Andy knows that every commercial dispute requires equal parts legal sophistication, sound risk assessment, and excellence before judge and jury. When Andy manages a complex commercial case, he begins building his trial themes from the outset—often winning the matter before it goes before the jury.

• Andy represented a medical device company in a qui tam action where the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland intervened to pursue allegations of False Claims Act violations, off-label promotion, and violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute related to physician owned distributorships or PODs. The client paid the lowest settlement in the recent False Claims Act cases for the District of Maryland (approximately 1.2% of alleged damages) and was not required to enter into a corporate integrity agreement.

• Andy served as the lead trial lawyer in the successful prosecution of multi-million dollar alter ego and corporate veil-piercing claims against a New York-based real estate investment trust and its affiliates. Before trial, the defendants showed little interest in settlement. After four days of trial where Andy cross-examined the company’s general counsel, chief financial officer, and outside expert, the defendants settled for 95% of the damages sought. The client credits Andy’s trial skills with obtaining the settlement: “I am certain that it was Andy’s thorough preparation and convincing oratory skills during the trial that finally forced the other side to settle at such favorable terms.”

• Andy represented a Texas-based mineral and real estate company in litigation against Mesa Petroleum. Mesa abandoned its case on the eve of trial. Afterwards, the client stated: “Andy Ryan is one of the best young lawyers I have ever worked with, both in private practice and now as a client. He is diligent, hardworking, knows the case backwards and forwards, and is responsive to client needs. I am grateful that Andy represents our companies and not the other side.”

• Andy represented a Texas-based publicly traded company in an arbitration following $60 million acquisition.  The matter resolved favorably for Andy’s client, substantially under the amount reserved.

• Andy represented a bankruptcy trustee in a good faith sale of commercial litigation assets. See Advanced Discovery, Inc. v. Diamond (In re Howrey LLP), 2014 WL 3427304 (N.D. Cal. July 14, 2014). The sale was affirmed on appeal and resulted in a multi-million dollar recovery for the bankruptcy estate.

• Andy represented a national real estate company in an arbitration arising out of shopping center acquisition.  See Kimco Birmingham, LP v. Third Creek, LLC, 2010 WL 147942 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 14, 2010). Andy’s client won 100% of the damages sought in the arbitration.

• Andy was lead appellate attorney in a successful representation of an employee who alleged wrongful termination for refusing to participate in corporate bank fraud. See Velazquez v. LandCoast Insulation, Inc., 999 So. 2d 318 (La. Ct. App. 3d Cir. 2008).  Andy’s appellate work cured the effects of the prior attorney’s malpractice, and the client could proceed with his wrongful termination action.

• Andy served as lead counsel in the successful defense of an Atlanta-based insurance brokerage accused of aiding and abetting an employee’s breach of a non-compete.  After Andy won a temporary injunction hearing for his client, the matter settled in the defendants’ favor.

Andy regularly counsels clients during fiduciary liability and business breakup disputes and has won significant victories for his clients both as plaintiff and defendant.  Andy take a holistic view of every fiduciary matter, and is constantly alive to both the practical and legal nuances attendant to a successful prosecution of, or defense against, legal claims in these unique contexts.

• Andy was part of a four-person trial team that won a verdict of a $65 million dividend and over $2 million in additional damages for a minority shareholder after a six-week jury trial. Post-trial, the judge increased the jury’s damages award by $20 million, and awarded the firm’s client more than $1 million in additional fees and expenses.

• Andy was lead counsel to a Dallas-based law firm sued for legal malpractice.  The plaintiff sued for millions, but voluntarily and permanently dismissed his case after Andy argued the defendant’s summary judgment motion.  The order sanctioning the former client and his counsel for bringing a frivolous lawsuit was upheld on appeal.  See In re McNeal, 2014 WL 3700808 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 23, 2014, no pet.).

• Andy served as lead counsel to a Dallas-based corporate lawyer in a partnership dispute with his former law firm.  On the eve of trial, after Andy won dismissal of the law firm’s counterclaims, the law firm settled with Andy’s client on favorable terms.

• Andy served as lead counsel to a large international law firm sued for legal malpractice in Texas, New Jersey, and New York.  Andy won complete dismissal of the lawsuits in Texas and New Jersey, and partial dismissal with prejudice of the New York lawsuit.  The matter later settled on terms extremely favorable to the law firm.

• Andy was lead counsel to an Atlanta-based insurance brokerage in breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit against its Dallas-based lawyers.

• Andy was formerly lead counsel to the trustee of Howrey LLP in prosecution of unfinished business claims against law firms and clawback claims against former partners.  See In re Howrey LLP, 492 B.R. 19 (Bankr. N.D. Cal. 2013); Diamond v. Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (In re Howrey LLP), 2014 WL 507511 (Bankr. N.D. Cal. Feb. 7, 2014); Diamond v. Jones Day (In re Howrey LLP), 2014 WL 3725483 (N.D. Cal. July 15, 2014); In re Howrey LLP, 2014 WL 3899309 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 8, 2014); In re Howrey LLP, 2014 WL 3899487 (N.D. Cal. Aug 8, 2014); Diamond v. Jones Day LLP (In re Howrey LLP), 515 B.R. 624 (Bankr. N.D. Cal. 2014); Diamond v. Jones Day LLP (In re Howrey LLP), 2014 WL 6466466 (Bankr. N.D. Cal. Nov. 14, 2014).

