JD, George Mason University School of Law, 2001
BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1994

During his time in law school, Kristian served as Notes Editor for the Federal Circuit Bar Journal and was a member of the Journal of International Legal Studies.

Kristian is admitted to practice law in Texas, North Carolina and Alabama. He appears before bankruptcy and federal courts in bankruptcy cases throughout the country.

• Texas State Bar

His representative experience includes:

• Corporate restructuring and insolvency cases, including serving as debtors' counsel to Elk Petroleum and Idearc.
• Advising secured lenders, including the secured lenders in Gold's Gym, Montco Offshore, Exco Resources, Boy Scouts of America and Overseas Shipholding Group.
• Representing the official committees in Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Orianna Healthcare, Little River Healthcare and All Smiles Dental.
• All aspects of bankruptcy litigation, including avoidance actions (i.e., preference and fraudulent conveyance matters) and adversary proceedings seeking recharacterization.
• Debtor-in-possession financing arrangements.
• Purchasing assets from bankruptcy cases.
• Negotiation of assumption, rejection, and/or assignment of various types of executory contracts and unexpired leases.

• Chambers USA, Texas, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Chambers and Partners, 2024
• Legal 500 US, Recommended Lawyer, Restructuring (including bankruptcy): Corporate, The Legal 500, 2024
• Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyer, Lawdragon, 2024
• Lawdragon 500 Leading US Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2022-2023
• The Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Best Lawyers, 2020 - 2025
• The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Best Lawyers, 2021 - 2025
• Top 100 Shipping Lawyers (No. 9 overall), Lloyd's List Maritime Intelligence, 2017
• Texas Rising Star, bankruptcy and creditor/debtor rights, Thomson Reuters, 2009, 2011 - 2012

• Co-author, "INSIGHT: Resolving federal tax disputes in bankruptcy," Bloomberg Tax, ​June 2020
• Co-author, "On the Waterfront - Restructuring International Shipping Companies," Legalseas, July 2016
• Co-author, "Overseas Shipholding Group: A Case Study for Effective Use of US Bankruptcy Laws," Legalseas, November 2014
• Co-author, "Fifth Circuit Holds That Bankruptcy Reorganization Plan May Artificially and Immaterially Impair Class Claims to Confirm Through Cramdown," Fulbright Briefing, March 12, 2013
• Co-author, "Fifth Circuit Addresses Standards Associated With Preserving Causes Of Action In Plans of Reorganization and a Debtor's Standing to Pursue Them," Fulbright Briefing, December 4, 2012
• "Amended Texas Property Code Resolves Bankruptcy Court Dispute: Recorded Absolute Assignments of Rent Are Security Interests," Fulbright Briefing, July 6, 2011
• Co-author, "Recognizing and Fulfilling Fiduciary Duties in the Bankruptcy Zone," 2008 Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference, November 13-14, 2008
• Co-author, "A Post-BAPCPA Look At Lease Assumption And Rejection, Key Employee Incentive Plans, And Reclamation," State Bar Of Texas, 25th Annual Advanced Business Bankruptcy Course, February 22-23, 2007

• "Bankruptcy Impact on Key Constituencies," in-house legal presentation, Las Colinas, Texas, May 2009

• State Bars of Texas, North Carolina and Alabama
• Dallas Bar Association
• American Bankruptcy Institute
• Heart House Dallas – Member, Board of Directors
• Visible Music College - Member, Board of Trustees