Ritter Harvey Law
2 lawyers · Waterloo Region
One of 105 law firms listed in Kitchener, and one of 27 handling Criminal Defence.
About Ritter Harvey Law
Ritter Harvey Law is a criminal defence firm in downtown Kitchener that takes on criminal law and nothing else. Its two lawyers, Bruce Ritter and Sarah Harvey, defend charges that run from Highway Traffic Act tickets and regulatory offences up to the most serious matters under the Criminal Code, including violent offences, sexual offences, drug charges, firearms, fraud, and impaired and other driving offences. The firm also acts on Youth Criminal Justice Act cases and helps former clients apply for record suspensions. It works from an office on Irvin Street and represents people in courts across Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Stratford, Woodstock, Hamilton, and other parts of southern Ontario.
Between them the two lawyers bring decades of trial experience. Bruce Ritter has practised criminal law for more than 40 years and has run trials, with and without juries, in the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice, with appearances before the Ontario Court of Appeal. Sarah Harvey earned an LL.B. from the University of Manitoba in 2010, was called to the Manitoba bar in 2011 and the Ontario bar in 2014, and worked as a Crown Attorney before moving to criminal defence. Both lawyers meet the requirements to take on Extremely Serious Matter cases, and the firm regularly represents clients funded by Legal Aid Ontario.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Bruce Ritter has practised criminal law for more than 40 years, with trials in the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice and appearances before the Ontario Court of Appeal.
- Sarah Harvey holds an LL.B. from the University of Manitoba (2010), was called to the Manitoba bar in 2011 and the Ontario bar in 2014, and practised as a Crown Attorney before moving to criminal defence.
- A lawyer at the firm has been recognized by Waterloo Region community voting for criminal defence every year from 2019 to 2024.
- Both lawyers are authorized to take on Extremely Serious Matter (ESM) cases, the category used for the most serious charges, such as culpable homicide, offences carrying mandatory minimums of four years or more, terrorism-related charges, dangerous offender applications, and extradition hearings.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
By appointmentLawyers 2
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 2014 · median 12 years in practice 1 of 2 lawyers
- Law schools
- University of Manitoba Faculty of Law 1 of 2 lawyers
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
The office sits on Irvin Street in Central Frederick, a historic residential neighbourhood nestled in the heart of downtown Kitchener. It's a leafy, family-friendly pocket, home to lots of households with kids, with tall mature trees and small pocket parks. For a firm that spends its days in court, the setting is practical too: the Waterloo Region Courthouse is a short distance away in downtown Kitchener, and the lawyers regularly appear at courthouses in Cambridge, Guelph, Stratford, and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Ritter Harvey Law handle anything besides criminal cases?
- No. The firm practises criminal law exclusively, covering Criminal Code charges, regulatory offences, and Highway Traffic Act matters. If your issue is criminal, it's what they do all day.
- I've been charged with impaired driving in Kitchener. Can the firm help?
- Yes. Driving and motor vehicle offences, including impaired, careless, and prohibited driving, are part of the firm's regular work, alongside other Highway Traffic Act and Criminal Code charges.
- Will Ritter Harvey Law take my case if I'm on Legal Aid?
- Yes. The firm regularly represents clients funded by Legal Aid Ontario. If a legal aid application was rejected, they can discuss whether an appeal is possible, and they offer payment plan options for people who don't qualify.
- Can the firm handle the most serious charges, like homicide?
- Yes. Both lawyers are authorized to take on Extremely Serious Matter (ESM) cases, which include culpable homicide, offences with mandatory minimums of four years or more, terrorism-related charges, dangerous offender applications, and extradition hearings.
- Does the firm represent young people charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act?
- Yes. Ritter Harvey Law acts on Youth Criminal Justice Act matters, with processes suited to a young client's age and circumstances.
- Which courts does Ritter Harvey Law appear in?
- The firm represents clients across Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Stratford, Woodstock, and Hamilton, and in courtrooms throughout southern Ontario, at both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice.
Where to find them
Downtown Kitchener, ON (near Waterloo Region Courthouse)
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