Krysten Thomas is an associate in the Corporate Practice Group in the firm's Washington, D.C. office and a member of the firm's Healthcare Team.
In her practice, Krysten contributes to the firm's due diligence efforts for corporate healthcare transactions and examines healthcare regulatory matters. She is also a member of the firm's Women in Healthcare Leadership Collaborative.
Prior to joining Sheppard, Krysten clerked, interned, and externed for Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby at the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. She also clerked at the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings and for the United States Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Counsel to the Inspector General.
Krysten earned her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center with a Dean's Certificate for special and outstanding service to the Georgetown community and Exceptional Pro Bono Pledge Recognition for the more than 250 hours of pro bono service that she completed as a law student. At Georgetown, she also conducted COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS research for the Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security and the Georgetown O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, while serving as a student attorney in the Georgetown Health Justice Alliance Clinic through which she represented a family in the mediation of a special education matter. She was a fellow with the District of Columbia Bar's Karen Hastie Williams Leadership Fellowship Program, the Corporate Counsel Women of Color, EMILY's List, and the New Leaders Council, as well.
Krysten earned her M.P.H. from Yale School of Public Health, after receiving the grade of honors on her master's thesis which systematically reviewed the use of reproductive healthcare products in the context of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. At Yale, Krysten also conducted research on other reproductive health issues and maternal health disparities in Switzerland at the World Health Organization's Reproductive Health and Research Department and in Connecticut through the Yale Global Health Justice Partnership and at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Inc.
Krysten additionally served as a health and judiciary legislative staffer in the United States Senate, worked as a health policy consultant, and held a variety of other public policy and public affairs positions.
Krysten maintains an active pro bono practice and volunteers with a wide variety of organizations outside of the firm. In 2024, Sheppard honored Krysten with the Bob Williams Award, which recognizes attorneys and staff at the firm for their contributions to the firm and their communities. In 2025, the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless honored Krysten with their Outstanding Pro Bono Award for her tireless and zealous representation of a clinic client which resulted in permanent and affordable housing for the client and her family.