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Frank Ryan

Frank W. Ryan

Americas Chair
Global Co-Chair
Global Co-CEO
Frank is a go-to strategist and litigator.
About

Frank Ryan is DLA Piper's Global Co-Chair, Global Co-CEO, and Americas Chair. Since the start of his leadership, Frank has driven unprecedented growth and innovation, guiding the firm in raising market share in key practices and sectors, developing world-class talent, and delivering impactful pro bono projects around the globe.

Frank is known as a go-to strategist for some of the world’s most sophisticated media and sports companies.

A graduate of Syracuse University College of Law, Frank now serves on the school's Board of Trustees. He is a member of the Legal Service Corporation's Leaders Council, advising the country's largest funder of civil legal aid programs in support of equal access to legal representation. Frank is the founding chair of DLA Piper's scholarship program, established to assist student athletes and veterans wishing to pursue a career in the legal profession. He is also a member of the Wall Street Journal CEO Council and Thomson Reuters' Global Strategy Board and is frequently quoted in business and legal media.

Bar admissionsNew York

EXPERIENCE

The long list of high-profile clients Frank has counseled includes Disney, ABC, TomTom, Pac-12, Nike, ESPN, beIN Media Group, Al Jazeera, Medtronic, ConMed and significant matters related to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Education
  • J.D., Syracuse University College of Law
    Order of the Coif
    magna cum laude
  • B.S., Syracuse University
    Four Year Varsity Letter Winner

Awards

The Legal 500 United States

  • Recommended, Trademarks: Non-Contentious (including Prosecution, Portfolio Management and Licensing), (2019 – 2021)
  • Recommended, Trademarks: Litigation, (2018 – 2021)
  • Recommended, Technology: Transactions, (2017 – 2018)
  • Recommended, Telecoms & Broadcast: Transactional, (2017)
  • Recommended, Sport, (2014 – 2016)

The Legal 500 comments, "Other key figures include New York-based Global Co-chair Frank Ryan, an expert in high-stakes litigation..." They also comment, "...Frank Ryan in New York co-chairs the IP and tech practice and focuses on litigation, and other IP matters in the sports, media and entertainment sectors."

Seminars

  • Panelist, "The State of the Global Legal Industry," Thomson Reuters 17th Annual Legal Executive Briefing, May 11, 2022
  • Speaker, "Reinventing Business and Talent Models," Thomson Reuters Strategy Board Meeting, May 4, 2022
  • Panelist, "What's Next: Law firm leaders and industry experts discuss law firm office trends in the wake of the pandemic," Savills Legal Tenant, February 24, 2021
  • Panelist, "The 2020 Legal Executive Briefing Webinar Series: The State of the Global Legal Industry," Thomson Reuters, December 10, 2020

Media Mentions

  • "DLA Piper Surpasses $4B in Revenue, Nears 5K Lawyers as Firm Strives to Expand in Key Areas," The American Lawyer, March 31, 2025
  • "3 Issues Managing Partners Are Watching Heading Into 2024," Law360, January 1, 2024
  • "DLA Piper Chair: From Student Athlete To Sports Strategist," Law 360 Pulse, November 3, 2023
  • "'We Know Who We Are': Frank Ryan Reelected DLA Piper's Americas Leader," The American Lawyer, November 1, 2023
  • "The Evolving Role of Big Law Leadership," The American Lawyer, July 24, 2023
  • "Big Law falls out of fashion with idealistic Gen Z," Financial TimesMay 10, 2023
  • "GPT-4 Is Here. Casetext's CoCounsel Already Brought It to Legal," LegalTech News, March 14, 2023
  • "DLA Piper, Announcing Leadership Changes, Creates Advisory Role for Strategy and Performance," The American Lawyer, July 18, 2022
  • "DLA Piper vice chair takes up strategic role amid US leadership shake up," Global Legal Post, July 18, 2022
  • "DLA Piper Promotes New Slate Of Leaders," Law 360 Pulse, July 18, 2022
  • "DLA Piper Names John Gilluly Transactional Practice Vice Chair," Bloomberg Law, July 18, 2022
  • "DLA Piper Makes Changes to US Leadership Team," Web Ring Net, July 18, 2022
  • "Demand in Tech, Life Sciences Drives DLA Piper's 10.8% Revenue Growth," The American Lawyer, April 6, 2022
  • "DLA Piper's First Chief Strategy Officer, a Big 4 Vet, Wants the Firm Doing 'More' for Clients," The American Lawyer, September 27, 2021
  • "DLA Piper's 8.8% Jump in Profits Bolstered by US Growth," The American Lawyer, March 22, 2021
  • "DLA Piper Restructures Its Management Team to Support Single Chair Model," The American Lawyer, March 12, 2021
  • "DLA Piper Forms New Management Team After Strong 2020," Law360, March 9, 2021
  • "DLA Piper's New Chair Wants His Giant Firm to Get Even Bigger," Bloomberg Law, February 23, 2021
  • "DLA Piper's Frank Ryan Is Bringing a 'Growth Mindset' to the Busiest Lateral Market He's Ever Seen," The American Lawyer, January 28, 2021

Memberships

  • Board of Trustees for Syracuse University College of Law
  • Member of the Legal Services Corporation's Leaders Council
  • Member of the Wall Street Journal CEO Council
  • Member of the Thomson Reuters' Global Strategy Board

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