Krista L. Hiner
Krista Hiner is the newest associate at the law firm and practices in the areas of Trademark Law, Copyright Law, Non-Competition Agreements, Workers’ Compensation Law, and Employment Law.
She began working with the firm as a law clerk while in law school in 2008 and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in the spring of 2010. She gained admittance to the Minnesota State Bar and joined the firm as an associate attorney in 2010. She understands the value of obtaining efficient and inexpensive results for her clients at affordable rates. Krista has experience in and can assist you with the endless number of disputes that arise in the following areas:
- Trademark Law: Trademarks protect names, words, phrases, logos, symbols, and designs. Trademark law operates to minimize confusion between trademarks (and what those trademarks represent). If you are a business owner or designer, you most likely have work that is entitled to protection under trademark laws. Krista can provide cost-effective assistance with trademark availability searches, trademark applications, appeals of trademark application denials, trademark infringement disputes, domain name disputes, and other issues or questions you may have.
- Copyright Law: Copyrights protect literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works. When you create a work, you own the copyright from the moment of creation. This includes many forms of expression including videos, stories, songs, blog posts, and computer codes. However, unless you register your copyright, there is no guaranteed public record that you own the copyright to that work. Unfortunately, people who do not register their copyrights have difficulty proving ownership of that copyright in the event someone else claims ownership of that work or tries to use that work without your permission. Krista will help you with copyright registrations, copyright ownership transfers, copyright licenses, copyright infringement disputes, and any other questions you may have.
- Non-Competition Agreements: These agreements are often signed by an employee at the beginning of her or his employment. They restrict who the employee can provide services to, and where they can provide those services, should the current employment end. Although Minnesota courts enforce these agreements, they will do so only if the agreement follows specific rules. If you have been presented with a non-competition agreement by an employer, you should seek legal advice before signing it. If you signed a non-competition agreement and have questions about what work you can perform if and when you end your employment, Krista would be happy to discuss your options with you and assist you with protecting your right to future employment in your field. If you are an employer who would like to have your employees sign a non-competition agreement, Krista can help you draft an agreement that meets your goals without unfairly impeding your employees’ ability to earn a living.
- Employment Law: Unfortunately, Employee-Employer disputes are not uncommon in the workplace. Disputes can arise over discrimination, unpaid wages, contracts, and many other issues. If you are an employee or an employer who has identified a legal dispute in the workplace, Krista can help you identify your legal options with the goal of resolving the dispute in an amicable manner.
- Workers’ Compensation Law: Every work environment poses a risk for on-the-job injuries. With any injury claim, the goal is to get the employee the necessary medical treatment and help her or him safely return to work. In Minnesota, workers’ compensation disputes follow procedures and operate in a system different than district court cases and can be difficult to navigate without the assistance of an experienced attorney. Krista has represented numerous Employers, Insurers, and Employees in these disputes and would be interested in discussing the opportunity to represent you or your business in such a dispute.
Bar Admissions:
State of Minnesota, 2010
Tribal Court of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Community, 2011
Education:
William Mitchell College of Law, St Paul, Minnesota, 2010, J.D.
Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota, 2007, B.A.
About Krista:
Before starting her legal career, she received her undergraduate degree in 2007 from Gustavus Adolphus College, where she majored in political science. She began her legal education that fall at William Mitchell College of Law. At William Mitchell, Krista volunteered with the Minnesota Department of Revenue as a certified tax preparer where she maximized tax refunds for low-income clients in the community. She also participated in several clinics through William Mitchell, where she obtained federal and state tax-exempt status for non-profit organizations, prepared wills, trusts and health care directives for individuals, prepared copyright transfer documents and counseled clients on matters related to copyrights, and assisted small business clients with various matters.
To schedule a consultation with Krista Hiner, please contact Peterson, Logren & Kilbury, P.A. at 651-647-0506.
