Kristin Messih is an associate attorney in the Los Angeles office. Ms. Messih obtained her Juris Doctorate at Southwestern Law School. Prior to law school, Ms. Messih earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Loyola University Chicago. During her time in Chicago, Ms. Messih clerked for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Bureau of Juvenile Justice.  There she aided in juvenile offender mitigation by guiding eligible youth into deterrence programs including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Aggression Replacement Training, Functional Family Parole, and Functional Family Therapy. Ms. Messih continued her early legal career by clerking for Judge Joseph Donald of the Milwaukee Court of Appeals.

During law school, Ms. Messih participated in several trial advocacy classes, activities, and competitions, including the first‐year Negotiations Honors Competition where she competed as a finalist. Ms. Messih interned with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office Central Trial Division where she aided prosecutors in all aspects of trial from beginning to end.

Ms. Messih is a litigator who is driven by client‐focused advocacy coupled with legal knowledge and skill. Her clients trust her to listen to their needs and desired results and to offer them competent and realistic legal advice. Prior to joining Phillips Spallas & Angstadt LLP, Ms. Messih worked at two boutique civil litigation firms where she represented a wide variety of clients including government agencies, county institutions, small businesses, and individuals in state and federal contract, personal injury, and civil rights disputes.

Ms. Messih is a proud Angeleno, a first‐generation law student, and a die‐hard Laker fan. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, exploring new restaurants, watching 90s and 2000s romantic comedies, making wheel‐thrown pottery, and spending time with friends and family.

Honors

  • Finalist, Negotiation Honors Program Competition (2018)
  • Recipient, Wildman/Schumacher Scholarship (2017-2020)
  • Recipient, Adiba Shaby Scholarship Foundation (2017-2020)