Kristen E. Burgers

"One of the most important roles a lawyer can play is that of a strategic team leader. Our clients often face complex business problems that demand creative, practical and collaborative solutions."

Most client problems do not fall neatly into one category or another.  Many involve overlapping concerns which require a comprehensive approach in order to achieve an effective resolution. As a member of both the firm’s bankruptcy and creditors’ rights practice and the firm’s commercial real estate practice, Kristen provides a “big picture” perspective to businesses, lenders and individuals to achieve their business goals, whether through a financial restructuring, formal bankruptcy, or the purchase, sale or refinancing of real property.

Kristen represents debtors and creditors in bankruptcies and financial workouts in Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland.  On the debtor side, she has represented business debtors in chapter 11 reorganizations and liquidations, chapter 7 liquidations, financial workouts, and dissolutions.  On the creditor side, Kristen has represented business and individual creditors, as well as unsecured creditor committees, in chapter 11, chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, adversary proceedings, mediations, and related civil litigation.  She has also served as counsel to chapter 11 and chapter 7 trustees and to post-confirmation liquidating trusts.

Kristen also represents buyers, sellers, and lenders in the sale and financing of shopping centers, hotels, and residential/mixed use developments in the DC metro area and nationally.  These transactions have involved traditional financing, mezzanine financing, and preferred equity agreements.  Kristen works with clients to leverage specialized financing vehicles, including Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) and EB-5 financing transactions.  

In addition to her work with business clients, Kristen also has represented numerous pro bono clients in domestic relations, estate planning and landlord-tenant matters.

Best Lawyers in America® for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2022 - 2025

Named to “Legal Elite” (Bankruptcy Creditors Rights), Virginia Business, 2004, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2020 - 2022, 2024

Martindale-Hubbell^® AV Preeminent^®  - This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.

Benjamin R. Civiletti Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

American Inns of Court, The Congressman Walter F. Chandler Chapter, Washington, DC, President, 2020-2022; Secretary/Treasurer, 2012-2014; Programs Chair, 2010-2012

Northern Virginia Bankruptcy Bar Association

American Bankruptcy Institute

Outside of the office, Kristen enjoys spending time with her horses and dogs.  A lifelong equestrian, Kristen rode professionally before going to law school.  She now enjoys raising and training warmblood horses as hunters, jumpers, eventers and occasionally dressage horses.  Royal Tribute, a horse Kristen selected as a four-month old, went on to become the 2009 Future Event Horse East Coast champion and the 2011 Young Event Horse national champion.  Kristen also has six rescue dogs, which are a source of constant entertainment.

The Hirschler Bankruptcy team is pleased to present Bankruptcy Couch Counsel, a series of brief videos addressing the legal and business issues keeping you up at night.

Have questions about the information we present or a topic you'd like to see covered on a future Bankruptcy Couch Counsel? Contact any member of the team.

It may soon be a rare business enterprise that is able to insulate itself from the negative economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  While we hope the economy will rebound once the pandemic begins to abate, until then, the Hirschler Restructuring and Creditors Rights Group stands ready to assist clients in addressing the financial challenges of these economically unsettled times. 

Whether you are facing the loss or interruption of business, challenging financing relationships, the need to downsize or restructure, or other creditors’ rights issues, the Hirschler team will work with you toward a successful outcome.  

Contact us to understand your options and devise a recovery strategy that protects your business and financial health.

Visit our COVID-19 Resource Center for continuing coverage of the financial impact of the pandemic.