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Overview

In high-stakes trials, appeals, and investigation matters alike, Ryan serves clients with thorough preparation, creativity, and enthusiasm for the law.

In his criminal practice, Ryan has achieved dismissal or a misdemeanor resolution of felony charges against dozens of clients. Since joining Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams in 2021 after several years as a federal defender in San Diego, he has tried three complex cases to juries. In November 2024, Ryan presented oral argument before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on a novel First Amendment issue. Ryan is also adept in managing immigration risks from criminal charges and sentencing advocacy.

Before becoming a federal defender, Ryan served as a law clerk to the Honorable Joseph S. Van Bokkelen of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, during which time Judge Van Bokkelen sat by designation on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ryan earned a fellowship in law and economics and J.D. from Berkeley Law and graduated magna cum laude with a B.S.F.S. and departmental honors in international economics from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service.

Before law school, Ryan worked on transnational mergers and acquisitions in Goldman Sachs’ investment-banking division in Frankfurt. He speaks Spanish and German fluently.

Representative Matters

  • Represented a member of the U.S. House of Representatives charged with making false statements to the federal government concerning illegal campaign donations; conviction reversed on appeal.
  • Represented an individual accused of participating in a PPP fraud ring in a multi-defendant trial of multiple weeks in federal court. Ryan’s pretrial motions to suppress post-arrest statements and cellphone evidence and to exclude other evidence were granted.
  • Represented a church administrator charged with an international conspiracy to commit forced labor and document servitude, among other offenses, which prosecutors wrongly called “modern-day slavery”; all charges dismissed except for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud; time-served sentence imposed.
  • Represented a former Qualcomm executive charged with a $180 million wire fraud and money laundering, involving highly technical intellectual property, at five-week jury trial.
  • Represented witnesses in various federal investigations regarding suspected bribes and environmental and other crimes.
  • Represented non-U.S. citizen accused of fraud; resolved felony charge as visa-safe, no-custody misdemeanor.
  • Obtained dismissal of charges against person accused of reckless burning in a dry field amidst a residential area.
  • Nine criminal trials in federal court
  • Appellate experience includes securing a rare en banc hearing; presented oral argument twice in other cases before Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Represented seven individuals in contested federal sentencings from 2021 to 2025. In aggregate, the courts imposed less than 38% of the prison time recommended by the prosecutors.

Professional Highlights

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers in America® 2025-2026