Kristin Kemnitzer

Kristin Kemnitzer is a managing partner at the law firm of Kemnitzer Barron & Krieg, LLP. Kristin litigates cases involving lemon law, auto fraud, unfair debt collection, illegal repossessions, motorcycle finance, elder abuse, door-to-door sales scams, civil rights violations, cell phone abuse, and California’s mortgage anti-deficiency statutes. Over the course of Kristin’s tenure at the firm, Kristin has represented hundreds of individual consumers, and has been appointed as lead counsel in dozens of class actions. She litigates in state superior and appellate courts, and in all district courts throughout California. She also has significant experience in arbitration and mediation.

Kristin graduated with honors from Stanford University in 2006, and obtained her law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt Hall) in 2011. While in law school, she worked as a judicial extern for the Honorable Randall Rader on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She also acted as Senior Articles Editor for the Berkeley Technology Law Journal and received a certificate in Law and Technology. She also published in the Berkeley Technology Law Journal Annual Review in 2010.

Prior to joining Kemnitzer Barron & Krieg, Kristin practiced at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where she focused on Internet and copyright litigation, and class action defense.

Kristin is a member of the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), the National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA), Consumer Attorneys of California, and the Marin County Bar Association.

Publications

• Editor, NCLC Consumer Class Action Treatise, 2023 ed.
• Editor, NCLC Consumer Warranty Law Treatise, 2020 ed.
• Plaintiff’s Magazine, May 18, 2020, “The Silver Lining of Practicing Law During the Pandemic“
• Law360, April 21, 2020, “California Auto Defect Law Makes the Roads Safer for Everyone“

Speaking Engagements and Events

• 2023 Speaker at National Consumer Law Center, Consumer Rights Litigation Conference, Drafting A Winning Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
• 2021 Gould School of Law Consumer Law Course Guest Lecture, The Rees-Levering Act
• 2021 NACA Spring Training, Public Private Partnering on Auto Cases
• 2020 Moderator for Panel at National Consumer Law Center, Consumer Litigation Rights Conference, Settling Car Cases: Lessons Learned During the Pandemic
• 2020 Berkeley Law Lecture, Running Your Own Law Firm
• 2020 Public Counsel, MCLE training on the Rees-Levering Automobile Sales Finance Act
• 2020 Housing and Economic Rights Advocates, MCLE training on the Rees-Levering Automobile Sales Finance Act
• 2020 Practising Law Institute, Helping Homeowners Facing Fair Lending Problems
• 2019 Host, National Consumer Law Center Women’s Reception
• 2019 Speaker at National Consumer Law Center, Consumer Litigation Rights Conference, The ABCs of Autofraud
• 2019 Public Law Center, MCLE training on the Rees-Levering Automobile Sales Finance Act
• 2019 Bay Area Legal Aid, MCLE training on the Rees-Levering Automobile Sales Finance Act
• 2018 Speaker at National Consumer Law Center, Consumer Litigation Rights Conference, The ABCs of Used Car Cases
• 2017 Speaker at National Consumer Law Center, Consumer Litigation Rights Conference, The ABCs of Used Car Cases
• 2017 Guest Lecturer at UC Hastings Law School Consumer Law Seminar
• 2015 CBS News ConsumerWatch Correspondent on the Song Beverly Consumer Warranty Act
• 2015 Bay Area Legal Aid MCLE Negotiation Training

Accolades

“Ms. Kemnitzer, I have been reviewing preliminary approval applications for a long time, and I have reviewed hundreds of them. I would say that this is in the top ten of the best settlements, best for the public interest, and well done. . . Excellent work! It was a delight to read your papers from beginning to end … [I]t seems to me, you did exactly what the courts ask of counsel for a class.” – California Superior Court Judge at Class Action Preliminary Approval Hearing

“[T]he arbitrator concludes that counsel for Claimant have considerable relevant experience, are skilled, and enjoy outstanding reputations … Skilled work by talented young lawyers should not be undervalued simply because it is performed in a small firm and for non-institutional clients.” – Arbitrator’s fee award in which the arbitrator awarded significantly more than Ms. Kemnitzer requested in fees due to the skillful litigation of the case

“Kristin Kemnitzer [] was smartly aggressive when needed and always professional. Even before [] our better than expected outcome, I quickly felt like I was with the right firm. In the end she proved to be smarter and much harder working than the opposing counsel. Another way to say it is that this is a formidable attorney that takes it seriously and doesn’t mail it in.” – Client in an auto fraud case

“After having met with Bryan and Kristin, we were floored by the integrity of this firm. Not only were they extremely knowledgeable, they cared about us as people. Everyone at this firm fought tirelessly on our behalf. We were granted more than a fair settlement. My partner and I are being compensated (substantially) above being made whole. These are people who care about people and know the law. While we never want to go through this again, we are so glad they were in our corner.” – Former client in an auto fraud case