Frank Ryan
College of Law alumnus Frank Ryan L’94 has been named the next U.S. chairman of multinational law firm DLA Piper, the 4th largest law firm in the world, with offices in more than 40 countries. In his new position, Ryan will be responsible for the firm’s U.S. operations, which includes more than 1,500 lawyers and nearly 3,000 total employees in more than 30 offices.
Ryan became a partner in DLA Piper’s New York City office in 2010 and is currently Global Co-Chair and US Co-Chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology Practice and Deputy Chair of its Media, Sports, and Entertainment Sector. He is also a member of the firm’s US Executive Committee and Global Board.
Ryan is known for his broad experience in high-stakes litigation involving intellectual property, major commercial matters and sovereign issues, as well as in counseling clients on media and sports deals and intellectual property portfolio development and protection. The long list of high-profile clients he has represented includes Disney, ABC, TomTom, Pac-12, Nike, ESPN, beIN Media Group, Al Jazeera, Medtronic, and ConMed. Ryan is also handling significant matters related to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
A 1990 Syracuse University bachelor of science graduate, Ryan was a four-year varsity letter winner in wrestling. At the College of Law, he distinguished himself academically and as an advocate, becoming a member of the Order of the Coif and the Justinian Honorary Law Society, receiving a Gerald Resnick Memorial Scholarship, and participating on advocacy trial teams. After graduating magna cum laude in 1994, Ryan joined Nixon Peabody, eventually becoming head of its Litigation Department.
Ryan is a member of the College of Law Board of Advisors and a 2017 recipient of a Syracuse Law Honors Award from the Syracuse University Law Alumni Association. He is a frequent guest lecturer and panelist for the College of Law’s Entertainment and Sports Law Society’s annual symposium.
“On behalf of the College of Law, I congratulate Frank Ryan on this significant achievement. His accession to this role is not only a personal accomplishment but also one that reflects well on the college’s strength and legacy in intellectual property law,” says Dean Craig M. Boise. “I’m particularly pleased that Frank has remained committed to the College of Law philanthropically and programmatically. He has been eager to share his wisdom and his vision with our students and the rest of the College of Law community as a guest speaker and as a member of our Board of Advisors. Frank is a consummate example of what it means to be an Orange lawyer.”
DLA Piper’s partnership voted to elect Ryan as U.S. chairman on May 22, 2019. He will assume his new role effective Jan. 1, 2021, for a term of four years.
