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Kristin A. Zech represents companies and individuals in all aspects of litigation before federal and state courts and administrative agencies throughout the Mid-Atlantic. From contract actions and landlord-tenant disputes, to civil rights claims and discrimination suits, she offers a broad array of experience at both the trial and appellate levels.

In addition to litigation, Kristin enjoys a vibrant employment law practice, advising employers and employees on a variety of issues, including personnel actions, compliance with employment eligibility standards, Title VII, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Fair Labor Standards Act compliance. She has extensive experience preparing and reviewing employment and separation agreements, including non-disclosure, non-competition, and non-solicitation provisions.

Kristin has also practiced immigration law for over a decade. She regularly helps business and family clients with a variety of immigrant and non-immigrant needs, including H-1B visas, marriage and other family-based benefits, K-1 visas, and U visas, and advises employers on employment eligibility.

Prior to joining the firm in 2018, Kristin worked at law firms in Tysons Corner and Harrisonburg.

RECOGNITION AND CERTIFICATIONS

  • Listed in Virginia Super Lawyers in General Litigation, 2024, 2025
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation and Employment Law – Management, 2025, 2026
  • Top Attorney, Arlington Magazine, 2019, 2023, 2025
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation, 2024
  • Listed in Virginia’s Legal Elite by Virginia Business Magazine, 2019-2024
  • Top Lawyer, Northern Virginia Magazine, 2022-2025
  • Northern Virginia Pro Bono Law Center – Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year 2016
  • Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2013-14
  • William Hamilton Prize (Excellence in Legal History), 2004
  • William & Mary School of Law Moot Court Team
  • Phi Beta Kappa, 2000

RECENT REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

(DISCLAIMER: THERE ARE A VARIETY OF FACTORS UNIQUE TO EACH CASE, AND THE CASE RESULTS STATED BELOW DO NOT GUARANTEE OR PREDICT A SIMILAR RESULT IN ANY FUTURE CASE UNDERTAKEN BY KRISTIN ZECH OR BERENZWEIG LEONARD)

  • Represented credit union against allegations of race-based discrimination and hostile work environment under Title VII and the Virginia Human Rights Act/Virginia Values Act. The case was voluntarily dismissed upon stipulation of the parties after the Credit Union filed its Motion for Summary Judgment. Davis v. Apple Federal Credit Union, Civil Action No. 1:22-cv-01312-TSF-JFA.
  • Represented company against allegations of failure to accommodate, discrimination, and retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act; summary judgment granted in full on all counts. Plaintiff’s appeal was voluntarily dismissed upon stipulation of the parties. Olea v. RIVA Solutions, Inc., Civil Action No. 5:23-cv-00498-PRW (W.D.Okla. Aug. 27, 2025).
  • Represented credit union against allegations of failure to accommodate, hostile work environment, disparate treatment, and unlawful interference under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Virginia Human Rights Act, interference and retaliation under the Family and Medical Leave Act, and retaliation under the Virginia Whistleblower Protection Law. Hostile work environment and FMLA interference claims were dismissed on the Credit Union’s Motion to Dismiss. Court later granted the Credit Union’s Motion for Summary Judgment on all remaining counts. Ramsay v. The United States Senate Federal Credit Union,Civil Action No. 1:24-cv-963 (AJT/IDD) (E.D.Va. Mar. 7, 2025).
  • Represented credit union against allegations of lending discrimination under the Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Title VI, and Fair Credit Reporting Act. Court granted defendant’s Motion to Dismiss plaintiff’s Amended Complaint and dismissed plaintiff’s claims, in toto, with prejudice. Wilson Ochar v. Apple Federal Credit Union, Case No. 1:24-cv-00757 (E.D. Va. Sept. 3, 2024).
  • Represented defendant credit union in lawsuit brought by former employee alleging discrimination on basis of race by failing to prevent a hostile work environment and termination from employment on retaliation. Davis v. Apple Federal Credit Union, 1:22-CV-01312 (E.D. Va. Nov. 17, 2022).
  • Represented defendant financial institution against claims of violation of FCRA, failure to reasonably investigate plaintiff’s dispute, and continued reporting of inaccurate information to credit reporting agencies. Greenberg v. Capital One Bank (USA), N.A. et al, 1:22-CV-00270 (E.D. Va. Mar. 14, 2022)
  • Represented defendant credit union against claims alleging damage to plaintiff by failure to comply with the Deed of Trust by failing to determine or provide accurate estimates of funds in violation of the MCPA, RESPA, and MCDCA. King v. Library of Congress Federal Credit Union, 8:22-CV-00360 (D. Md Feb. 10, 2022).
  • Represented defendant credit union against lawsuit alleging breach the contract by altering last payment due date and amount due on plaintiff’s loans. Taccino et al v. Act 1st Federal Credit Union, 1:21-CV-00840 (D. Md. April 2, 2021).
  • Represented defendant credit union against claims of failure to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy in preparation of plaintiff’s credit reports and credit files it published and maintained in violation of FCRA. Whitman v. NASA Federal Credit Union et al, 8:20-CV-00963 (D. Md. April 4, 2020).

PRO-BONO EXPERIENCE

  • Kristin regularly handles pro bono immigration matters from a number of community organizations. She has worked with Catholic Charities for over a decade, and has served as an immigration attorney for the Fairfax Bar Association’s Southgate Clinic since 2014.

PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

  • “When Inclusivity Excludes: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs and Title VII,” International Risk Management Institute, Inc., Employment Practices Liability Consultant (EPLiC), Winter 2023 Issue
  • “Special Immigrant Juvenile Status: Humanitarian Protection for Abused, Abandoned, and Neglected Immigrant Children,” Virginia Family Law Quarterly, Vol. 36, No. 1, Spring 2016
  • “Federal Protections for Breastfeeding Mothers in the Workplace,” The Federal Lawyer, Vol. 60, Issue 8, September 2013

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • Fairfax Bar Association
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association
  • Virginia State Bar