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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 his election to Chair (2019) and the start of his term in 2021, Frank has driven growth and innovation for the firm. Under his leadership, the firm has made significant gains in the areas of technology, life sciences, and health care, highlighted by high-profile practice launches and successful lateral recruiting. In 2023, DLA Piper US increased top line revenue and profits per equity partner by prioritizing collaboration and management of firm expenses and investments. 

Throughout his legal career, Frank has handled numerous high-profile matters in a variety of areas and is known as a go-to strategist for some of the world’s most sophisticated media and sports corporations.

A graduate of Syracuse University College of Law, Frank serves on the school's Board of Advisors. He is a member of the Legal Service Corporation's Leaders Council, the nation’s largest funder of civil legal aid programs for low-income people, and sits on the Board of Directors for Beat the Streets NYC, an organization dedicated to mentoring NYC student wrestlers. Frank is Founding Partner of the Legal Elite Athlete Pipeline Scholarship Program (LEAP), a DLA Piper initiative aimed at supporting student athletes in their pursuit of legal careers through scholarship aid and educational guidance. He is also a member of the Wall Street Journal CEO Council and Thomson Reuters' Global Strategy Board and is frequently quoted as a business and legal expert in the 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
Recommended for his work within the sports sector.
— The Legal 500 United States

Awards

The Legal 500 United States

  • 2021 - Recommended, Trademarks: Litigation
  • The Legal 500 comments, "Other key figures include New York-based global co-chair Frank Ryan, an expert in high-stakes litigation..."
  • 2021 - Recommended, Trademarks: Non-Contentious (including Prosecution, Portfolio Management and Licensing)
  • The Legal 500 comments, "...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."
  • 2019-2020 - Recommended, Trademarks: Non-Contentious (including Prosecution, Portfolio Management and Licensing)
  • 2018-2020 - Recommended, Trademarks: Litigation
  • 2017-18 - Recommended, Technology: Transactions
  • 2017 - Recommended, Telecoms & Broadcast: Transactional
  • 2014-16 - Recommended, Sport

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

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Board of advisors 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

Connect