Kristen is widely-regarded as one of the Nation’s leading litigators in the field of sexual abuse.
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
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.
Outside of the courtroom, Kristen provides a powerful voice for victims nationwide. Kristen 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 has a rare mixture of compassion and killer instinct. A dream come true for her clients, a nightmare for the other side.”
Kristen is also regularly called upon for expert commentary on high-profile sexual assault matters by attorneys and international and national media outlets alike including CNN, CBS, ABC, Fox, NPR, and the BBC.
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. Feden is also an adjunct professor in the top-ranked Temple LLM program in Trial Advocacy and Rosemont College.
Credentials
Admissions
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Education
Temple University Beasley School of Law, JD
Lafayette University, BS
Professional Organizations
Board Member and Vice President of the Board, Victims Services Center of Norristown
Board Member, Philadelphia Academies, Inc.
Board Member, Cheltenham Police Athletic League
Board Member, Trinity Health Mid- Atlantic
Board Member, Aequitas
Trustee, West Chester University Foundation
Fellow, British American Project
Diversity Committee, Montgomery County Bar Association
Women’s Ministry, Salem Baptist Church of Jenkintown
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity 2019 Class of Fellows
Safe Homes of Orange County, Family Justice Center Award
Main Line Today, Women on the Move
National Sexual Violence Resource Center, Visionary Voice Award - 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
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Presenter, Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Assembly of Cities
Keynote Speaker, “Bringing Cosby to Justice: Investigating and Prosecuting High Profile and Cold Sexual Assault Cases,” Wisconsin Serving Victims of Crime Conference
Speaker, “Bring Cosby to Justice: The First Conviction in the #MeToo Era,” National Sexual Assault Conference
Speaker, “The Fearless Litigator: Navigating Media Attention on High- Profile Cases,” Law&Crime Network and the American Bar Association’s Media Training Program
Speaker, “A Story of Survival: Commonwealth v. Cosby, Leading with Courage, Breaking through Barriers and Persevering,” Shabtai: The Jewish Society of Yale University
Keynote Speaker and Presenter at the Northeast South Dakota Conference
Presenter, “Fireside Chat with Kristen Gibbons Feden,” Pennsylvania Bar Association’s 26th Annual Commission on Women in the Profession Conference
Faculty Presentation, “Closing Arguments,” Temple University Beasley School of Law LLM Program
Moderator, “Implicit Bias,” Montgomery County Bar Association
Keynote Speaker, “Moving Beyond: We All Have a Voice,”Lafayette College
Panelist, “Everyday Activism: Stepping Up and Showing Up,” for I Will Not Be Quiet
Keynote Speaker, “Leading with Courage, Breaking Through Barriers and Persevering,” Chamber of Commerce of Greater Montgomery County
Special Presenter, Minority Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association
Speaker, “The Ultimate Act of Power & Control: Overcoming Common Defenses in Domestic Violence Homicide Cases; Commonwealth v. Cosby – Bringing Cosby to Justice: The First Conviction in the #MeToo Era; and Seizing the Opportunity: Cross-Examination of the Defendant in Current & Cold Cases of Sexual Assault,” Crimes Against Women Conference
Panelist, “Bringing Cosby to Justice: The First Conviction in the #MeToo Era,” 10th Annual Criminal Law & Forensics Conference
Presenter, “Credibility in the Law: Handling Allegations of Sexual Harassment and Assault,” Greensboro Bar Association CLE Seminar
Panelist, “The #MeToo Movement’s Impact on Litigation, Counseling and Training,” Philadelphia Bar Association CLE Program
Speaker, “How Society Considers Sexual Assault Cases,” Shabtai: The Jewish Society of Yale University
Panelist, “Managing Your Work and Life Balance Part II – How I Can be a Judge/Lawyer and Still Have a Life?” Montgomery Bar Association Women in Law Committee CLE Program
Speaker, “Prosecution of Bill Cosby and the Importance of His Case in the #MeToo Era,” Evercore Wealth Management Wise Women Event
Panelist, “Time’s Up. How to Create Non-Complicit and Zero Tolerance Culture,” S.H.E. Summit
Panelist, “How Race Matters in the Adversary Process,” Tucker Law Group CLE: Standing on the Shoulders: The Black Philadelphia Lawyer
Speaker, “Sexual Violence, Harassment and Prevention Tactics and Techniques,” University of Pennsylvania Bloomers Comedy Alumni
Presenter, “Using Expert Witnesses,” Aequitas’ Expert Witness Testimony Training with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape
Presenter, “The Global Child Abuse Epidemic with a Local Solution,” NALS of Pennsylvania 54th Annual Conference
Speaker, “Opening Remarks,” Laurel House 5K DASH Against Domestic Violence
Panelist, “Domestic Violence Town Hall,” Montgomery County Courthouse