Memberships
- American Association for Justice
- National Crime Victim Bar Association
- Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association
- Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association
- Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
- American Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
Education
- Widener University Delaware Law School
- Juris Doctor, 2012, Widener University School of Law
- Bachelor of Arts, 2009, Franklin & Marshall College
Licensure
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
About Stewart
Stewart Ryan is a nationally and internationally known advocate for survivors of abuse. He handles cases nationwide involving sexual and physical abuse in institutional settings including religious organizations, boarding schools, residential treatment facilities, hospitals, universities, sports organizations, daycare centers, schools, and businesses.
He litigates cases against organizations and businesses that have allowed adults and children to be abused for decades, including cases against the Catholic Church, Seventh-Day Adventists, Evangelical Lutheran Churches of America, Church of God In Christ, and various cults. He is a trusted resource to clients and other lawyers when it comes to handling cases against businesses who allow abusers to assault customers and co-workers, especially in franchise businesses in the massage and wellness industry, hotel industry, and food service industry.
Prior to joining Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan, Stewart served as Assistant Chief of the Trials Division in the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. As a prosecutor, he handled a wide variety of cases including homicides and violent crimes. He specialized in prosecuting and investigating crimes of sexual violence perpetrated against adults and children, as well as cases of physical child abuse, child exploitation, domestic violence, and elder abuse. He received numerous commendations for his tireless efforts on behalf of victims and for courtroom successes.
During his time at the District Attorney’s Office, Stewart also prosecuted a number of high-profile cases including Commonwealth v. William H. Cosby Jr. In that case, he presented the testimony of past victims, cross-examined key witnesses, and made the final closing argument before the jury returned its guilty verdict.
Stewart has demonstrated a track record of fierce and passionate advocacy on behalf of individuals who have been injured or harmed. Whether a person has suffered emotional or physical injuries as a victim of a crime or has been hurt through the negligence of others, he approaches every client with trauma-informed compassion and with the goal of achieving justice in their case.
A widely recognized speaker, Stewart has presented to audiences across the United States, Canada, and Europe on issues related to sexual violence, prevention, institutional abuse, and high-profile prosecutions. He is also regularly relied upon as a subject matter expert by local, national, and international media including Good Morning America, Court TV, ABC News, Associated Press, Mother Jones, The Washington Post, The Daily Beast, Talk Radio Europe, and others.
Since 2021, Stewart has been an adjunct professor of law at Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law.
Stewart is a graduate of La Salle College High School, Franklin & Marshall College, and Widener University Delaware Law School.
Industry Recognition
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® – Rising Star 2021-2022
- Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Unit Commendations August 2017, September 2016 and July 2016
- Upper Merion Police Department Unit Commendation, January 2015
- Named “30 Under 30” by Explorer, the Official Magazine of La Salle College High School, Summer 2014 Issue
- The Legal Intelligencer: 2019 Top Verdict, Sullivan, et al. v. Werner Co., et al.
- American Association for Justice, New Lawyers Division Excellence Award 2021 - 2022
Leadership
- Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office: Assistant Chief of the Trials Division
- Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center: Board of Trustees and Member of the Young Friends of Mission Kids
- Victim Services Center of Montgomery County: Board of Directors, Endowment Steering Committee and Chairman, Engagement Sub-Committee
- La Salle College High School, Member, La Salle Leadership Council and Committee Member, La Salle Alumni Mentor Program
Speaking Engagements
- Town Hall on Sexual Violence, Victim Services Center of Montgomery County, November 2018
- #MeToo in Sports and Entertainment Panel, University of New Hampshire School of Law, November 2018
- Effective Direct Examinations, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, November 2018
- Prosecuting Sexual and Domestic Violence Crimes, Philadelphia County (Pa.) District Attorney’s Office CLE, February 2019
- Bringing Cosby to Justice: The First Conviction in the #MeToo Era, Bucks County (Pa.) District Attorney’s Office, August 2019
- 2019 National Crime Victim’s Bar Association Conference
- 2019 Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council
- 2019 National Sexual Assault Conference
- 2019 Conference on Crimes Against Women
- 2019 Sexual Assault Investigator’s Association of Ontario (Canada) Conference
- 2020 Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association Spring Prosecutors Conference
- 2020 Family Services of North Alabama
- 2021 Annual National Black Prosecutors Association Conference
- 2021 National Crime Victim’s Bar Association Conference
- The Lifestyle Institute (Spain), Presentation on the Abuse of Power, 2021
- 2021 Perrin Conference: Sexual Abuse Litigation and Coverage Conference
- 2021 End Violence Against Women International Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Trauma and Resilience Conference
- Bringing Cosby to Justice: The First Conviction in the #MeToo Era, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Numerous trainings for law enforcement on subjects including the investigation and prosecution of cases involving sexual assaults of adults and children, child physical abuse, internet crimes against children, and domestic violence, January 2015 – May 2018