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Overview

Ryan maintains an active civil litigation practice with an emphasis in governmental and real estate litigation.

Ryan counsels businesses, individuals, municipalities and professional associations regarding a full range of state and federal laws, including land use and competitive bidding challenges. Ryan also represents clients in election challenges and in disputes with governmental agencies.

In addition to serving as lead counsel in numerous federal, state and administrative bench trials, Ryan has: 

  • First-chaired multiple jury trials in federal and state court. 
  • Argued cases in the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern, Western and Southern Districts and in the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. 
  • Served as co-counsel in the defense of a lawsuit challenging the award of the largest contract in the history of Missouri.

Ryan also has experience in healthcare law, representing healthcare providers and other clients in disputes with federal, state and local government agencies and in hearings before state licensing boards.

Before joining Husch Blackwell, Ryan was a senior staff attorney with the Special Litigation Division of the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. In this position, he represented the state in various defense litigation matters, including wrongful death, employment and civil-rights claims. He also represented the Missouri governor, the Missouri General Assembly and other elected state officials in numerous matters, including initiative-petition cases and challenges to the funeral protest and voter identification laws.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice, 2024
  • Missouri Bar Pro Bono Wall of Fame, 2011
  • Missouri Lawyers Weekly, “Up & Coming Lawyer,” 2012

Education

  • J.D., University of Missouri School of Law
  • B.B.A., Baylor University
    • Marketing

Admissions

  • Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Cole County Bar Association
  • The Missouri Bar
  • Missouri Bar’s Administrative Law Committee, Legal Services Committee and Labor and Employment Law Committee 
Experience
  • Obtained dismissal of lawsuit that challenged the awarding of Missouri’s Medicaid managed-care contract, worth more than $1 billion annually. Client HealthCare USA of Missouri was a bidder. A competitor and unsuccessful bidder challenged the contract award in state court.
  • Defended two cases that sought to block an initiative petition proposed by Missourians for Health and Education from appearing on the November 2012 general election ballot. In the first case, opponents challenged the summary statement, fiscal note summary and fiscal note of the proposed initiative and the constitutionality of the statute directing the state auditor to compile fiscal notes. The Circuit Court of Cole County ruled in favor of client on all claims and the case was appealed directly to the Missouri Supreme Court. Following expedited briefing and oral argument, the Missouri Supreme Court affirmed the lower court, thereby denying all claims asserted by the opponents of the measure and certifying it for the ballot.

    In the second case, opponents sought a writ of mandamus preventing the secretary of state from certifying client’s initiative petition for the November election. The Circuit Court initially issued a preliminary writ against the secretary. Intervened within just three days and obtained an order quashing the preliminary writ and received a judgment sustaining the motion to dismiss.

Community Leadership
  • Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, 2003-present
  • Samaritan Center Interfaith Agency, 2008-present