Kristen L. Zaehringer

As a partner in the Firm’s Litigation Department, Kristen Zaehringer represents clients in the areas of commercial litigation, professional malpractice, labor and employment, and local counsel services. Kristen’s litigation experience includes representing individual and corporate clients in cases involving claims of breach of contract, consumer fraud, unfair trade practices, violation of federal and state credit reporting laws, violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, professional negligence, business torts, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, violation of wage and hour law, and violation of non-competition and confidentiality agreements. Kristen regularly represents clients in state and federal court and before various administrative agencies including: the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Department of Labor, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities, and the Connecticut Department of Labor. Kristen also drafts and provides advice on employment contracts, restrictive covenants, severance agreements, and the implementation of employment manuals, policies and procedures.

In October of 2013, Kristen was selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list as “A Rising Star” in the areas of Employment & Labor Litigation, Civil Litigation Defense and Business Litigation. Prior to joining Murtha Cullina, Kristen served as a law clerk to the Honorable Dominic J. Squatrito, United States District Judge for the United States District Court of Connecticut. Kristen also practiced in the litigation group at Zeldes, Needle & Cooper, PC.

She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the George Washington University and received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Quinnipiac University School of Law, where she was very active in her law school’s Civil Clinic and received the Excellence in Clinical Work Award. While in law school, Kristen also served as an associate editor for the Quinnipiac Health Law Journal. She is fluent in Italian.

• Appellate Practice
• Attorney Professional Liability
• Business Litigation
• Community Banking
• Insurance Recovery
• Intellectual Property Litigation
• Labor and Employment
• Litigation
• Privacy and Cybersecurity
• Tort and Product Liability

• District of Connecticut Federal Grievance Committee
• District of Connecticut Local Civil Rules Advisory Committee
• American Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Connecticut Bar Association -  Co-Chair of the Federal Practice Section, Member of the Civil Rules Committee
• Federal Bar Council - Connecticut Committee
• Inns of Court
• Fairfield County Bar Association
• New York State Bar Association

• Pro Bono Award for the District of Connecticut, 2016
• Holds an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
• Named one of Fairfield County’s Top 40 Business People under the Age of 40 in 2015.
• Connecticut Law Tribune 2015 New Leaders in the Law
• 2015 Leadership Fairfield County Program
• Listed as New England Super Lawyers® Rising Star in the area of Civil Litigation, 2014 - 2017 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.)
• Listed as Connecticut Super Lawyers® Rising Star in the areas of Employment & Labor Litigation, Civil Litigation Defense and Business Litigation, 2013 - 2017 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.)

• Law Clerk to the Honorable Dominic J. Squatrito, United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut (2005-2007)
   

• Friends of New Haven Legal Assistance Association - Board Member
• Quinnipiac University School of Law Alumni Association - Executive Board
• Public Outreach Committee of the U.S. District Court for District of Connecticut, Member
• Charlton Hill Condominium Association - Board Member
   

• October 30, 2019 - 37 Murtha Cullina LLP Attorneys Receive Super Lawyers Recognition
• January 2, 2019 - Murtha Cullina LLP Announces New Partners and Counsel
• July 25, 2018 - Kristen L. Zaehringer Appointed Co-Chair of the Federal Practice Section of the Connecticut Bar Association
• October 23, 2017 - Kristen L. Zaehringer Named Fellow of American Bar Foundation
• October 18, 2017 - 38 Attorneys Receive Super Lawyers Recognition
• May 12, 2017 - Kristen L. Zaehringer Participates in Mock Trial Student Program in Bridgeport
• December 22, 2016 - Elizabeth J. Stewart and Kristen L. Zaehringer Receive District of Connecticut 2016 Pro Bono Award
• December 19, 2016 - Kristen L. Zaehringer Appointed to the Federal Grievance Committee
• July 12, 2016 - Kristen L. Zaehringer Reappointed to the Local Civil Rules Advisory Committee
• November 10, 2015 - Connecticut Law Tribune Names Attorneys 'New Leaders in the Law'
• June 26, 2015 - Kristen L. Zaehringer Receives "40 under 40" award from Fairfield County Business Journal
• May 14, 2015 - Kristen L. Zaehringer Participates in Mock Trial Student Program in Bridgeport
• April 7, 2015 - Kristen L. Zaehringer Elected Board Member of Friends of New Haven Legal Assistance Association
• Murtha Cullina Team Runs New Haven Road Race to Benefit the New Haven Legal Assistance Association
• Murtha Cullina Attorney Kristen Zaehringer Named to Quinnipiac University School of Law Alumni Association Executive Board
• Murtha Cullina Welcomes New Associates

• October 22, 2018 - Connecticut Law Tribune: The Good Fight: Meet Connecticut's Pro Bono Champs
• March 2018 - Book Review: Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts, Fourth Edition
• June 2016 - U.S. District Court District of Connecticut Filings Checklist
• June 30, 2014 - Stamford Case Could Set Precedent As Postal Service Downsizes

• June 11, 2018 - Kristen Zaehringer Moderating Panel at CT Legal Conference on Pro Bono Appointments in Federal Court
• April 24, 2018 - Kristen Zaehringer Moderating Panel "Federal Practice 101" for the Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers Section
• January 11, 2018 - Melissa Federico and Kristen Zaehringer Presenting at Hartford County Bar Association Civil Practice Series
• October 13, 2017 - Important Developments for Employers with Employees in Connecticut, Murtha Cullina's 2017 Employment Law Seminar
• January 19, 2017 - Madiha Malik and Kristen Zaehringer Speaking at CBA Labor and Employment Section meeting
• January 5, 2017 - Kristen Zaehringer to Moderate Panel Discussion for Quinnipiac University School of Law Students
• September 30, 2016 - Virtual Reality: Revisiting Telework in the Digital Age, Murtha Cullina's Employment Law 2016
• May 10, 2016 - Kristen L. Zaehringer and Elizabeth J. Stewart to Present "The Essentials of Federal Practice CLE" for the Connecticut Bar Association
• January 20, 2016 - Kristen Zaehringer moderated "Rediscovering Ediscovery: How to Get and Use it Under the Revised Rules" hosted by the CBA
• January 8, 2016 - Kristen Zaehringer was a panelist for Quinnipiac University School of Law on “What Working Life is Like in a Law Firm.”
• October 2014 - Pre-Employment Background Checks, Leaves of Absence, and Religious Accommodations, Murtha Cullina's Employment Law 2014: “An HR Director's Nightmare,” Hartford, CT
• September 2014 - " Pre-Employment Background Checks, Leaves of Absence, and Religious Accommodations, Murtha Cullina's Employment Law 2014: “An HR Director's Nightmare,” Stamford, CT
• October 2013 - New Twists on Discrimination Laws, Murtha Cullina's Employment Law 2013: "New Wine in Old Wineskins"

• New York
• Connecticut
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut

• George Washington University (B.A., summa cum laude, 2002)
• Quinnipiac University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2005)