Alan Ripka

Alan Ripka’s path to the courtroom was marked by personal tragedy and a relentless desire to help others find justice. He began college on a pre-med track, believing he would follow a traditional path into medicine — until the sudden death of his brother in a ski accident altered everything. That loss became a catalyst, shifting Ripka’s purpose and ultimately leading him to law school. From that moment on, he’s been driven by a belief that no one should have to face life-altering harm without someone willing to stand up for them.

Ripka’s early career began in public service as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn. It was a high-stakes training ground — five interviews, a class of 32, and no room for passivity. He rose quickly, trying cases in front of seasoned judges, surrounded by experienced bureau chiefs who didn’t hesitate to criticize and refine his skills. “You were in court all day, every day,” he recalls. “There was no Zoom, no remote anything. You waited your turn and learned patience.” That courtroom grind, day in and day out, shaped his ability to break a case down to its most essential elements — what’s in dispute, what’s not — and craft compelling, credible paths forward.

Since 1992, Ripka has represented plaintiffs exclusively, building a practice around high-stakes injury and catastrophic loss. His work spans medical malpractice, product liability, construction accidents, and complex civil litigation. He is perhaps best known for his involvement in cases under the Stayskal Act, a groundbreaking federal law that now allows active-duty military members to bring medical malpractice claims against the Department of Defense — something previously barred for over a century. Ripka represents several of these individuals, including Richard Stayskal himself, whose misdiagnosed lung cancer led to the creation of the law bearing his name.