Kristin D. Sostowski

Legal Work Highlights

Representative Matters

Discrimination/Harassment Matters

• • Represented a major financial services company in a disability discrimination case brought by an independent contractor broker alleging employee status. Summary judgment granted.
  • Defended a major construction contractor in a race discrimination and harassment case.
  • Represents a leading healthcare network in an age discrimination and sexual harassment case.
  • Represented a major technology company and its CEO in a discrimination and defamation arbitration filed by a former executive.
  • Defended a leading electronics company in multiple single-plaintiff cases alleging whistleblower, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims.
  • Defended a construction products company in a disability discrimination and retaliation suit brought by a former sales representative.
  • Represented a major contractor and one of its managers in an age discrimination and hostile work environment case filed by a former employee whose position was eliminated as part of a reduction in force.
  • Defended a private university in a multi-plaintiff pay discrimination case brought by female tenured faculty members alleging age and gender discrimination.
  • Represented a financial services company in a disability discrimination and failure to accommodate suit filed by a former broker.
  • Defended a leading business products company in multiple single-plaintiff cases alleging a variety of discrimination and harassment claims. These matters included an Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) lawsuit filed by a former sales manager whose employment was terminated as part of a reorganization and reduction in force, and a disability and age discrimination case filed by a former service technician.
  • Defended the state of New Jersey and senior officials in a multi-plaintiff discrimination and whistleblower lawsuit arising out of a reduction in force of government attorneys. Summary judgment was awarded on all counts, and the rulings were affirmed on appeal by the New Jersey Appellate Division.
  • Represented a leading technology company in a sexual harassment and retaliation case filed by a sales employee.

Whistleblower Matters

• • Represented a leading business solutions company in multiple whistleblower litigations alleging violations of the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) and Pierce v. Ortho Pharmaceuticals (common law wrongful discharge in violation of public policy).
  • Defended the state of New Jersey and senior officials in a whistleblower litigation filed by a former assistant prosecutor who alleged violations of Pierce v. Ortho Pharmaceuticals and the New Jersey Civil Rights Act.
  • Defended a global biotechnology company in whistleblower matters filed by former sales representatives alleging that they were terminated in retaliation for blowing the whistle on unlawful marketing practices.
  • Represented a regional tertiary care and teaching hospital and senior executives in CEPA litigation filed by a former department chair alleging that he was terminated and his hospital privileges were revoked based on his complaints regarding patient care and patient rights issues.

Other Employment Matters

• • Represents a leading business products company in a class action alleging failure to provide ERISA severance benefits and other claims.
  • Represented a major financial services company in a lawsuit alleging failure to provide ERISA severance benefits, retaliation under ERISA, and violation of the New York City Human Rights Law.
  • Represented a major technology company in a wage and hour investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor involving worker classification issues.
  • Conducted internal investigations for multiple clients in connection with harassment, discrimination, and whistleblower complaints, and allegations of workplace misconduct on the part of current and former employees.
  • Represented a leading business products company in connection with multiple restrictive covenant matters involving sales and technical employees.
  • Defended a major retail company in connection with a New Jersey Department of Labor matter stemming from alleged improper classification of delivery persons as independent contractors
  • Represented a technology firm in connection with Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) compliance evaluation, which was closed with no findings of violation.

Areas of Focus

Employment Litigation & Agency Matters

Kristin represents management in disputes with their current and former employees, concentrating on whistleblower, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour litigation. She has defended single-plaintiff, multi-plaintiff, and class and collective action matters in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, and the New York State Division of Human Rights. She also has represented employers in arbitration and mediation, and in government investigations and audits arising from the employment relationship, including matters involving the U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

Employment Law Counseling & Investigations

Kristin also counsels clients on compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, prevention or early resolution of employment disputes before they lead to litigation, and employment issues in connection with corporate transactions. She regularly advises clients in a variety of industries, including higher education, technology, financial services, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and public and nonprofit entities, regarding a wide range of employment issues, including:

• Hiring practices, performance management, and terminations
• Employee leaves and accommodations
• Workforce restructuring and reductions in force
• Compensation issues, including equal pay
• Wage and hour and worker classification issues
• Independent contractor issues
• Restrictive covenants
• Executive employment agreements
• Employment issues arising from corporate transactions

Kristin works closely with clients’ in-house counsel and human resources departments to assess and refine their employment practices and develop policies, handbooks, and employment agreements that complement their business needs.

Kristin also handles internal investigations of alleged employee misconduct. She has conducted numerous investigations, both privileged and non-privileged, of allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and/or violations of employer codes of conduct.

Law School

Harvard Law School, J.D.

• Executive Board, Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review

Undergraduate School

Swarthmore College, B.A., with high honors

• Phi Beta Kappa

Kristin is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

State of New Jersey
State of New York
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,

Kristin is admitted to practice before the following court(s):

United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts

United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Local & National Recognition

Award Selection Methodology

Included on the ROI-NJ “Influencers: Women in Business” list, 2025

Recognized by Best Lawyers®, 2026 Edition: Litigation – Labor and Employment

Included on the NJBIZ “Leaders in Law” list, 2024

Included on the New Jersey Law Journal “Diverse Attorney of the Year” list, 2023

Included on the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business list, Labor & Employment

Included on the New Jersey Super Lawyers lists, Employment Litigation: Defense, Employment & Labor, 2017-2025; Top 100 Attorneys in New Jersey, 2022-2024; Top 50 Female Attorneys in New Jersey, 2021-2024

Included on the Profiles in Diversity Journal “Women Worth Watching” list, 2019

Included on the NJBIZ “Best 50 Women in Business” list, 2019

Included on the Benchmark Litigation list, “Labor & Employment Stars – Northeast”

Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Included on the NJBIZ “Forty Under 40” list, 2014

Recipient, National Association of Women Lawyers’ Virginia S. Mueller Outstanding Member Award, 2010

Included on the New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, Employment Litigation: Defense, 2007-2015

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

National Association of Women Lawyers
Liaison, ABA Commission on Women in the Profession, 2021-present
Immediate Past President, 2020-2021
President, 2019-2020
Executive Committee, 2014-2021
Board Member at Large, 2011-2014

New Jersey Women Lawyers Association
Co-Director of Endorsements, 2022-present
Trustee at Large, 2012-2018; 2020-2022
Co-Director of Membership, 2010-2012
Co-Director of Best Practices, 2008-2010; 2018-2020

National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)

New Jersey State Bar Association
Higher Education Committee

Harvard Law School Association
Celebration 70+: Plenary Speaker, “Harvard Law School Through the Decades,” 2024
Celebration 65: Programming Committee, 2018
Celebration 60: Executive Committee/Outreach Co-Chair, 2013
Celebration 55: Outreach Committee, 2008
Harvard Law School Association of New Jersey, Trustee, 2005-2009

Civic & Charitable Organizations

Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey
Board of Advisors, 2022-present

Pingry Alumni Association
Vice President, 2020-present
Director, 2017-2020