About Kristin
"I believe legal counsel should not only manage risk—but drive impact."
Kristin O'Brien is the founder and attorney of Baustian Legal PLLC, bringing more than 12 years of legal experience spanning an AmLaw 100 firm and in-house leadership roles in the technology, software, and government contracting sectors. She has deep expertise in SaaS and software licensing, IP strategy, federal government contracting, mergers & acquisitions, and corporate governance, with a proven ability to align legal strategy with enterprise growth and lead high-performing teams.
Kristin has built her practice around helping mission-driven organizations—including those operating in government-facing and technology-driven spaces—move quickly and confidently while staying protected. Her experience spans enterprise software and SaaS agreements, federal government contracts, and mergers & acquisitions, giving her a practical view of how technology, procurement, and transactional risk intersect. She is known for streamlining contract processes, building durable compliance programs, advising boards and leadership on corporate governance, and serving as a trusted advisor through periods of growth and change. Her training in generative AI governance and prompt engineering also informs how she counsels clients on the legal and compliance risk of adopting AI tools.
