Ryan is a trial lawyer who has a diverse practice representing clients in a wide range of product liability, toxic tort, environmental law claims, natural resource damages (NRD) claims, complex commercial litigation, and catastrophic personal injury cases.
Ryan chairs McCarter’s Products Liability, Mass Torts & Consumer Class Actions practice.
Ryan’s environmental works includes leading a team defending claims involving the newly emerging contaminant PFAS, including day to day management of NRD, personal injury, and public utilities cases throughout the country. He currently serves as a trial partner defending the first ever PFAS natural resource damage case brought by a state to reach trial. Industry watchers have called it a “landmark” trial and “one of the most closely watched environmental proceedings in the country.”
Ryan also has substantial products liability experience, involving both single-plaintiff, mass tort, and class action claims against manufacturers and service providers in a variety of industries, ranging from pharmaceutical companies to construction materials and equipment manufacturers. He has experience defending industrial machinery (i.e. aerial work platforms, cranes, fork lift attachments and paving machines), consumer products (i.e. lamps, motorcycle gloves, roofing shingles, tables, toilets and water supply connectors), pharmaceutical products (i.e. anti-depressant medications and talcum powder), contaminants (PFAS), and asbestos (flooring materials, pool heaters, ships, and valves).
Based on his ability to secure favorable outcomes at every stage of litigation, both in the trial court and at the appellate levels, Ryan is a sought-after defense counsel for clients involved in these types of disputes. In addition to his work in the courtroom, Ryan regularly counsels clients on risk avoidance, FDA packaging compliance, and warranty compliance issues.
In his complex commercial practice, Ryan has successfully handled a wide variety of disputes, including on behalf of commercial developers, appraisal providers and investment funds.
As a representative of the New Jersey Defense Association, Ryan has served since 2018 on the Model Civil Jury Charge Committee, a standing committee of the New Jersey Supreme Court which prepares and updates model civil jury charges to be useful to trial judges and litigants to instruct juries. He has served as an New Jersey Defense Association Board Member since 2015 and was the organization’s President for the 2021–2022 term.
Committed to public service and a leader in the community, Ryan is involved in complex guardianship and estate matters in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Probate Part, as a pro bono court-appointed attorney representing the interests of allegedly incapacitated persons. He additionally represents individuals seeking citizenship in the United States from KIND (Kids in Need of Defense) and abused women in domestic violence and family matters seeking protection from Partners for Women and Justice. Ryan’s extensive pro bono work has been nationally recognized by KIND twice – Ryan was named pro bono attorney of the month in 2017, and he was presented with the 2018 pro bono award.
Outside the office, Ryan has served as a Board member of the Franklin Lakes School District Board of Education since 2019. He is also a Board member of CASA for Children of Essex County, which promotes the welfare of children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect or abandonment by providing a safety net of support, advocacy, and mentorship by training and supervising volunteers to advocate on their behalf in court.
