About

Ryan has been representing Pacific Northwest employers for nearly 20 years.  His clients have ranged from startups and Mom and Pop businesses, to government agencies, to Fortune 500 companies. Ryan has successfully litigated cases on behalf of his clients in state and federal courts, as well as in administrative proceedings and before government agencies.  Ryan has conducted over 120 sensitive workplace investigations, including involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or whistle blowing.

Prior to starting his own firm, Ryan worked in the Labor and Employment practice group at one of Stoel Rives, one of the Northwest's largest law firms. There, he represented clients in litigation matters in state and federal courts and before government agencies. Ryan was also a regular presenter, author, and a contributor to the firm's labor and employment law blog. Before joining Stoel Rives, Ryan worked in the Multnomah County District Attorney's office, where he prosecuted numerous misdemeanor criminal cases in jury and bench trials.  

Ryan's fresh perspective and practical approach to the law probably comes from the fact that being a lawyer was not his first or only career. Before the law, he had a lengthy career in Oregon's Silicon Forest software and technology industry, including at Intel, Tektronix, McAfee, and several internet startups. In an even earlier life, he worked in Washington, D.C. on international public policy issues, including at the U.S. Department of State where he held a secret government security clearance (that's all he can say about that), and at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.  He’s also been a house painter, carpenter, and a waiter. Ryan knows from this personal and work experience what is important to you and your company, whether you're in a small startup or a massive and complex organization and regardless of your industry. 

When not working, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family, working on his house, playing tennis and soccer, fly fishing, cheering on the Portland Timbers and Trailblazers, and generally trying to keep up with all that the Northwest has to offer.