Working her first case with the FBI at the age of 8, Kristen Mendelsohn-Meza has been actively fighting for justice virtually her entire life. The words of Martin Luther King Jr. “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” echoes true in her life as she has refused to allow any obstacles to stand in her way in the pursuit of justice for the oppressed. Kristen grew up in a Messianic Jewi
sh home on a farm in Indiana. She could read before she was old enough to walk and had a passion for learning. Kristen was homeschooled before graduating from Park Tudor high school at the age of 16. Upon graduation, she began working full time as an undercover investigator and in her free time she travelled the world. Spending time on 6 of the 7 continents, Kristen immersed herself in various cultures and peoples. During her time abroad, she spent time with local communities learning their local culture and daily lives. Her experiences have given her an ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Kristen works to fight poverty and hunger across the globe and also fights to eradicate modern-day slavery. Kristen also has an extensive background working with people who have mental disabilities. Having a twin brother with Down’s Syndrome has given her first-hand experience of the daily difficulties these families face. She volunteered with the 2011 Special Olympics World Games in Athens Greece and has volunteered with local programs to help the mentally disabled and their families succeed in all areas of life. For most of her life Kristen worked as an undercover investigator. The cases ranged from intellectual property protection to narcotics. She successfully coordinated multi-jurisdictional criminal and civil intellectual property investigations for both international and domestic projects. She has conducted undercover surveillance involving allegations of child molestation, insurance fraud, child custody and other family law investigations. Kristen has assisted local and federal law enforcement to bring justice to victims. She has assisted US Customs, Secret Service, Postal Inspectors, and the FBI in criminal investigations. As an undercover investigator, she has done everything from solving cold cases to bringing war criminals to justice. Kristen has a keen ability to read people and the ability to understand her client’s values and needs as if they were her own. Her ability to connect with people also gives her insight in predicting arguments from the opposing side. Because of her work with law enforcement, she can decisively identify and address potential problems before they arise. Kristen received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Indianapolis. Her knowledge of various world philosophies has only strengthened her understanding and connection to people from diverse backgrounds. Kristen attended Florida Coastal School of Law where she interned with the Guardian ad Litem program and the state prosecutor’s office. As a result of her commitment to seeing all people have access to legal representation, she received the award for Pro Bono hours. As an attorney, Kristen has worked in intellectual property law where she represented famous and corporate clients regarding protection of their intellectual property. She has also practiced family law and has a passion for resolving child custody disputes and working towards resolutions that are truly in the child’s best interest. Kristen is a registered domestic relations mediator where she is able to utilize her understanding and ability to connect with people to help them achieve out of court settlements. For Kristen, practicing law is more than providing representation and formulating legal arguments; it is about being on the journey with her client and helping them navigate the legal process. The heartbeat of Kristen’s legal work is to see justice brought to the most vulnerable. From assisting refugees and teen runaways to founding a non-profit corporation that provided volunteer counseling services to abuse victims, Kristen works non-stop to serve the unseen and forgotten. Kristen’s quest to bring justice and wholeness to the world does not stop with humanity. She founded Kat’s Paws, an animal rescue and rehab service and works tirelessly to bring healing and happiness to all creatures on earth. Kristen’s personal life is as diverse as her professional one. Her spouse is a Mexican national and they take every opportunity to teach their children the joy of being from a diverse ethnic background. Each weekend they open their home to anyone who would like to experience Messianic religious life. When she isn’t passionately advocating for her clients, she spends her time at her log cabin homeschooling her children, running her farm, and fighting injustice whenever it comes across her path. Kristen’s life philosophy is to “Seek justice, live dangerously, risk everything, and burn your bridges as you go.”
