Biography
Kristen Maloney is an Austin-based attorney at Cokinos | Young whose practice focuses on labor and employment law, with an emphasis on defending employers in administrative proceedings and workplace disputes. She represents public and private employers before federal agencies such as the EEOC, OSHA, and HUD, as well as state workforce commissions, and regularly advises on issues involving discrimination, retaliation, and whistleblower complaints. She also advises employers on workplace compliance and risk management, including the enforcement and defense of restrictive covenants and the protection of trade secrets. Kristen works proactively with clients and their supervisors, providing training and counseling on evolving employment laws to help prevent workplace issues before they become legal problems.
In addition to her employment practice, Kristen handles a broad range of commercial disputes across industries. She works with businesses and individuals to resolve high-stakes matters efficiently from pre-suit strategy through negotiated resolution, with a focus on practical, client-driven outcomes.
Before attending law school, Kristen served as a Teach for America Corps member, teaching 4th grade in Spring Branch ISD. That experience instilled a commitment to preparation, clear communication, and advocacy that she carries into every client relationship.
Kristen received her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 2022, where she served on the executive boards of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Team and the International Law Society. During law school, she gained hands-on federal court experience through judicial internships with the Honorable Ewing Werlein, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and the Honorable Gregg Costa of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, as well as an internship with the Texas Attorney General’s Office in the Consumer Protection Division.
Education
- University of Houston Law Center – J.D., 2022
- Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Team, Executive Board
- International Law Society, Executive Board
- Texas A&M University – B.A. Political Science, 2017
Speaking Engagements & Presentations
- “2026 DOL Opinion Letters: FLSA and FMLA Compliance Updates,” HR Houston LEGALkwik Spring 2026 Seminar, March 24, 2026
- “Social Media Policies and the EEOC,” AGC Houston HR & Safety Professionals Day, October 31, 2024
- “Texas’s Enhanced Sexual Harassment Laws: Nearly One Year Later,” HR Houston General Meeting, October 12, 2022
Publications
- An Adequate Shift from Inpatient Care or a Kick to the Curb: The Need to Shift Hospitals’ Discharge Criteria from Hospital-Focused to Patient-Driven, HOUS. J. HEALTH L. & POL’Y 1 (2023).
Judicial Experience
- Judicial Intern to the Honorable Ewing Werlein, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- Judicial Intern to the Former Judge Gregg Costa, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- United States District Court: Southern District of Texas
- United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Community Involvement
- Bellaire Ducks Unlimited – Past Chairman
- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo: World Championship Bar-B-Que Contest – Contestant Supervisor
- St. Thomas’ Episcopal Young Alumni Board