Kris B. Pedersen

Current Position:

Kris B. Pedersen has been a member of the Firm since its origination in 1993 and a partner since 2013. She manages the Hanford Office, which is her home town area. Kris has been licensed to practice law since 1996 when she was admitted to the California State Bar. She is a general practitioner with experience in many different areas of the law. Her current law practice focuses on contract and business transactions, estate planning (Wills, Trust, Probate and Probate Court Litigation), civil and business litigation, representation of public agencies, and employment law.

 

Kris began her legal career with a law firm in Hanford in 1984 as an office clerk. She was then promoted to a legal assistant, paralegal, and after graduating from San Joaquin College of Law, Fresno in 1996, she became an attorney for the Firm. She accomplished all her academic achievements while working full-time in the legal field, giving her over 30 years of experience in the legal profession. Before going to law school, Kris provided extensive support in a number of complex high profile lawsuits. This experience has provided Kris with a perspective on dispute resolution and avoidance few attorneys possess.

Kris Pedersen

 

In her experience with public agency clients, Kris has served in the capacity of General Legal Counsel and as Deputy and Assistant Attorney, including but not limited to the City of Visalia, Visalia Public Cemetery District, Tulare Regional Medical Center, Kings County Association of Governments and Hanford Cemetery District. In 2005, Kris was a guest speaker providing a labor and employment law update for the California State Bar Annual Conference.

In all types of client representation, Kris employs a positive and solution-oriented approach. She excels in her skills as a communicator who is able to bring people to common ground; her style often yields results quickly. Kris has extensive experience in mediating and arbitrating all types of legal issues and is experienced in state and federal court. She is recognized in the legal community for her skilled expertise and professionalism. When necessary, Kris can be an effective and zealous advocate in litigation.

Areas of Practice:

  •  Contract & Business Transactions
  • Estate Planning
  • Wills, Trust, Probate, and Probate Court Litigation
  • Civil & Business Litigation
  • Representation of Public Agencies

Kris is adept in areas of the law that relate specifically to public agency governance, such as:

  • Ralph M. Brown Act
  • Public Records Act
  • Conflicts  of Interests
  • Elections Code
  • Government Claims Act
  • Public Contract Code
  • Meyers-Milias Brown Act (employers-employee relations)

Bar Admissions:

Kris is admitted to the State Bar of California and the United States District Court, Eastern District of California.

Education:

Kris earned her Associates Degrees and paralegal certificate from the College of Sequoias in 1998. She completed her undergraduate education at Fresno Pacific University, and then earned her Juris Doctorate Degree from San Joaquin College of Law, Fresno 1996.

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Kris is a member of the Kings County Bar Association, Tulare County Bar Association, American Bar Association, California Women in Agriculture and also serves as a Board Member of CASA of Kings County.