Ryan’s litigation practice focuses on corporate and commercial litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery and appeals before the Delaware Supreme Court.

He has served as lead counsel and co-counsel to companies, stockholders and directors in appraisal and fiduciary duty litigation, trade secrets and licensing cases, employee non-compete and non-solicitation matters, statutory matters arising under Delaware corporate and alternative entity laws, and post-closing indemnification and escrow disputes arising from merger, stock purchase or asset purchase agreements.

Ryan has represented both plaintiffs and defendants from a variety of industries, including technology, finance, software and electronics, real estate management, healthcare, telecommunications, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.

Ryan also advises company boards and special committees on stockholder-related matters, including stockholder litigation demands and demands for corporate reforms. 

He frequently appears before the Delaware Superior Court, including the Complex Commercial Litigation Division, and the US District Court for the District of Delaware.

Since 2018, Ryan has appeared on Benchmark Litigation’s annual “40 & Under List” recognizing litigation attorneys in the United States. Ryan has also been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America as a leading Delaware attorney for commercial litigation. 

Experience

Represented various parties in M&A “busted deal” litigations following Covid-19 outbreak, including transactions involving American Express Global Business Travel, Forescout Technologies, and Gilat Satellite Networks

Represented large insurance brokerage firm in asserting claims for interference with non-solicitation and other restrictive covenants, resulting in a favorable opinion from the Court of Chancery granting a preliminary injunction.  See Mountain West Series of Lockton Companies, LLC, et al. v. Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., 2019 WL 2536104 (Del. Ch. June 20, 2019). 

Represented venture capital stockholders of TrueCar, Inc. in derivative fiduciary duty litigation asserting claims relating to insider trading, resulting in favorable opinion from Court of Chancery dismissing stockholder plaintiffs’ claims.  See In re TrueCar, Inc. Stockholder Derivative Litig., 2020 WL 5816761, at *1 (Del. Ch. Sept. 30, 2020).

Represented various entities (sellers, buyers, stockholders’ representatives) in post-closing indemnification and escrow disputes arising from merger, stock purchase and asset purchase agreements.

Represented various companies in appraisal litigation, including DirecTV, Eastman Chemical, United Rentals, Thoma Bravo, Qlik Technology, Apttus, HFF, eSilicon.

Represented various boards and committees in connection with stockholder demands for books and records and corporate reforms

Represented Dow Chemical in claims for misappropriation of trade secrets in Court of Chancery action.  See The Dow Chemical Company, et al. v. Organik Kimya Holding A.S., et al., C.A. No. 12090-VCG (Del. Ch. Ct.)

Represented bank holding company in an appraisal action taken through trial, resulting in favorable post-trial opinion.  See Dunmire v. Farmers & Merchants Bancorp of W. Pennsylvania, Inc., 2016 WL 6651411, at *1 (Del. Ch. Nov. 10, 2016)

Represented venture capital preferred stockholders of Good Technology in connection with fiduciary duty and aiding and abetting claims arising out of BlackBerry’s acquisition of Good Technology. 

Represented former minority stockholders of national real estate management company asserting breach of fiduciary duty and appraisal claims.  See In re Riverstone Nat’l, Inc. Stockholder Litig., 2016 WL 4045411, at *1 (Del. Ch. July 28, 2016)

Represented former managing directors of international consulting firm regarding non-compete and trade secret allegations in connection with new employment at worldwide management consulting firm. 

Member of a team that successfully represented a software company in dispute regarding licensing agreement and obtained first of its kind ruling supporting termination of agreement for breaches of confidentiality.  See eCommerce Industries, Inc. v. MWA Intelligence, Inc., 2013 WL 5621678 (Del. Ch. 2013)

Involved in representing former directors of insolvent LLC in obtaining first of its kind ruling that creditors of an LLC lacked derivative standing under the language of the Delaware LLC Act; decision affirmed on appeal by the Delaware Supreme Court.  See CML V, LLC v. Bax, 28 A.3d 1037 (Del. 2011), CML V, LLC v. Bax 6 A.3d 238 (Del. Ch.)

Member of a trial team that represented Air Products in hostile takeover and poison pill litigation.  See Air Products v. Airgas, 16 A.3d 48 (Del. Ch. 2011)

Worked on behalf of eBay in dispute with Craigslist and its directors challenging corporate governance actions taken by Craigslist against eBay as a stockholder of Craigslist.  See eBay Domestic Holdings, Inc. v. Craigslist, 16 A.3d 1 (Del. Ch. 2010)

Involved in representing Versata in litigation regarding validity of 4.99% NOL poison pill.  See Versata Enterprises, Inc. v. Selectica, Inc., 5 A.2d 586 (Del. 2010)

Worked on behalf of pharmaceutical company in licensing dispute in Delaware Court of Chancery regarding generic drug launch.

Involved in representing Toll Brothers, Inc. as a nominal defendant in derivative litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery asserting breaches of fiduciary duty for alleged insider trading by directors and officers.

Member of a trial team that represented mortgage servicing company in litigation against Morgan Stanley arising from delinquent mortgages.

On behalf of General Electric, participated in Delaware Court of Chancery litigation involving trade secret and non-competition allegations.

News & Insights

Honors & Recognitions

Benchmark Litigation, 40 & Under List, 2018-2022; Delaware Future Star, 2024-present

The Best Lawyers in America, listed in the Delaware commercial litigation category, since 2023

Professional & Civic

American Bar Association

Delaware State Bar Association

Education

University of Maryland School of Law, JD, cum laude, 2008
Maryland Law Review, associate editor, 2007-2008; staff member, 2006-2007

York College of Pennsylvania, BA, political science, summa cum laude, 2005

Admissions

  • Delaware, 2008
  • US District Court for the District of Delaware, 2009
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