Krista Gay Associate

Krista Gay began her career as an assistant corporation counsel in the Labor & Employment Division of the New York City Law Department. There, she represented city agencies in employment claims brought under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Section 1983, and the New York Labor Law, and successfully drafted and argued motions to dismiss in state and federal court.

During 2020, Krista served as a staff attorney at the Center for Arkansas Legal Services. She advised individuals on employment discrimination and unemployment insurance matters and conducted investigations of private long-term living facilities accused of elder abuse. She appeared frequently in state court, and gained valuable experience conducting direct and cross examinations.  

While earning her J.D. at Brooklyn Law School, Krista served as a student attorney in her law school’s Employment Law Clinic, where she successfully opposed summary judgment in a Title VII and ADEA case, appealed unemployment decisions before the New York Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, and negotiated a settlement for a gender identity discrimination claim before the New York City Human Rights Commission.

Prior to joining Perkins Coie, Krista served as a law clerk to the Hon. Ramon E. Reyes, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. In this role, she drafted Orders and Report & Recommendations regarding the Fair Labor Standards Act, ERISA, the New York Labor Law, and constitutional law claims. She also previously served as a judicial intern to the Hon. Patty Shwartz of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Krista enjoys researching and writing on employment law topics related to parental leave and mandatory arbitration agreements. Her articles on these topics have been published in the Women’s Rights Law Reporter and the Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial, and Commercial Law.