A Philadelphia Trial Attorney Focused on Accountability in High-Stakes Injury Cases
Kevin Harden, Jr., Esq. is a Philadelphia trial attorney and co-founder of Harden Crichton, P.C.
He represents individuals and families in serious personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, civil rights and other complex civil matters involving serious personal injuries. His approach to the practice of law is shaped by courtroom experience, meticulous preparation, and a deep commitment to helping people navigate some of the hardest moments of their lives.
That was the case for Terrance Lewis, who served 21 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Kevin was part of Lewis’ legal team that exonerated him, which led to nationwide news coverage and a then-record-breaking $6.25 million settlement in a § 1983 civil rights malicious prosecution lawsuit against the City of Philadelphia on Lewis’ behalf. At the time, it was the highest non-DNA exoneration settlement in Pennsylvania history.
After his best friend, Stephen “Unit” Henderson, Jr., was shot and killed by the police, Kevin trained himself to prosecute civil rights claims against the police, and has won more than $25 million for individuals and families that have been the victims of excessive force, shot and killed by the police or falsely accused of serious crimes.
Kevin has also worked to educate women of the risks associated with childbirth. Coined as the Black Maternal Mortality crisis, the family of a childhood friend retained Kevin to investigate the death of a vibrant mother of two that died while delivering her second child. Kevin doggedly investigated the circumstances of the young woman’s death, leading to the discovery of other incidents demonstrating a trend of mislabeling the cause of maternal mortality events at a suburban Philadelphia hospital. Armed with the results of his investigation, Kevin was able to achieve a confidential settlement on behalf of the family of the young woman and her children.
While many lawyers saw their personal injury practices slow down during court closures in 2020 and 2021, Kevin was one of the first lawyers to try a medical malpractice jury trial following the re-opening of Philadelphia’s courts. Kevin individually tried a wrongful death medical malpractice case to a jury that awarded a $3,000,000.00 verdict. The verdict was $2 million more than the available insurance and the physician’s insurer eventually paid in excess of the policy limits to resolve the matter. The case involved a delay in the diagnosis of both prostate and liver cancer in a retiree that suffered an unrelated leg amputation earlier in life. The physician responsible for the delay in diagnosis, admitted under cross-examination by Harden, that he “dropped the ball” on making sure that the proper tests were ordered and follow-up on to make sure the deceased husband and grandfather could receive appropriate and timely treatment of his cancers, both of which would have been curable had they been diagnosed earlier.
A graduate of the Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and the James E. Beasley School of Law at Temple University, Kevin began his legal career as a prosecutor assisting crime victims in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. He was a lead prosecutor on an acclaimed organized crime “Focused Deterrence” task force that was credited with a 40% decrease in non-fatal shootings and homicides, resulting in the lowest homicide rate in Philadelphia in more than 50 years. He also worked alongside SVU investigators prosecuting crimes against children and worked with expert toxicologists and accident reconstruction experts in matters involving automobile crashes and the use of both prescription and illicit narcotics.
That experience gave him valuable trial experience and helped shape the way he approaches complex, high-stakes matters today. As lead counsel, Kevin has individually tried more than 25 trials to jury verdict. Whether serving as lead counsel, co-counsel, or in a supporting role, Kevin has recovered more than $92 million in settlements and verdicts on behalf of injured clients and their families.
After his time as an Assistant District Attorney, Kevin worked in the white collar and commercial litigation practice groups of the national law firm Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC. While there, he represented corporations and their executives in sensitive government investigations and business litigation. Harden defended matters involving numerous federal and state investigative agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Securities Exchange Commission, the Office of Foreign Asset Control, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office and numerous other state and municipal investigative and regulatory agencies.
After his time as a corporate trial lawyer and litigator, he transitioned to representing individuals and families in personal injury litigation. Kevin made partner at a prominent Philadelphia personal injury firm before launching Harden Crichton, P.C. with attorney Troy Crichton. This background gives Kevin a broad understanding of how difficult cases are built, challenged, and ultimately tried.
Today, Kevin focuses on representing people who have suffered catastrophic harm because of negligence or misconduct. He is an attorney who brings strategic preparation and substantial courtroom experience to serious injury litigation, with a practice centered on protecting people harmed by powerful interests.
A Lawyer Grounded in Preparation and Trial Strength
Kevin’s work in legal practice has earned him industry recognition. Harden has been recognized as “Outstanding Young Lawyer” by the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia, “Best of the Bar” for Personal Injury Litigation by the Philadelphia Business Journal, a “Lawyer on the Fast Track” by the Legal Intelligencer, “Community Hero” by the Philadelphia non-profit Uplift Solutions, “40 Under 40” by City and State PA, “Friend of the Year” by the Urban Affairs Coalition, and was a recipient of the “Amber Racine Award” from the Pennsylvania Association of Justice, the “Haddon, McClellan and Richardson Alumni Award” from the Temple University Beasley School of Law Black Law Student Association, and the “Black Rose Award” from Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. He has been selected to Super Lawyers from 2022 to 2026 and to Super Lawyers Rising Stars from 2016 to 2021.
His record reflects a belief that serious cases require more than surface-level advocacy. They require deep investigation, careful development of facts, strong command of the law, and the ability to present a compelling case under pressure. Harden Crichton, P.C. emphasizes relentless preparation, extensive jury trial experience, and a willingness to take cases to court when necessary.
This perspective is especially important in cases involving catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, and medical negligence, where the stakes are high, and defendants may have extensive legal and financial resources. Kevin approaches these matters with the seriousness they deserve and with a clear understanding that strong advocacy can make a meaningful difference for injured people and grieving families.
A Commitment to Philadelphia and Community Leadership
Kevin’s professional life is also marked by meaningful community involvement. He is a past president of the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia, a past chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section and Government Lawyers’ Committee, a director for the Defender Association of Philadelphia, Urban Affairs Coalition, and The Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Art. On July 1, 2026, he will become Chairman of the Kutztown University Council of Trustees. He is also the founder and lead instructor at West Philadelphia Taekwondo & Sport Karate.
These roles reflect a long-standing commitment to the Philadelphia community and the surrounding areas, including Delaware and Montgomery counties, and to service beyond the courtroom. Kevin's extensive community involvement aligns with his firm’s broader identity as a homegrown Philadelphia practice built around advocacy for real people.
Co-Founding Harden Crichton
Kevin co-founded Harden Crichton, P.C. with Troy Crichton after years of practicing in prestigious law firms and offices and working on the nation’s most complex and high-profile legal matter. Both attorneys launched Harden Crichton, P.C. to create a practice focused on meaningful representation for people rather than institutions.
At Harden Crichton, P.C., Kevin continues to bring that vision to life by representing clients in matters involving serious injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, birth injury, civil rights and other complex claims. His work is driven by a belief that people facing devastating losses deserve not only strong legal advocacy but also honesty, responsiveness, and genuine care.