Kristen focuses her practice on complex commercial and bankruptcy litigation.
Commercial and Banking: Kristen represents a wide range of businesses and financial institutions in state and federal court, in mediation and arbitration, and in pre-litigation dispute resolution. She has handled complex business litigation involving contract disputes, interference with business relationships, deceptive trade practices, unfair competition, trade secrets and intellectual property disputes, employment disputes, and shareholder and partnership litigation.
Kristen has negotiated sophisticated settlements of various business transactions and contract disputes and is experienced in all levels of civil litigation, with an extensive practice in Tennessee, Arkansas and federal courts.
Intellectual Property and Technology: Kristen has successfully handled litigation involving the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, Lanham Act claims, deceptive trade practices, copyright infringement and intellectual property rights. She assists clients with electronic discovery and electronic data retention and destruction and has presented seminars on the topic of electronic discovery in both Tennessee and Arkansas.
Business Restructuring and Bankruptcy: Kristen handles sophisticated business workouts, corporate reorganization and complex commercial bankruptcy. She has represented secured and unsecured commercial creditors and debtors in a variety of matters, including liquidating and reorganizing Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases, Section 363 sale issues, cash collateral issues, lien priority and avoidance actions, preference actions, stay relief actions, discharge and dischargeability actions, asset recovery and disposition, contested confirmation hearings, and adversary proceedings.
Representative Matters include:
- Successfully defended wholesale lighting company and its principals in federal court litigation brought by competitor involving claims for breach of contract, tortious interference with business relations, copyright infringement, and violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Lanham Act and Uniform Trade Secret Act.
- Obtained summary judgment in federal court for national credit card company in lawsuit by customer alleging violation of the Truth In Lending Act, conversion and negligence resulting from identity theft; handled briefing and oral argument on appeal to United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, resulting in order affirming lower court in favor of client.
- Successfully defended food products licensing company in multi-million dollar dissenter's rights litigation involving valuation of membership interest in Tennessee LLC, obtaining judgment from trial court which was affirmed in significant decision of Tennessee Court of Appeals regarding exclusion of projected future income from valuation.
- Represented secured lienholder in all aspects of Chapter 11 bankruptcy case of national food products manufacturer and distributor, including cash collateral issues, negotiations with unsecured creditors committee and other secured creditors, and successful section 363 collateral sale by competitive auction.
Kristen is the mother of twins, a son and daughter. She is a member of the board of directors of SFC Elves, Inc., a charitable organization annually providing toys during the holidays to over 650 needy children in rural Arkansas. She is also an active member of First United Methodist Church where she serves on the Pastor/Parish Relations Board. Kristen serves on the firm's Law School Recruiting Committee and the Professional Development Committee.
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