Phone: 216.736.7217 CLE | 614.427.5740 COL Fax: 216.621.6536 Connect: LinkedIn

Overview

Kristina is co-chair, along with Susan Stone, of KJK’s Student & Athlete Defense/Title IX Practice Group. She and Susan also co-chair the firm’s Criminal, Cyber & White-Collar Practice Group.

Kristina has developed a sophisticated federal and state practice with a particular focus on technology and internet-based offenses. Kristina’s experience has also been enlisted for complex matters including government procurement fraud, public corruption, bank fraud and tax issues. She has led national defense teams representing individuals involved in high-stakes litigation. Kristina prides herself on her ability to counsel clients during the most difficult periods in their lives.

In her Student & Athlete Defense Practice, Kristina handles a variety of matters involving educational services and student discipline. She has achieved great success representing students and professors in campus Title IX proceedings. Kristina is particularly adept at navigating the challenges and intricacies of parallel university and law enforcement investigations. Her extensive experience with sexual assault cases proves invaluable for clients subject to Title IX proceedings. Kristina has also represented Greek organizations involved in student disciplinary matters and assisted with drafting policies and implementing member training. When campus misconduct matters have required litigation, Kristina has filed suit in federal courts across the country and successfully negotiated resolutions.

Kristina’s criminal defense practice has grown to include representation of people with complex mental health and neurological disorders. She serves as a tireless advocate for clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (“ASD”) who are facing prosecution. Kristina’s understanding of ASD enables her to effectively communicate the social and behavioral deficits associated with ASD to prosecutors, judges and educators.

In 2013, Kristina was elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (“NACDL”), which is the preeminent criminal defense organization in the country. She serves as the chair of the Title IX Committee and as a co-chair of the Sixth Circuit Amicus Committee. Locally, Kristina serves as a trustee for the Cleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Association.

Education

  • Skidmore College, Certificate of Completion, Restorative Justice Training
  • Cleveland State University Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, J.D., 2006
  • Boston University, B.A., European History, 2003

Civic Involvement

  • Cleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Association, trustee
  • Title IX Committee, chair
  • Sixth Circuit Amicus Committee, co-chair
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (“NACDL”)
    • Board of Directors, member, 2013 – present

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association, 2007 to present
    • Ethics and Professionalism Committee, 2009
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association since 2006, Cleveland Committee, 2012 to present
    • Judicial Selection Committee, 2018
  • Cleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Association Life member, 2007 to present
    • Board of Trustees, 2012 to present
    • Professional Opportunities Committee, 2011
  • Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Member, 2017 to present
  • Families Advocating for Campus Equality, 2016 to present
  • Federal Bar Association, Member, 2007 to present
  • Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, 2016 to present
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
    • Board of Directors, elected July 2013
      • Parliamentarian, 2019 to present
    • White Collar Committee, 2013 to present
    • Indigent Defense Committee, 2012 to present
    • Champion Advisory Board, 2007 to present
  • Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2007 to present
    • Publications Committee, 2009
  • Ohio State Bar Association, Member, 2007 to present
    • Jury Instruction Committee, 2009
    • Criminal Justice Committee, 2009 to present
  • Stop Abusive & Violent Environments, 2016 to present
  • Women White Collar Defense Association, 2017 to present

Bar/Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Ohio Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

 

Awards

  • Top Attorneys in Ohio, Rising Stars, 2013
  • Selected to Ohio Rising Stars, 2011-2013 & 2015-2016
  • The State’s Outstanding Young Lawyers, Cincinnati Magazine, January 2011
  • Robert D. Kensey Memorial Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Civil Liberties, 2006
  • Executive Editor of the Year, Cleveland State Law review, 2006
  • High “A” CALI Awards:
    • Legal Writing, 2004
    • Product Liability, 2005
    • Sexual Orientation & Law, 2006

