Carissa Phelps

Carissa Phelps is a California attorney, author, filmmaker and fierce freedom fighter alongside survivor leaders around the world.

In 2012, Phelps founded Runaway Girl, a social purpose corporation that created a platform for survivors of all forms of trafficking. Her work helped to ignite a global and growing movement.

With a mathematics degree from CSU Fresno summa cum laude and combined JD and MBA from UCLA, she has taken her lived experience to the courtroom, developing strategies to combat human trafficking through leadership, litigation and legislation.

As a litigator specializing in complex civil cases, Phelps secured life-changing recoveries for overlooked clients while facing off with corporate law firms. Her background spans private equity and venture capital, giving her unique insights into how to make the changes we would all like to see. She has spearheaded landmark litigation against entities that turned a blind eye to human trafficking, including hotels and websites for ignoring signs of sex trafficking.

Her survivor experience refines and informs every aspect of her work, from strategy to policy advocacy to innovations. Phelps stands at the intersection of oppression and prosperity, directing actionable strategies for systemic change and demonstrating how survivors can lead under any circumstances.

Phelps is now co-leading Survivors First collaborative to notify survivors who were injured due to ads on backpage.com and cityxguide that they may be eligible to make a claim for past economic losses and future medical expenses. The unprecedented $215 million fund created by the DOJ for remission to victims of trafficking is her central focus until the 2/2/2026 deadline.