Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Armstrong.
Hi Kristen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I became interested in healthcare law while working as an employment counselor for the New Jersey Department of Labor. I met many people who were unemployed, uninsured, and unable to access the healthcare they needed. Seeing how a lack of insurance could prevent people from getting treatment—even for serious conditions like cancer—inspired me to attend law school and focus on healthcare law.
While in law school in Los Angeles, I pursued every opportunity to study healthcare-related issues. I became particularly interested in medical tourism and eventually published research on the topic in The Health Lawyer, a national publication of the American Health Law Association.
After graduating during the 2008 recession, I started my legal career at a medical malpractice defense firm in San Diego before moving into in-house roles with a healthcare startup and later Palomar Health. Shortly after joining Palomar Health as Assistant Deputy General Counsel, I was affected by a large layoff. What felt like a setback at the time ultimately became the catalyst for starting my own law firm.
Today, my practice focuses on healthcare compliance, transactions, reproductive law, and medical tourism. I work with everyone from physicians, med spas, and wellness clinics to intended parents, surrogates, and medical tourism facilitators around the world. Having personally experienced medical tourism myself, I bring both professional and personal insight to that work.
What I love most is that building my own firm gave me the freedom to create a practice unlike any other—one that combines healthcare law, reproductive law, and an international perspective. It also gave me the flexibility to be present for my children while building a career I’m passionate about. Looking back, every step of the journey has been driven by one goal: helping people access healthcare and navigate important life decisions with confidence.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not. Like most entrepreneurs, there have been plenty of challenges along the way.
One of the most difficult periods of my life was building my law practice while navigating a divorce and raising my son. As a newly single mother, I was entirely responsible for supporting our household. There was no financial cushion, so the success of my business directly impacted my family’s well-being. That responsibility was both daunting and incredibly motivating.
At the same time, I was building a law firm from the ground up. Running a business requires much more than practicing law—you have to learn marketing, business development, finance, operations, and leadership. There were many late nights, difficult decisions, and moments of uncertainty.
Another challenge was that I chose to focus on niche areas of law that didn’t come with a traditional roadmap. Combining healthcare law, medical tourism, and reproductive law was not a common practice model, so I had to create my own path and educate clients and referral sources about the value of what I do.
Looking back, those challenges shaped me both professionally and personally. They taught me resilience, independence, and confidence in my ability to build something meaningful. Most importantly, they allowed me to create a practice that reflects my values and gives me the flexibility to be present for my family.
Today, when I look at the firm we’ve built and the clients we help around the world, I’m grateful for every challenge along the way because each one pushed me to become a better lawyer, business owner, and mother.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Global Healthcare Law Group, APC?
What I am most proud of is that we have built a truly boutique law firm that combines healthcare law, reproductive law, and medical tourism—three highly specialized areas that rarely exist under one roof.
We represent healthcare providers, medical groups, med spas, wellness businesses, intended parents, surrogates, egg donors, and medical tourism facilitators. Many of our clients are navigating some of the most important decisions of their lives, whether that involves building a family, seeking healthcare, or growing a healthcare business.
What sets us apart is our highly personal approach. When clients hire our firm, they work directly with us and have direct access to me. Every client receives my cell phone number because I believe accessibility and communication matter. We intentionally keep our practice relationship-driven rather than volume-driven.
We also recognize that many of the matters we handle are deeply personal and emotional. Our goal is not only to provide excellent legal counsel but also to be a supportive and steady resource throughout the process.
I am especially proud that we have built a practice with a global reach. On any given day, I may be working with clients and professionals in Mexico, Israel, Taiwan, or elsewhere around the world. That international perspective, combined with our personalized service and specialized expertise, is what makes our firm unique.
Ultimately, I want people to know that we provide sophisticated legal guidance while maintaining the accessibility, responsiveness, and personal attention that clients often struggle to find elsewhere.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happiest is the life I’ve been able to create for my family and myself.
We live near the beach in San Diego, and some of my favorite moments are spent in the water with my husband, son, and daughter. There is something almost mesmerizing about watching my husband and son out on their surfboards while my daughter swims nearby and I’m right there with them. Those moments remind me why I worked so hard to build my business in the first place.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also become much more intentional about prioritizing my health and emotional well-being. I’ve learned that success means very little if you don’t have the time and energy to enjoy your life and the people you love. Creating a life that supports both meaningful work and personal well-being has become incredibly important to me.
I also love that I’ve built a career around helping people. Many of my clients come to me during stressful and emotional times, whether they’re starting a healthcare business, navigating a surrogacy journey, or pursuing a unique healthcare opportunity. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is when a client gets off the phone and says, “I feel so much better.” Knowing that I’ve helped reduce someone’s stress and given them clarity and confidence is incredibly fulfilling.
I also enjoy helping entrepreneurs bring new ideas to life. Watching a client’s vision grow into a successful business is exciting and rewarding, and I feel fortunate to play a small part in that journey.
For me, happiness is about balance—prioritizing health, family, and emotional well-being while doing work that genuinely helps people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.globalhealthcarelaw.com/en/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenmontez/