Presentations & Publications

SELECTED SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

  • Don’t Rush In: The New Conversation Around Sex and Consent On Campus, Fraternal Law Conference (Cincinnati, Ohio), November 7, 2019
  • Changing the Conversation Around Sex & Consent, KJK College Kick-Off (Columbus, OH), September 12, 2019
  • 504 Plan Eligibility and Accommodation Best Practices, National Business Institute (Cleveland, OH), September 12, 2019
  • College Concerns: Helping Students with ASD Navigate Campus Discipline Issues, 2019 Milestones National Autism Conference (Cleveland, OH), June 12, 2019
  • Defending Students in Title IX Proceedings, LACDL’s Jazz Fest (New Orleans), April 25, 2019
  • Cyberbullying and Threats: School Authority and Liability, National Business Institute (Westlake, OH), February 2019
  • The 8th Annual FACE Meet and Greet Private Weekend Event, FACE – Families Advocating for Campus Equality(Cincinnati, OH), November, 2018
  • College Concerns: Helping Students with ASD Navigate Campus Discipline Issues, 2019 Milestones National Autism Conference (Cleveland, OH), June 12, 2019
  • Defending Students in Title IX Proceedings, LACDL’s Jazz Fest (New Orleans), April 25, 2019
  • Cyberbullying and Threats: School Authority and Liability, National Business Institute (Westlake, OH), February 2019
  • The 8th Annual FACE Meet and Greet Private Weekend Event, FACE – Families Advocating for Campus Equality(Cincinnati, OH), November, 2018
  • Title IX and Affirmative Action, Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer Inn of Courts (Columbus,OH), November, 2018
  • Parallel Proceedings in Sexual Assault Cases: Finding Evidence and Avoiding Incrimination, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, November 2018
  • How #MeToo and Title IX have Changed Campus Culture, Meritas Webinar, September 2018
  • Manifestation Determination Review (MDRs): Did the Disability Cause the Behavior?, Special Education Law: The Ultimate Guide, March 2018
  • National Business Institute, Student Records: Legal Requirements You Need to Know (FERPA), December 2017
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Wick Good Defenses, Title IX Session, October 2017
  • Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Computer & Law, September 2017
  • University of Akron, Trial Advocacy Clinic, August 2017
  • Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, New Lawyer Training: Law Office Management, June 2015
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, 3Rs Program, Fall-Spring 2012-2013; 2013-2014
  • Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Computers & Law, November 2012
  • Northern Ohio Academy of Pharmacy, Implications of Emily’s Law for Pharmacists: How to Avoid the Criminal Pitfalls, February 2012
  • Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, “Litigating Sex Crimes,” Presentation “Deconstructing the He Said/She Said Case,” October 2011
  • New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, “From Street Crime to Cyber-Crime: Trends in Technology and Criminal Law,” June 2011
  • Cleveland-Marshall Alumni Association, Pathways to Practice, March 2011
  • Ohio Mock Trial Regional Competition, Judicial Panelist, February 2011
  • Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Computers & Law, November 2010
  • Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Evidence & Technology, Finding and Presenting Evidence in the Age of Technology, 2010
  • Cuyahoga County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Effectively Defending the Child Pornography Case, March 2010
  • Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Defending Computer Sex Crimes, March 2010
  • Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Computers & Law, November 2008
  • Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Superstar Seminar, Innovative Ways to Find & Present “Similar Offenders and Similar Offenses,” October 2008
  • Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Scientific Evidence, April 2008
  • Ohio Mock Trial Cuyahoga Regional Competition, Judicial Panelist, February 2008
  • Ursuline College, Issues in Criminal Defense, October 2007 & 2008

SELECTED ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS

Representative Experience

“Susan and Kristina are great lawyers. They helped me resolve an extremely difficult academic dishonesty accusation case against me at the university level. They had helpful ideas and were persistent in making sure my defense was the best it could be. They were creative in their way of utilizing outside resources that helped achieve a positive outcome. Good, prompt responses to my questions. I highly recommend them!”

“Kristina and Susan are very competent and experienced attorneys in Title IX and higher education law who treat their clients with integrity and compassion. Highly recommend this team!”

“We are very grateful for all the hard work that Susan, Kristina and her team put into a rather difficult case. Our son was put in a very difficult situation while playing sports at the College level. His strength and conditioning coach recommended a pre-workout substance that he said was NCAA approved to use before working out. After submitting to a random drug test, he tested positive for that exact substance and was then suspended. Susan and Kristina represented our son during the NCAA appeal process. Ultimately, his suspension was overturned and he returned to the sport he loves. Thank you again.”

“Enough cannot be said for how helpful KJK was for me during my allegation process. Susan, Kristina and Melissa were extremely knowledgeable and passionate toward my specific case. They consistently had steps of action to take in my defense and were extremely flexible when working with me. They helped prepare me, both mentally and emotionally, prior to my hearing. Thanks to their hard work, I now have my future back.”

“Thank you for always working to understand the full situation and for exploring the entirety of issues at hand. Thank you for always being supportive and for providing a productive, positive environment for working with us and most importantly, my son. I’m sure that he learned a lot from this situation, and we would not have been able to navigate without the help of both of you. Thank you for being tirelessly committed and for pursuing the best possible outcome.”

  • Working with our client and our team of mental healthcare professionals, Melissa, Susan, and Kristina were able to help a student with ADHD, who had never before received accommodations on a standardized test, successfully appeal the denial of her disability accommodation request for the MCAT. Our client will now receive the extra time she deserves on this important professional entrance exam.
  • Successfully prevailed in an expulsion hearing and kept student in school after serious allegations of misconduct.
  • Obtained reversal of discipline sanction in housing misconduct matter.
  • Successfully defended a pre-med undergraduate student for alleged cheating on a physics lab report and showed that the professor had made a critical error in basic mathematics.
  • Won an appeal with the NCAA to allow a student to remove restriction on eligibility to play football

Media Mentions

Susan Stone and Kristina Supler interviewed for “Brian Ross Investigates” piece, “Has ‘MeToo’ Gone Too Far?”, Law & Crime Network, Sept. 26, 2019

Susan Stone and Kristina Supler interviewed about the “Red Zone” and sexual assault on campus, Fox 8 News, Sept. 6, 2019

Susan Stone and Kristina Supler interviewed regarding investigation into UNC women’s basketball program, CNN.com, April 2, 2019

Susan Stone and Kristina Supler interviewed about plea bargaining in sexual assault cases following plea deal in Baylor University rape case, CNN.com, Dec.18, 2018

Susan Stone and Kristina Supler interviewed regarding Urban Meyer suspension at The Ohio State University, 97.1 The Fan Sports Radio, Columbus, Aug. 23, 2018

Susan Stone and Kristina Supler interviewed related to case obtaining TRO for client to play football in college, Associated Press coverage, Sept. 15, 2017

Related Practices