Profile

Kristen Winemiller

Partner,
Pacific Northwest Law LLP
Vice Chair of
North America West Coast
Chapter Leader
Diversity
Committee Member
Small Firm Initiative
Committee Member

My Contact Information

Pacific Northwest Law LLP
Portland, OR
direct: (503) 222-3120

Social Links

Chapter Location

Oregon/Idaho

Bio

I represent businesses and individuals under criminal investigation and those facing serious charges. My practice is focused on white collar defense, complex federal litigation, regulatory compliance and professional licensing. I appear regularly in both federal and state courts. In the early part of my career, I handled a series of murder cases and won an acquittal in a death penalty prosecution. Then I took on a number of clients charged with conspiring against the government or political terrorism, and developed a familiarity with cross-border issues. Later, I began to represent political figures and advise organizations. I troubleshoot for a number of non-profit organizations and businesses now, ranging from security to government relations, foreign investigation, digital forensics and cyber.

Representative Matters

• Represented principal in crypto currency firm
• Represented foreign national charged with cybercrime

• Represented the head of cybercrime task force charged with computer crime
• Represented multiple political figures under investigation for alleged sexual improprieties
• Represented numerous college students charged with Title IX violations
• Represented manager of a 1031 exchange investigated for fraud, subsequently convincing professional board to maintain his license
• Represented numerous medical professionals in licensing investigations
• Represented the head of a currency trading firm with offices in the Caribbean and Dubai who was prosecuted federally, with simultaneous civil suit brought by CFTC Receiver
• Represented an officer of an international investment firm prosecuted federally for fraud ($168 million), while defending simultaneous Nevada prosecution and bankruptcy fraud investigation
• Represented the head of a warehouse bank in a tax conspiracy trial prosecuted by Main Justice
• Represented an unlicensed investment advisor prosecuted by Main Justice in two federal districts for large scale fraud carried out in Switzerland, London and the Cayman Islands against wealthy individual
• Represented a commercial real estate broker prosecuted for forgery, with simultaneous bankruptcy litigation of fraud claims in another federal district
• Represented officer of a telecom company in an SEC civil enforcement suit
• Represented a broker investigated by the CFTC for unprofessional conduct
• Represented engineering firm cleared by OIG of false claims allegations raised by a whistleblower
• Represented construction firm investigated federally for payroll tax violations related to labor contracting practices
• Represented business owner prosecuted by Main Justice for labor trafficking and tax evasion, with simultaneous civil forfeiture claims
• Represented an officer of a defense contractor charged with providing substandard components for aeronautic use
• Pool counsel for employees of a multinational investigated for falsifying lab results of rocket components 
• Pool counsel for employees of a major health care organization under investigation for fraudulent billing practices
• Represented officer of health care institution investigated for Medicare fraud
• Represented owners of vacation rental business investigated for fraud
• Represented business owner charged with racketeering under state statute, with simultaneous civil forfeiture action 
• Represented son of company owner charged with RCRA violations
• Represented winery manager charged with wildlife offense on winery property
• Represented manufacturing company owner charged with Clean Water Act violations
• Represented CEO of paper mill investigated for Clean Water Act violations
• Represented employee of silicon wafer plant investigated for Clean Water Act violations
• Represented longshoreman investigated for Clean Water Act violations
• Represented First Mate investigated for manslaughter following collision at sea while he was at the helm
• Represented individual from whom funds had been seized for federal forfeiture, obtaining verdict that resulted in the return of the funds and an award of attorney fees
• Represented innocent owner to whom funds seized for forfeiture returned
• Represented engineer investigated for procuring oscillator from US company and providing it to restricted national of terrorism-designated state 
• Represented numerous individuals and businesses investigated for potential violations of providing material support to prohibited terrorist organizations
• Represented local mosques in suit alleging civil rights violations
• Pro bono counsel for Oregon Innocence Project in DNA litigation
• Represented individual defending security clearance before the Nuclear National Security Commission, US Department of Energy
• Represented individual investigated by Nuclear Regulatory Commission

• Represented whistleblowers in an SEC enforcement action

Other Distinctions

• Co-Chair, Oregon-Idaho WWCDA Chapter 2017 - present
• WWCDA Executive Committee Vice Chair/ North American West Coast, 2019 - present
• Co-Chair, WWCDA Chapters Committee 2019 - 2023
• Oregon Public Defense Services Commissioner, 2022 - 2023
• Super Lawyers: White Collar
• A/V rated
• Led Oregon Tribal FFC Workgroup - Legislation Adopted 2021
• Oregon State Bar Member Service Award 2021

• Ore. Legislative Electronic Privacy Communications Workgroup 2017 - 2019 
• Board Member, Oregon Federal Bar Association 2012 - 2020 
• Chair, Oregon Federal Bar Association Awards Committee 2016 - 2020
• Chair, Oregon FBA Haggerty Scholars Committee 2019 - 2020
• Executive Committee, Oregon State Bar Indian Law 2013 - 2022 
• Strike Force Liaison, Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
     2018 - present
• Vice Chair, Multnomah Bar Association Judicial Screening Committee    
     2003 - 2007
• Vice Chair, Oregon Bar, Press & Broadcaster Council 2002 - 2006
• Chair, Oregon State Bar Indigent Defense Task Force III 1999 - 2001
• National Board of Governors, Human Rights Campaign 1996 - 2000
• Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Education Committee
     1995 - 1999
• Inaugural Member, Oregon State Bar House of Delegates 1996 - 1998
• Regional Arts & Culture Council Public Art Committee 1996 - 1998
• Oregon State Bar Judicial Administration Committee 1994 - 1997
• Life Member, Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Minnesota DFL State Delegate and Rules Committee Member
• Spanish language competency

Practice Areas

  • Computer Forensics
  • Corporate Crime
  • Cross-border Investigations
  • Cybercrime
  • Environmental
  • Forensic Accounting
  • Government Contracting, Bid Protests and the False Claims Act
  • Government Investigations
  • Healthcare
  • Internal Investigations
  • SEC Enforcement
  • Trials
  • White Collar Crime