Kristen is widely-regarded as one of the Nation’s leading litigators in the field of sexual abuse and civil rights. Kristen M. Gibbons Feden has proven herself to be fearless when fighting for survivors against high-profile offenders and large institutions. Christened by the New York Times as “The Prosecutor Who Stared Down Bill Cosby,” Kristen is internationally recognized as a leading litigator in the #MeToo Movement. Nationally acclaimed as a fierce litigator, Kristen has represented numerous sexual abuse survivors in their pursuit of civil justice and received a multitude of awards for her tireless work with the most vulnerable survivors, many of whom were in their darkest moments when they sought her out.
PRACTICE AREAS
- Sexual Abuse Attorneys
- Civil Rights
- Victims of Crimes
While her, now famous, closing argument in the second trial of Commonwealth v. William H. Cosby put her in the international spotlight, Kristen has always been dedicated to fighting for victims of sexual abuse both in and out of the courtroom. Kristen began her work with victims as a prosecutor in Montgomery County, where she served as Captain of the Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse Units and member of the Sex Crimes Unit. In that role, she successfully litigated scores of cases to verdict, including trials involving sexual and physical abuse, domestic violence, and homicide. While a prosecutor, Kristen received multiple commendations for her courtroom successes and efforts on behalf of survivors. By taking many cases to trial that others would not, Kristen demonstrated her dedication to survivors, time and time again.
Everyone has the right to equal justice in the United States.
Kristen works tirelessly on behalf of her clients to achieve unmatched results, including:
$1M settlement against an educational institution for a sexual abuse survivor
$6.5M settlement against a retail commercial entity for a sexual abuse survivor
$6,500,000
$6.5M settlement against a retail commercial entity for a sexual abuse survivor
$1,000,000
$1M settlement against an educational institution for a sexual abuse survivor
Outside of the courtroom, Kristen provides a powerful voice for victims nationwide. Kristen uses her experience and training in law enforcement to passionately fight for people and groups who have suffered unfair discrimination by police or government. She is regularly called upon for expert commentary on high-profile matters by attorneys and international and national media outlets alike including CNN, CBS, ABC, Fox, NPR, and the BBC. Most recently, Kristen has offered commentary about the Derek Chauvin murder trial, for the death of George Floyd, one of the most important trials in our nation’s history. Kristen has a rare mixture of compassion and killer instinct. A dream come true for her clients, a nightmare for the other side. She has traveled internationally speaking out and fighting for changes in the law and in our societies’ understanding of the dynamics of sexual violence and the effects of sexual trauma on survivors. She has been recognized by numerous victim’s rights organizations around the country for this work.
Kristen is also a proud member of various Boards and Court Appointments, including being a Board Member of AEquitas, a national resource center for law enforcement investigating and prosecuting sex trafficking and other sex crimes; the Vice President of the Montgomery County’s Victim’s Services Center; and a Member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Criminal Procedural Rules Committee. Her expertise is also frequently called upon by various advocacy groups to present and provide keynote speeches. Kristen is also an adjunct professor at the Temple University Beasley School of Law and occasionally teaches in the top-ranked Temple LL.M. program in Trial Advocacy.
Honors & Awards :
- Named one of the Top 25 National Women Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania by National Women Trial Lawyers Association (NWTLA)
- Included in The National Black Lawyers Top 100
- Named by Peers to the 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List
- Selected by The National Trial Lawyers as one of the top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers
- Safe Homes of Orange County, Family Justice Center Award
- Main Line Today, Women on the Move
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center, Visionary Voice Award, Leadership Award
- The American Lawyer, Litigator of the Week
- The Legal Intelligencer, Lawyers on the Fast Track
- Philadelphia Business Journal, Top 40 Under 40
- Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, Office Commendation; Montgomery Township Police Department, Unit Commendation
- Upper Merion Police Department, Unit Commendation
- Victim Rights Law Center, Leadership Award
- Victim Services Center, Matty Muir Award
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Rising Star
- Selected as Top 10 Under 40 Attorney Award for the State of Pennsylvania for the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys
- Selected as a Listee for the Marquis Who’s Who