Kristin N. Tahler is a partner in the Los Angeles Office, Chair of Quinn Emanuel's False Claims Act Practice and Co-Chair of the firm's International Disputes: Section 1782 Practice. Tahler's practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, and complex civil matters often related to criminal or quasi-criminal charges or fraudulent conduct. Drawing on extensive and varied litigation experience, Tahler serves as a master strategist who helps clients shape legal approaches to complicated problems. Her clients are often international companies, executives, boards of directors, investors, and ultra-high net-worth individuals who turn to her as counselor to help solve their thorniest legal issues, map out strategies and carry out coordinated plans.
Tahler deploys her acumen around the world, overseeing multi-jurisdictional litigation and strategy in the Middle East, U.K., E.U. and the Cayman Islands, to name just a few examples. A significant portion of her practice includes representing clients from the Middle East, including entities and individuals from Kuwait, the UAE, and other GCC countries.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Lawdragon 100 Leading Cayman Lawyers | 2026 | Financial Services, Securities, Structured Finance Litigation |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators | 2025 | Financial Services, Securities, Structured Finance Litigation |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 100 Leading Cayman Lawyers | 2025 | Financial Services, Securities, Structured Finance Litigation |
| The 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators | 2024 | Financial Services, Securities, Structured Finance Litigation |
| Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators | 2023 | Financial Services, Securities, Structured Finance Litigation |
In her global practice, Tahler helps clients navigate internal and government investigations, government contracts disputes, international arbitrations, and complex transnational matters. She has represented CEOs, CFOs, companies, investment entities, limited partnerships, boards, and special committees of boards, and private clients in a variety of actions. Tahler has vast experience handling internal investigations, government probes, and complex civil complaints.
Tahler’s experience is diverse. She has defended clients in criminal and regulatory actions, including involving allegations of insider trading, government contracting fraud, and violations of the securities laws and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Tahler has extensive experience representing defendants in False Claims Act (FCA) litigation, and has also counseled clients in securities, class-action antitrust, and employment litigation. Tahler has pursued and defended defamation actions, including obtaining total victory through summary judgment for a defendant in a multi-year, hotly contested case. Her plaintiff-side work often arises as a complement to a broader affirmative legal strategy on behalf of clients and has included claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act and the FCA. In recent years, she also has developed an expertise in seeking discovery in aid of foreign proceedings, including under Section 1782.
In her capacity as a strategist-counselor, Tahler has served as the key legal liaison to corporate monitors installed pursuant to government settlements with her clients. She is frequently tapped to identify, engage and supervise experts and consultants retained during litigation or as part of a client’s overall strategy. This includes crisis management counsel where Tahler, as her clients’ trusted advisor, manages multi-disciplinary teams — often including public relations professionals, investigators — and the range of tactical facets in crisis response.