Kristen L. Johannessen
Kristen L. Johannessen was born in Melbourne, Florida where she graduated from high school in 1985. Kristen obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1988 from Stetson University where she majored in history, graduating cum laude.
Kristen also obtained a teaching certificate and was the recipient of the R.L. Carter Award for best student teacher. Following graduation Kristen served as a special education teacher for the Osceola County School Board where she taught special needs elementary and middle school children for 2 years.
In 1990, Kristen entered Stetson University College of Law, graduating cum laude in December 1992. As a law student, Kristen was the recipient of three American Jurisprudence Book Awards after earning the highest grade in the class in the subjects of State Constitutional Law, Federal Constitutional Law, and Evidence. While in law school, Kristen clerked for a family law practice, where she served families with adoptions and various domestic issues.
Kristen’s legal practice has been comprised primarily of insurance defense litigation. Kristen has more recently limited her practice to the representation of employers and insurance carriers before the Judges of Compensation Claims throughout the State of Florida. Kristen is a member of the Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation and Labor and Employment Law Sections. Kristen is admitted to practice in all Florida courts, the U. S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the U. S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.
Kristen joined the law firm formerly known as Eraclides, Johns, Hall, Gelman, Johannessen & Goodman, LLP in 1997. She became the managing partner of their Tampa office in 1999, and served in that capacity for 14 years.
In February 2013, Kristen became a shareholder with Vecchio, Carrier, Feldman & Johannessen, P.A. Kristen is the managing partner of the firm’s Tampa office.
Kristen has extensively lectured at a variety of seminars for both clients and the bar. Kristen is certified by the Florida Department of Insurance as instructor in Florida Worker’s Compensation insurance and offers continuing education courses upon request.
Kristen has been married to her husband, a family law attorney, for over 30 years. They have one son who attends college at the University of Virginia.