Kristin L. Smith

Texas

Fisher Phillips LLP
910 Louisiana Street
Suite 4000
Houston, TX 77002

Tel: 713.292.5621

Email: klsmith@fisherphillips.com
Web: www.fisherphillips.com

Professional Biography

Kristin Smith is a partner in the firm’s Houston and Minneapolis offices and a co-chair of the Education Industry group. Her practice focuses exclusively on independent and private schools. She advises, counsels and represents religious and secular schools, including those serving pre-kindergarten-grade 12, kindergarten-grade 8, grades 6/7 – 12, and grades 9 – 12.

Kristin assists schools in a variety of areas, including student and employee discipline; faculty, staff and student contract drafting; handbook and policy drafting, implementation, and enforcement; LGBTQ issues, including transgender students and employees; board governance and training; discrimination claims and EEOC charges; administration and faculty training and development; school entanglement in family court proceedings; and, investigations, litigation, arbitration and mediation.

She is a frequent presenter to independent school associations on current legal issues.

Education
  • Mitchell Hamline School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2001
  • University of Minnesota, M.A., 1998
  • University of Minnesota, B.B.A., 1997
Bar Admissions
  • Texas
  • Minnesota

For more than 25 years, we’ve helped educational institutions navigate challenges from admission through graduation and hiring through separation. We understand your culture, community, and regulatory landscape – so we deliver practical, proactive solutions without a learning curve.

Every decision an educational institution makes – from admission through graduation or hiring through separation – potentially impacts the entire community. Highly skilled lawyers who thoroughly understand the unique concerns of an educational institution, as well as the unique culture of your particular institution, are a critical element to successful operations. As leaders in the education industry, Fisher Phillips’ Education Law attorneys provide unequaled client service and efficient, practical solutions tailored to achieve the best possible results at every step. We partner with our education clients to identify and manage risk, meet compliance obligations and address issues prophylactically.

Our Education Team has been representing educational institutions of all types for over 25 years. We represent academic institutions throughout the U.S., including religious and secular independent, private, and charter schools and institutions of higher education. Our team handles legal and regulatory issues involving employees, students, and boards at all levels, from training and advice to administrative charges, litigation, and appeals.

Fisher Phillips LLP is a national law firm devoted exclusively to representing employers in labor and employment matters. Founded in 1943, the firm has built a strong reputation for providing strategic, business-focused counsel designed to help organizations manage workplace risk and navigate complex employment regulations. Fisher Phillips is widely recognized for its proactive approach, assisting employers in preventing disputes while delivering skilled advocacy when litigation arises.

The firm maintains offices across major business markets throughout the United States, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Washington, D.C., and numerous other locations nationwide. This broad geographic footprint enables Fisher Phillips to serve employers ranging from closely held businesses to multinational corporations, offering coordinated counsel across multiple jurisdictions and regulatory environments.

Fisher Phillips focuses its practice on labor and employment law, including workplace litigation, wage and hour matters, discrimination and harassment claims, traditional labor relations, workplace safety, employee benefits, immigration compliance, and workforce management strategy. The firm is particularly known for its depth of experience in defending complex employment class actions and advising on evolving federal and state employment regulations, providing employers with practical solutions aligned with operational and compliance objectives.

“Kristin is trusted by independent schools facing high-stakes internal investigations and policy challenges. Clients commend her balanced, mission-aware advice, and peers note her leadership within the education industry and frequent national presentations.”
The Education Lawyers, 2025