Ryan Ward is a Senior Associate in the Litigation Department, and he represents clients in complex commercial cases in courts across the country. His practice focuses on commercial disputes, securities and shareholder actions, and enforcement matters across a wide range of subject matter areas and industries including financial services, technology, energy, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. He also has considerable experience performing internal investigations on behalf of clients. Ryan was recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Commercial Litigation in 2024.
Ryan has experience litigating cases in both state and federal court representing both plaintiffs and defendants through all phases of litigation. As a result, he has substantial experience developing strategy in complex matters at every stage, including the pleading stage, discovery (fact and expert), summary judgment, and trial. Ryan also has experience managing e-discovery of large commercial cases, which helps him better assist clients navigate e-discovery more efficiently and cost-effectively. Ryan has argued dispositive motions, restraining orders, and discovery motions for multimillion dollar matters. He has also appeared on behalf of clients at hearings, conferences, and mediations in both state and federal court.
In addition to Ryan's litigation experience, he also has considerable experience performing internal investigations on behalf of clients in response to shareholder demands and potential enforcement actions.
Ryan previously served as a judicial law clerk to Judge E. Grady Jolly of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and Judge Jan E. DuBois of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Baker Botts, he worked for a large New York law firm focusing on complex commercial litigation, internal investigations, securities and shareholder litigation, and False Claims Act litigation.
Ryan is passionately involved in pro bono. He has been appointed trial counsel on behalf of a plaintiff in a §1983 civil rights litigation in the Northern District of Texas and has also drafted appellate briefs on behalf of his pro bono clients. Prior to joining Baker Botts, Ryan was previously recognized with the "Pro Bono Publico Award" from The Legal Aid Society in 2021 for his pro bono work in New York. He also previously represented a pro bono client in a civil suit following his exoneration and represented a pro bono client in immigration proceedings in El Paso, Texas.
During law school, Ryan interned for Justice Ming W. Chin on the California Supreme Court and spent his 2L summer working for a large New York law firm in the litigation department. He participated in Cornell Law School's Capital Punishment Clinic/Juvenile Justice Clinic. He also served as a research assistant to Professor John Blume. Prior to law school, Ryan worked as a legal assistant at a small firm in San Diego, California.
Recognized with the "Pro Bono Publico Award" from The Legal Aid Society, 2021
Recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America (Woodward White, Inc.) for Commercial Litigation, 2024
