybersecurity and fraud, employment and whistleblower investigations on behalf of employers.
Through her analytical and candid approach, Kristina has helped her clients identify major risk areas and prioritize areas of focus in which policies and procedures have been developed and implemented within the company’s operations. Traditionally, companies have looked at compliance as hindering operations and negatively impacting the bottom line, but Kristina has a unique approach in understanding the company’s operations and implementing new compliant strategies while taking her client’s business to another level and becoming more competitive in the marketplace.
Kristina has served on a number of non-profit Boards of Directors, and currently serves on the Board of Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle (MAMA Seattle), an organization designed to empower attorney mothers and encourage professional success while celebrating their roles as attorneys. Kristina has founded a number of groups to support the success of women in business as well as grassroots organizations to address social problems.
Education
- Wayne State University (B.A., Political Science/International Relations, Russian, summa cum laude, 1992)
- University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 1995)
- Harvard University, Executive Certificate, Cybersecurity Risk Management (2023)
Admissions
- Washington
- Michigan
Honors & Recognition
- The Council for the United States and Italy, Young Leaders Conference (Trieste 1999, Ann Arbor 2005)
- Project Harmony International (Ukraine 1999-2000)
Professional & Community Involvement
- Washington State Bar Association, Corporate Counsel Section (present)
- Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM) (present)
- Tacoma Business Council, Founder (2022-present)
- WorkForce Central, Workforce Development Council, Pierce County (2021-present)
- Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle, Board of Directors (2021-present)
- Business Impact NW, Board of Directors (2017-2022)
- Womens Business Initiative, Founder (2017-2022)
- Washington Women’s Business Center, Board of Directors (2017-2022)
- Align Real Estate, Founder/Managing Broker (2020-present)
- Align Catalyst, Founder/CEO (2018-present)
- Passages Northwest, Board of Directors (2006)
Publications/Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, “Solutions to the Impact of Crime on the Business Community,” Tacoma Business Council, Tacoma, WA, January 2022
- Speaker, “Covid 19: Impact on Business and Legal Considerations,” Mother Attorney Mentoring Association of Seattle (MAMA), Seattle, WA, March 2021
- Speaker, “Succeeding as a Proactive Risk Manager and Business Partner,” Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM), Pierce County Chapter, Tacoma, WA, February 2019
- Speaker, “Defining Human Resources as a Proactive Risk Manager and Successful Business Partner,” Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM), Kitsap County Chapter, Bremerton, WA, November 2017
- Speaker, “How Small Business Owners Can Play It Safe Without Breaking the Bank,” Washington Women’s Business Center, Seattle, WA, October 2017
- Speaker, “Women’s Business Initiative, Presentations Regarding Creating an Economic Infrastructure to Support Women and Women of Color in Business,” Lecture Series, Pierce County, WA, 2016-2021
- Speaker, “How Small Business Owners Can Play It Safe Without Breaking the Bank,” Leaders Training Leaders, Pierce County, WA, September 2015
- Speaker, “Trolling Wars: A Multi-Billion Dollar Industry,” ACC Managing Litigation as a Business, Phoenix, AZ, January 2015
- Speaker, “Managing Litigation as a Business in In-house Legal Departments,” Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), Seattle, WA, March 11, 2014
Personal
- When not working as a designated broker at Align Real Estate, Kristina enjoys playing tennis, hiking, cooking and spending time with her family and pets.
- Kristina is fluent in Ukrainian and Russian.