Ryan G. Rich’s diverse litigation experience with a wide range of businesses enables him to recognize risks and manage challenges faced by his clients. Ryan represents many kinds of businesses—including national retailers and suppliers, utilities, and financial institutions—in a variety of commercial litigation and intellectual property matters.
He regularly defends against class actions, product liability and toxic tort claims, and employment disputes. Ryan also has significant experience with internal investigations and routinely advises national clients on e-discovery and other electronic data storage issues.
Ryan has extensive oral argument experience, including at trial, and has handled multiple appeals. He is admitted to practice before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Always working to stay alert to legal trends, Ryan is an editor of the the firm’s Retail Law Resource blog, as well as a contributing author.
Experience:
- Retail and Consumer Products: Representing national retailer in defense against putative consumer class, winning rare dispositive motion in federal court against claims brought under the Clean Air Act.
- Consumer Products: Representing national product supplier in complex commercial litigation, winning rare summary judgment in federal court on all claims.
- Energy and Mass Tort: Representing major utility in defense again multi-plaintiff toxic tort claims, reaching favorable settlement.
- Financial Services: Representing financial institution concerning its role as trustee, successfully arguing summary judgment motion disposing of breach of contract, fiduciary duty, and negligence claims.
- Labor and Employment: Representing national retailer in wage-and-hour class action, reaching favorable settlement and avoiding publicity.
- Government Compliance: Advising corporation concerning compliance obligations in response to North Carolina Department of Justice inquiry, avoiding fines and statutory penalties.
- Internal Investigations: Coordinating confidential internal investigation into accounting practices for corporation following employee embezzlement.
EDUCATION:
- JD, University of North Carolina School of Law, with honors, Editorial Board, North Carolina Law Review, 2007
- BA, Politics, Messiah College, magna cum laude, Boyer Scholar, 2002
BAR ADMISSIONS:
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
Memberships:
- Board Apprentice, Levine Museum of the New South, 2018–Present
- Attorney Trainer, Mecklenburg County Teen Court, Criminal Diversion Program, 2016–Present
- Participant in the Arts & Science Council’s Cultural Leadership Training Program, 2017–18
- Member, Justice & Judiciary Committee, North Carolina Bar Association, 2013–Present
- Member, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee, Education Subcommittee, 2010–2012
Cost
Rate : $$$