Kristina Brooks is of counsel in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Her practice focuses on occupational safety and health issues in the workplace.
After spending 15 years litigating cases as a senior trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Kristina provides invaluable insight to clients who are navigating the rapidly changing safety and health regulations applicable to the healthcare, energy and utilities, construction, hospitality, retail, staffing, and transportation industries. A team player by nature, Kristina develops partnerships with her clients to help ensure compliance with the laws while seeking to avoid the risks associated with costly litigation. She is an avid believer in the saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Not only is Kristina well-versed in occupational safety and health regulations, but she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience regarding wage and hour, employee retirement and health, retaliation, whistleblower, mine safety, and potential criminal issues that may arise in the workplace. While at the DOL, Kristina served as an internal labor relations coordinator, warrant coordinator, and COVID-19 whistleblower team lead. In addition to successfully resolving matters, Kristina has appeared at hearings and trials before federal district courts and administrative tribunals throughout the southern half of the United States. In keeping with her prevention mindset, Kristina has provided training and presentations on matters including process safety management considerations at chemical and oil refining facilities, retaliation, COVID-19 regulations and hazard assessments, enforcement issues arising from potential misclassification of workers, multi-employer worksites, joint employment, temporary workers, and ethical considerations in the litigation of cases.
Prior to working at the DOL, Kristina worked for California Rural Legal Assistance as a statewide health and safety attorney specializing in agricultural workers’ litigation, legislative and community outreach initiatives. During law school, Kristina served as co-editor of the Environmental Law Review.
As the first in her immediate family to attend college, Kristina enjoys investing in the future leaders of tomorrow. She has served as an attorney mentor for several high school mock trial teams over the years and taught street law classes to high school students.
