Senior Associate
Email: krista.johnsonsmiley@smitheylaw.com
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Krista Johnson Smiley assists clients with complex labor and employment law matters including discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, race, age, and national origin; disability accommodations and discrimination; sexual harassment; retaliation; whistleblower retaliation; FMLA issues; federal employment; unpaid wages and commissions; severance agreements; and employment contracts including restrictive covenants and severance agreements.
Krista is dedicated to zealous, empathetic advocacy for individuals facing discrimination and workplace misconduct. Through her client-centered approach, she has achieved excellent results for clients in litigation, administrative proceedings, and negotiations in a wide range of industries, including federal, state, and local government, government contractors, sales, tech, healthcare, and education. Krista also advises small businesses on employee policies and agreements to promote healthy workplaces and minimize risk.
Before joining Smithey Law Group, Krista practiced employment law and litigation in the D.C. metro area. She also served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Raquel Trabal and the Honorable Tyrona T. De Witt at D.C. Superior Court after graduating from law school.
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia (2020)
- Maryland (2024)
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia (2025)
Bar Associations
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- Maryland State Bar Association
- Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA)
- MWELA Bench-Bar Committee
Publications & Presentations
- “Overview of Compliance: Balancing Employer Obligations and Employee Rights” and “Update on Enforcement Actions & Advising Employers/Institutions,” MSBA Immigration and Lab. & Empt. Law Sections Joint Conference (September 9, 2025)
- “What Maryland Employment Lawyers Should Know About Maryland Whistleblower Laws,” 2025 MSBA Legal Summit & Annual Meeting (June 6, 2025)
- “Cannabis and the Workplace,” Maryland Commission on Civil Rights Cannabis Symposium (July 25, 2024)
Education and Background
Krista holds a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School, where she served as Production Editor for the Federal Communications Law Journal. As a student, she clerked at a D.C. employment law firm. She also interned at the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, where she assisted with agency investigations into compliance with language access regulations and civil rights protections.
Krista grew up in Iowa and graduated cum laude from Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Studies, during which she conducted research on gender inequality in politics and government. Prior to law school, Krista worked in court administration and legal aid services, assisting individuals with language access needs, disability accommodations, and access to justice.
In her free time, Krista enjoys traveling, competing in her local pinball league, and spending time with family, friends, and her cats.