In his white collar practice, Ryan represents individuals and corporations charged with and under investigation for federal and state crimes. He frequently interfaces with the Department of Justice, US Attorney’s Offices, state attorneys general, and county prosecutor’s offices throughout New Jersey on behalf of his clients. Ryan helps clients navigate enforcement matters before regulatory agencies, such as the SEC, FINRA, and FDIC, as well as licensing boards, including the New Jersey Board of Health and other industry regulators. His practice also includes overseeing internal investigations for corporate and governmental clients to identify and confine possible misconduct, mitigate its impact, and help deter its recurrence.
Ryan has an active cannabis practice where he advises clients on a range of issues present in the developing cannabis industry. He regularly counsels clients on license applications to cultivate, manufacture, and dispense medical and adult-use cannabis, and provides regulatory and compliance guidance for established cannabis operators. Ryan leans on his prosecutorial experience to provide guidance to cannabis industry businesses with respect to federal anti-drug, anti-money laundering, and banking laws. He was recently named to InsiderNJ’s Cannabis Power 100 List at #22, and has previously been included on the “250 Cannabis Law Experts” list published in the Databird Research Journal, recognizing individuals who are “shaping this fast-growing space.” Ryan brings his industry knowledge to the classroom where he currently serves as an adjunct professor in Rutgers Law School’s Certificate in Cannabis Law and Business program for cannabis entrepreneurs and license holders.
Ryan also harnesses his experience as a prosecutor to assist clients with cybersecurity and data privacy matters. Before joining private practice, he served as a cybercrimes prosecutor and investigated and prosecuted cybercrimes, including identity trafficking, dark web murder for hire, cyber extortion, and online drug trafficking. During that time, Ryan trained with the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security in the acquisition and use of digital evidence at the National Computer Forensics Institute. He has also lectured fellow lawyers and instructed members of law enforcement on the topics of cyber fraud and identity theft. Ryan draws on these experiences to advise large corporations, governmental bodies, 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities, and others on cybersecurity matters such as risk planning and breach response, and has acted as liaison between privacy breach victims and law enforcement agencies.
