Ryan Ellis

Ryan D. Ellis is a trial attorney who represents individuals and businesses in a variety of civil litigation matters. Ryan focuses his practice on business disputes—such as fraud claims, contractual disputes, trade secret theft, business torts, and employment disputes—as well as on product defect and catastrophic personal injury matters.

Individuals and companies of all sizes and across a wide range of industries have relied on Ryan to represent and advise them throughout all stages of litigation in both state and federal court, as well as in private arbitration.

A few highlights of Ryan’s career thus far include:

• Represented a small Houston-based exploration and production company in arbitration against a large, publicly-traded energy producer for claims of business fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of contract. Ryan coordinated electronic and expert discovery for that case involving a massive amount of data. The case settled shortly before the final arbitration hearing, resulting in a significant payment to the small company.
• Obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of a small Texas medical education company for claims that a potential business partner stole the small company’s trade secrets and competed against it in violation of a NDA.
• Represented San Antonio’s Harlandale Independent School District in litigation charging that HVAC equipment installed in school buildings had created a hazardous mold problem. That case settled favorably for the school district before trial.
• Worked closely with victims and their family members in General Motors Ignition Switch Litigation, coordinating fact and expert discovery and ultimately recovering millions for his clients through the GM Victim Compensation Fund.
• Member of the litigation team that successfully sued on behalf of former Houston Texans punter, Brett Hartmann, who suffered a career-ending knee injury after his foot was caught in a turf seam caused by the infamous “pallet system” on the NRG Stadium field. That case resolved with a settlement in favor of Mr. Hartmann and resulted in the changing of the turf to better protect professional football players from unwarranted injuries.
• Represented a family-owned stud-welding business against allegations that it owed a former broker hundreds of thousands of dollars for services allegedly rendered. That case resolved with Ryan’s client paying nothing to the broker and, in fact, resulted in a payment to the small business.
• Assisted with the representation of Chesapeake Energy and Apache Corporation in separate, high-profile disputes involving allegations of trade secret theft.

Prior to joining Howry Breen & Herman, Ryan worked closely with legendary trial lawyer Mark Lanier and secured several multi-million dollar awards and settlements on behalf of his clients.

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Ryan attended the University of Texas at Austin where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated with Highest Honors in 2010. He earned his law degree at the University of Texas School of Law in 2013. In law school, Ryan served as Executive Editor of the Texas Review of Law & Politics, was an intramural mock trial champion, and a member of the UT Interscholastic Mock Trial Team. He further augmented his legal education by serving as a judicial intern for Justice Eva Guzman at the Texas Supreme Court.

Ryan volunteers on the Rodeo Austin Calf Scramble Committee which raises scholarships for Texas high school students, and he is a proud supporter of the Texas Longhorns.

Professional Affiliations:

• American Bar Association (member of Litigation Committee)
• Texas Young Lawyers Association

Licenses/Admissions:

• Texas
• United States District Courts for the Western, Eastern, and Southern Districts of Texas