Kristi Adair Zentner

Member
Co-Chair, Women’s Initiative

Minneapolis

(612) 260-9005

(612) 260-9085

Kristi is a transactional attorney who represents clients in general business, supply chain management, as well as tariff, customs, and trade matters.

Kristi regularly serves as outside general counsel for businesses, working closely with firm clients to gain an in-depth understanding of their business and business objectives. She routinely provides focused, cost effective, client centered legal advice on issues confronting clients on a daily basis. This includes, but is not limited to, commercial contract negotiation and review, corporate governance matters, employment matters, intellectual property matters, and real estate transactions. Acting as a strategic adviser to firm clients, Kristi works effectively across practices to implement thoughtful, innovative solutions. 

Contractual framework for supply chain management, manufacturing relationships, and distribution networks are necessary for the smooth operation of many businesses. Kristi has extensive experience in supporting these transactions in many major industries. Her primary focus is to draft and negotiate contracts that meet a client’s business objectives, with an eye toward avoiding potential disputes and litigation by drafting in an unambiguous manner. She provides comprehensive advice to manufacturing clients on the development, production, and distribution of their products and assists clients with matters such as manufacturing and supply agreements, distribution agreements, compliance issues involving government and regulatory agencies, warranties, sales contracts, pricing, intellectual property protection, and antitrust compliance.

Dovetailing the cross border transactions and distribution experience, Kristi also regularly counsels clients regarding all aspects of import compliance, from classification to valuation, and country of origin designation to marking requirements, among other things. Careful planning can ensure that businesses avoid unanticipated duty expenses, and can result in significant duty savings. Importer clients have successfully received advice from Kristi regarding reasonable care requirements, responses to requests for information and notices of action, protests, and Customs audits. In all matters, Kristi stresses the importance of preventative planning and proactively works with firm clients to create systems, internal controls, and compliance programs to minimize duties and avoid problems upon importation.

 

Experience

News

Cozen O'Connor's Female Shareholders Offer Advice for International Women's Day

March 08, 2024

Last year was a historical year for Cozen O’Connor – with no fewer than six of the seven members elevated to shareholder being women. In honor of International Women’s Day, the Cozen O’Connor Women’s Initiative hosted a panel discussion to discuss their unique backgrounds and career paths.

Cozen O’Connor Announces New Group Chairs, Office Managing Partners, Other Promotions

February 15, 2024

The firm announced several new practice group chairs, office managing partners, and leaders of firm committees and initiatives

Watch: Will Biden’s Task Force Bring Manufacturing Back to the U.S.?

July 14, 2021

Kristi Zentner and Heather Marx were featured in SupplyChainBrain discussing how the recommendations of Biden’s supply chain task force might lead to real progress toward the return of domestic manufacturing of critical supplies.

Cozen O'Connor: Women in Leadership

December 04, 2019

Four of Cozen O'Connor's Minneapolis-based attorneys - Heather Marx, Barbara Muller, Tina Syring and Kristi Zentner - are highlighted in a Women in Law leadership feature in Attorney at Law Magazine.

Publications

Managing Supply Chain Consequences Of Russian Sanctions

April 13, 2022

Heather Marx and Kristi Zentner contributed an article to Law360 discussing how President Joe Biden has issued executive orders restricting trade with Russia and has revoked Russia's permanent normal trade relations.

USTR Annual Report to Congress on China’s Compliance with WTO: Request for Public Comments [Alert]

August 23, 2021

T. Wallrich, H. Marx, and K. Zentner discuss the USTR’s Trade Policy Staff Committee soliciting public commentary regarding China’s compliance with its obligations to the WTO.

COVID Lessons Learned: Supply Chains Post-Pandemic [Industry Today]

June 07, 2021

Heather Marx and Kristi Zentner published an article in Industry Today discussing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global supply chain.

USTR Announces New Exclusion Process for Section 301 Tariffs on U.S. Imports from China

July 16, 2019

Kristi Zentner, Tom Wallrich, and Joel Nesset discuss the process for applicants to request that specific Chinese goods be exempted from the recently imposed additional 25 percent tariff.

Section 301 Tariff on List 3 Increases; Exclusion Process Proposed [Alert]

May 28, 2019

Tom Wallrich and Kristi Zentner discuss the USTR’s May 9 announcement that results in a 25 percent increased duty rate on all relevant goods that are exported from China on or after May 10, 2019, or that enter the United States after June 1, 2019.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

Women, Influence & Power in Law 2024

September 23, 2024 - Chicago, IL

NAWL 2024 Annual Meeting

July 24, 2024 - Chicago, IL

2023 Cozen O'Connor Women's Initiative Client Event

November 08, 2023 - Philadelphia, PA

How to Draft Your First (or Next) Contract

July 27, 2023 - Minneapolis

My NDA is DOA

January 25, 2022 - Webinar

2021 Trade Year in Review

November 11, 2021 - Webinar

Transferring a Business

January 13, 2021 - Webinar

Updates on U.S. Trade Remedies

December 14, 2020

12th Annual In-House Counsel Conference

July 28, 2020 - Philadelphia, PA

Education

  • Hamline University School of Law, J.D., 1999
  • University of St. Thomas, B.A., 1996
  • Minnesota