About Kristen
Kristen Epifania built a law practice that moves between courtrooms and public offices. She is an attorney admitted in New York, New Jersey and before the Federal Circuit. Her career blends criminal defense, juvenile representation and civil litigation experience.
Epifania earned a B.A. in English Literature from Marist College in 2012. She then attended Brooklyn Law School, receiving her J.D. in 2016. While at Brooklyn Law School she completed a Certificate in Criminal Law, supplementing classroom work with practical training.
Her early work was hands-on. In 2013 she served as a student legal representative at Sanctuary for Families. The following year she worked as a juvenile justice representative at the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office. In 2015 she completed two internships: one with the Crimes Against Children’s Bureau at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office and another in civil litigation at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Those placements offered exposure to both prosecutorial practice and federal civil procedure.
After law school she joined the Law Offices of Julie Rendelman LLC as an associate in 2016. That role preceded a move into public defense. In 2021 she took a position as an Assistant Deputy Public Defender in the Office of the Public Defender. The public defender post deepened her courtroom experience and involved handling a range of criminal and client-relations matters. In 2022 she worked as an associate at Williams Law Group, returning to private practice while retaining ties to public service.
Epifania holds memberships in a number of bar organizations. Those include the New York State Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association and the New Jersey State Bar Association. She is a member of the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey. She is also admitted to practice in the Bar of the Southern District of New York.
Her practice reflects the variety of her background. She has argued in state criminal matters, represented juveniles in delinquency settings and handled aspects of civil litigation in federal court. Colleagues describe her as steady under pressure and attentive to procedure. Clients see an attorney familiar with courtroom rhythms and the demands of both public and private practice.
As of 2026 Epifania’s work remains centered at the Office of the Public Defender, where she continues to handle criminal defense and related matters in state and federal forums.
