Krista Cabrera

Foley & Lardner • San Diego


A class in law school on sex discrimination intrigued Krista Cabrera and charted her career path. "It sounded interesting and juicy," she recalled.


More than two decades later, Cabrera has witnessed significant shifts in the landscape of employment law. "The Number 1 biggest change I've seen is the shift of the practice into the world of wage and hour class actions," she said. This transition from individual harassment and discrimination cases to complex class actions now consumes half of her practice. 


Recently, Cabrera's litigation practice includes working on a trial team that secured a full defense verdict in a disability discrimination case, representing multiple companies in wage and hour class and PAGA actions, and securing an immediate dismissal of a race and gender discrimination case after taking the plaintiff's deposition.


In addition, Cabrera counsels clients on compliance and litigation mitigation strategies. 


She keeps her grandmother's 1935 high school yearbook in her office. There's a career section that advises women pursuing a career in law to "confine their practice to such activities as the labor board, social relations bureau, and the family court." 


"Men still have very little confidence in women," it reads. 


The book is a stark reminder of how far she and other women have come in the legal profession. 


Outside the courtroom, Cabrera finds joy in family life. "Mainly hanging out with my family," she says when asked about her free time. With two teenage daughters and a husband who's also a lawyer, Cabrera's home life is as rich and fulfilling as her professional one. "My husband's an amazing cook," she adds, highlighting their shared love for entertainment and good food..