• Andy represented his former law firm in a disqualification and legal malpractice dispute.  Andy defeated the disqualification motion in under a week, and the plaintiffs ultimately abandoned their legal malpractice lawsuit.

• Andy formerly served as lead counsel to a shareholder of a privately held company in breach of fiduciary duty and legal malpractice dispute.  See Bakke v. Harvison, 417 S.W.3d 645 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2013, pet. denied).

Andy excels in prosecuting insurance coverage claims across all manners of industry and brings a keen understanding of insurance industry economics and practicalities to every matter he manages.

• Andy served as lead counsel in the successful prosecution of a subrogation lawsuit on behalf of a London-based insurer against an American co-insurer who refused to defend and indemnify the insured. The defendant settled on the eve of depositions, with the client receiving a payment equal to nearly 90% of its damages.

• Andy was lead counsel in a successful pre-suit resolution of medical doctor’s claim for health insurance coverage for his family.  After receiving Andy’s letter setting forth the basis for coverage, and the insurer’s bad faith in denying the claim, the insurer reimbursed the doctor for medical expenses and the doctor’s attorneys’ fees.

• Andy served as lead coverage counsel in the successful prosecution of breach of contract and bad faith insurance coverage lawsuit brought by the trustee of bankrupt surgical centers.  The matter settled for more than 125% of the plaintiff’s actual damages.

• Andy advised a prominent North American insurance brokerage on various coverage issues related to business development efforts with private equity group.

• Andy advises law firms on how best to obtain insurance coverage for defense matters, such as government and internal investigations.

• Andy represents a Las Vegas-based heavy equipment company in its insurance disputes regarding equipment rental, damage, loss, and theft.

• Andy represents a Dallas-based family business in its property damage claim resulting from North Texas hailstorms.

Andy manages corporate governance investigations and, in so doing, often draws upon his expertise in professional liability and insurance coverage issues to provide additional value to the client.

• Andy represented a publicly-traded company in a corporate theft matter.

• Andy represents a privately-held company in connection with allegations that sales personnel had violated the company’s Code of Conduct.

From 2010-2012 and 2014-2015, Texas Monthly has named Andy a “Rising Star” as one of the top young lawyers in Texas.  The distinction is reserved for the top 2.5% of Texas lawyers who are under 40 years of age or who have been in practice for less than 10 years.

Andy was recognized for an award by the State Bar of Texas in connection with his work on a project titled “DBA Salutes Our Veterans:  Thank You for Your Service!,” which concerned Dallas lawyers who also serve in our nation’s armed forces.

Andy was a member of the 2010 Dallas Association of Young Lawyers’ Leadership Class, serves on the Board of Directors for the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance, and has volunteered of his legal services on behalf of a Dallas-area HIV/AIDS charity.

Andy earned his J.D. from Baylor Law School in 2005, where he received the Leon Jaworski Scholarship for Outstanding Advocates, elected to the Order of Barristers, won the intra-mural moot court champion, was a member of the national mock trial championship team, and was presented the Claude O. Williams Award for Excellence in Oral Advocacy, and the Abner V. McCall Award for mastery of the law of evidence.

As an undergraduate at the University of Iowa, Andy was the college national debate champion and the nation’s top-ranked individual debater.

• Author:  “The Evolution of Unfinished Business Claims,” Litigation (Spring 2015).

• Author:  “Debating Third Party Policy Deadlines:  Why Texas Should Equitably Toll an Insured’s Claim for Breach of the Duty to Defend,” 61 Baylor L. Rev. 610 (Summer 2009).

• Author:  “When the Extraordinary Becomes Ordinary:  Is the Express Negligence Rule Under Attack in Texas?,” 60 Baylor L. Rev. 941 (Winter 2008).

• Presenter:  “Letters to a Future Partner,” Baylor Law School Professionalism Series (November 19, 2014).

• Presenter:  “Clawbacks of Partnership and LLC Distributions:  Lessons from Large Law Firm Bankruptcies,” University of Texas Partnership Law CLE (July 9, 2014).

• Presenter:  “Insurance Basics for the Bankruptcy Lawyer:  10 Insurance Questions You Need to Know to Ask,” Dallas Bar Association CLE (August 1, 2012).

• Presenter:  “The Top Ten Evidence Objections a Lawyer Must Know to Survive at Trial,” Dallas Bar Association (March 5, 2010).

• Presenter:  “Planning Ahead:  Thoughts on Successful Strategies in Co-Insurer Disputes,” Lloyd’s Market Association (April 25, 2008).

• Presenter:  “Pleading to Keep Your Promise:  Litigation Tactics Concerning Insurance Coverage for Breaches of Contract,” North Texas Association of Insurance Counsel Lunch CLE (February 23, 2007).