Ryan accepts briefs in all areas of law. He has a particular focus on complex commercial litigation, regulatory disputes, and proceedings raising constitutional and administrative law issues. He represents private clients and government regulators alike.

Commercial and corporate law. Recent matters include acting for Richard White in proceedings concerning alleged representations relating to future investments, timing of funding and payment for shares, and for the successful gas supplier in Weston Energy Pty Ltd v National Ceramic Industries Australia Pty Ltd, concerning misleading or deceptive conduct.

Constitutional law. Recent matters include acting for Senator Pauline Hanson in Hanson v Faruqi, concerning the external affairs power and the implied freedom of political communication; and for KenoGO in a constitutional challenge under s 92 of the Constitution to amendments to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth) prohibiting online keno services.

Class actions. Recent matters include acting for the Association of Litigation Funders as an intervener in High Court proceedings in Kain v R&B Investments Pty Ltd, concerning the power to make common fund orders in representative proceedings.

International law. Recent matters include acting for the successful investors in Argentine Republic v Petersen Energía Inversora, S.A.U., concerning foreign state immunity and service by diplomatic channels.

Public law. Recent matters include acting for former Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC in proceedings against the Commonwealth concerning its assumption of control over the defence and settlement of civil claims, raising issues of negligence, breach of statutory duty and fiduciary obligations.

Ryan is a University Medallist in Law, a former High Court Associate, and has postgraduate degrees – BCL (Distinction) and MPhil in Law – from the University of Oxford. His commercial experience includes working in international disputes practices in London (Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP) and Paris (Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer).

Before coming to the Bar, Ryan was Counsel Assisting to the then Commonwealth Solicitor-General (Justin Gleeson SC) and was later an adviser to successive Commonwealth Attorneys-General during the COVID-19 pandemic.