Kristine McAlister Brown

• Obtained dismissal of a putative nationwide class action against a credit card processor arising out of a data breach.
• Obtained dismissal of a putative nationwide class action against an online retailer based on alleged security vulnerabilities on its website.
• Defeated class certification in a nationwide consumer class action brought against a leading wireless service provider in federal court in Alabama. Won again when the Eleventh Circuit affirmed.
• Obtained Eleventh Circuit’s reversal of an order granting class certification on claims challenging a major wireless service provider’s sales commission policies.
• Won Third Circuit appeal reversing a denial of motion to compel arbitration in a putative nationwide class action.

Kristy McAlister Brown is a partner in Alston & Bird's Litigation & Trial Practice Group and leads Alston & Bird's Privacy & Cybersecurity Litigation Team. Kristy focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on class action and privacy litigation. She has defended putative class actions across the country and has a strong track record of defeating class certification—both at the trial and appellate levels. Kristy is an experienced privacy litigator. She has defended class actions brought under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and Telephone Consumer Protection Act, as well as class actions asserting deceptive trade practice claims based on privacy practices. Kristy also has significant experience defending Federal Trade Commission and state attorney general investigations relating to privacy and business practice issues.

In addition to her privacy litigation experience, Kristy has represented clients in complex commercial litigation involving many types of claims, including antitrust, deceptive trade practices, unfair competition, products liability, and accountant’s liability. Her clients have included several leading wireless service providers, a manufacturer of wireless telephones, a leading rent-to-own company, and a Big Four accounting firm.

Kristy’s recognitions include The Best Lawyers in America^®, Chambers USA, and BTI Client Service All Stars.

Bar Admissions

• Florida
• Texas
• Georgia

Education

• Vanderbilt University (J.D., 1993)
• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.S., 1990)

Memberships