Professional Experience
Ryan's present practice builds upon his experience as a partner at Lord, Bissell & Brook LLP, a nationally
recognized Chicago firm, and as an Assistant General Counsel for General Reinsurance
Corporation, one of Berkshire Hathaway's largest operating subsidiaries. In both
private practice and while at Gen Re, Ryan handled matters involving amounts at
issue ranging from $100,000 to upwards of $100,000,000.
Upon graduation from the University of Michigan Law School in 1997, Ryan joined
Lord, Bissell & Brook in Chicago, Illinois, and became a partner there in 2004. At
Lord, Bissell & Brook, Ryan focused on litigation and arbitration of complex commercial
disputes, including conflicts arising from shareholder agreements, employment contracts,
agency agreements, reinsurance contracts, and commercial lines insurance policies.
Ryan was a member of Lord, Bissell & Brook's Hiring Committee and had previously
been a founding member of the firm's Associates Committee.
Ryan joined Gen Re at the end of 2004. While there, Ryan handled mergers
and acquisitions, internal investigations of corporate
misconduct, regulatory investigations by the SEC and States Attorney Generals, advising
asset managers regulated under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, corporate real estate
matters, and securities litigation.
Ryan returned to the Kalamazoo area in 2007 to establish his present firm.
Noteworthy Matters
Ryan's accomplishments include the following:
- Won $1 million arbitration award for worker's compensation carrier against reinsurer
who wrongfully denied claims under carve-out reinsurance agreements. Obtained all
relief sought, including payment of all outstanding claims, and a finding of bad
faith on the part of reinsurer.
- Won $800,000 arbitration award for Cayman Islands-based client against managing
general agent and minority shareholder that failed to provide security pursuant
to shareholder agreement. Obtained confirmation of award in Federal court.
- Successfully defended client in arbitration, resulting in award denying $10 million
contract claim involving interpretation of complex financial terms. Obtained Federal
court order confirming award and enjoining opponent from rearbitrating same issues
in second arbitration.
- Successfully negotiated walk-away resolution in which opponent abandoned $3 million
contract claim based on written opinion authored by Mr. Opria.
- Obtained discount for client of $1 million off $3 million claim in arbitration defending
Bermuda-based client against contract claim by counterparty.
- Defended insurer facing managing general agent's claim for wrongful termination
of exclusive producer agreement. Obtained favorable award denying $16 million of $19
million in requested damages and obtained indemnification from third party for remainder
of the award.
- Obtained $20 million discount for client in settlement of $30 million asbestos claim
brought by Bermuda-based captive insurer.
