Ryan’s practice focuses on complex litigation.

Ryan is co-chair of the firm’s Retail and Consumer Products Industry Group. He is an experienced trial lawyer and appellate advocate whose practice focuses on complex civil, criminal and international litigation; internal, congressional and grand jury investigations; and public policy, strategic counseling, and crisis communications.

Ryan has represented corporate and individual clients, both as plaintiffs and defendants, in a broad spectrum of complex litigation at the trial and appellate levels, including antitrust, securities, RICO, ERISA, fraud, public nuisance, and other types of class and individual actions. On behalf of plaintiffs, Ryan has successfully recovered over $1 billion for his clients, making him one of a few select lawyers to have ever achieved this feat. On behalf of defendants, Ryan has an equally remarkable track record of success spanning dozens of complex cases, investigations, and enforcement actions.

Outside of the litigation context, Ryan has represented and advised clients regarding interactions with numerous executive departments, congressional committees, and international organizations on a wide variety of issues, including the regulation of government-sponsored entities; the operation of financial markets during times of economic turmoil; and the war in Iraq and other national security matters.

Ryan also works extensively with myriad retailers, often on a daily basis as national coordinating counsel, to address litigation risks and related issues, including antitrust and competition; data privacy and security; product labeling and liability; advertising, marketing, and pricing practices; and statutory and consumer class actions.

In his spare time, Ryan serves on the adjunct law faculty at Georgetown University Law Center and is passionate about teaching and training the next generation of lawyers.

Ryan is admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court and the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Fourth Circuit, DC Circuit and Federal Circuit. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the District of Columbia, the District of Maryland, and the Northern District of Illinois, amongst others.

Ryan is an active member of the organized bar and has been elected by the members of the DC Bar to the ABA House of Delegates.

Relevant Experience

• Representation of AOL Time Warner and Netscape in the private antitrust litigation arising out of the “browser wars” that were the subject of U.S. v. Microsoft Corp., which resulted in a settlement worth over $750 million for his clients. Mr. Phair's role in this case was recognized in the article, “Big Suits: AOL Time Warner v. Microsoft” in The American Lawyer. 
• Representation of a major media conglomerate in antitrust litigation challenging television industry distribution practices.
• Representation of a multinational consumer electronics company in antitrust litigation brought by an entity affiliated with a foreign government.
• Representation of a multitude of public companies and financial institutions in securities and ERISA class actions, shareholder derivative litigation, and parallel DOJ and SEC criminal investigations.
• Representation of a prominent investment bank in litigation relating to the clearing and settlement of short sales in the prime brokerage industry.
• Representation of multiple corporate opt-out and/or direct action plaintiffs in numerous multi-district antitrust litigation matters involving price fixing in the supply chain.
• Representation of numerous retailers and consumer goods manufacturers in nationwide consumer class actions.

• Representation of a government-subsidized entity in litigation arising out of a failed joint venture promoted by Congress.
• Representation of a multitude of public companies and financial institutions in securities and ERISA class actions, shareholder derivative litigation, and parallel DOJ and SEC criminal investigations.
• Representation of a prominent investment bank in litigation relating to the clearing and settlement of short sales in the prime brokerage industry.
• Representation of a Washington, DC-based investment company in a longstanding, highly publicized battle with an outspoken hedge fund manager.
• Representation of a major financial institution in a lengthy fraud trial arising out of its due diligence on a multi-billion dollar merger in the late 1990s.
• Representation of a “Big Four” accounting firm in several notorious international fraud cases.
• Representation of a third-party auditor in multi-state unclaimed property proceedings and related litigation.

Bar Admissions

Education
JD, University of Chicago Law School, with Honors; Order of the Coif; John M. Olin Foundation Fellowship; Thomas R. Mulroy Prize for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy; Managing Editor, University of Chicago Law Review, 2001, The Harris School of Public Policy Studies at the University of Chicago, Dean’s Scholar, 1999-2000BA, Boston College, 1996