Areas of Practice
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 2016
- District of Columbia, 2016
- Maryland, 2014
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
Education
George Washington University Law School, J.D.
University of Texas, M.S., Community and Regional Planning
Occidental College, B.A.
Ryan J. Sullivan is a dedicated trial attorney who has tried cases to jury verdict in both state and federal court. Mr. Sullivan advocates for his clients in all stages of litigation, from pre-suit negotiations to post-trial motions. He represents clients in a wide range of industries, including banking, medical devices, insurance, and pharmaceuticals.
Experience
- Obtained directed verdict for a federal credit union at trial in state court, defeating claim of tortious interference with the plaintiff’s contract.
- Obtained death penalty sanctions against a real estate developer in state court, resulting in the Court striking the developer’s pleading and awarding damages to client.
- Successfully defended a roofing company in commercial arbitration, defeating the plaintiff’s claims of breach of contract, fraud, negligence, and deceptive trade practices.
- Obtained a favorable settlement for a pro bono client—a victim of prison sexual assault—in federal court claims against a Texas county and its sheriff’s office.
- Drafted the successful appeal of Anti-SLAPP dismissal of consulting firm’s petition in a business disparagement case.
- Defended a director, CEO, and former CEO during special investigation of shareholders’ claims of breach of fiduciary duty, resulting in special investigators moving to dismiss shareholders’ suit.
- Obtained a favorable settlement for a health care company in an antitrust action against a national pharmacy chain.
- Second-chaired jury trial in defense of federal credit union in commercial litigation in state court.
- Second-chaired jury trial for the plaintiff in commercial litigation against aircraft servicer in federal court.
- Developed expert testimony and served on the trial team for a talc mining company in litigation in which the plaintiffs claimed use of body powder caused their ovarian cancer.
- Developed expert testimony and served on the trial team for a manufacturer of material-handling equipment in personal injury litigation.
Prior to joining Dykema’s San Antonio office, Mr. Sullivan practiced law with a civil litigation firm in Baltimore, Maryland. Before obtaining his J.D., Mr. Sullivan earned a Master’s degree in urban planning and served as a Presidential Management Fellow for the U.S. Department of H.U.D.
Publications
- Tort Law Desk Reference: A Fifty State Compendium2015Wolters Kluwer Law & Business
- Should You Reconsider Your Motion to Reconsider?2015Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Fourth Circuit Report: Medical Monitoring Class Action Thwarted by Daubert Inquiry at Certification Stage2014Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Apparent But Not Obvious: A Managed Care Organization's Liability under Apparent Agency2014Inside Medical Liability
News
Press Releases
- March 23, 2021
- March 6, 2020
- March 7, 2019
- March 12, 2018
Memberships & Involvement
- Defense Research Institute (DRI), Member
- Phi Delta Phi, John Marshall Inn
- Federal Bar Association, San Antonio chapter
- San Antonio Bar Association
Community/Civic Activities
- Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas, Board Member
Awards & Recognition
- Recognized by Scene in SA in "Rising Star Lawyers" for Litigation, 2021
- Recognized by San Antonio Magazine in "San Antonio's Top Attorneys" for Product Liability, 2020
- Recognized in Texas Super Lawyers® as a Rising Star for Business Litigation, Class Action/Mass Torts; Personal Injury - Products: Defense, 2018-2020
- 1st Place, Cohen & Cohen Mock Trial Competition, 2012, George Washington University Law School