Also serving as Chuhak & Tecson’s co-general counsel, Ryan understands that a company’s workforce can be one of the biggest drivers of its success. But he also knows that the multifaceted dynamics of the employer-employee relationship — implicating legal, financial, operational and interpersonal concerns — can be an equally significant source of disruption, expense and exposure when not carefully and skillfully managed. That is why he takes a holistic approach to employment law matters, scrutinizing existing policies and practices, as well as past claims or compliance issues, to develop forward-looking strategies and programs designed to avoid similar problems in the future.
From crafting comprehensive employment manuals and policies to employee and management training programs to internal audits and misconduct investigations, Ryan works closely with management, human resources teams and other internal constituencies both before and after claims or other concerns arise. When a dispute or the scrutiny of regulators appears on the horizon, Ryan’s effective advocacy and subject-matter knowledge form the basis for powerful defenses and facilitate favorable negotiated resolutions that spare his clients from the risks and costs inherent in protracted employment litigation. In addition to representing clients in state and federal courts, Ryan also defends his clients’ interests before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Human Rights Commission and the Illinois Department of Labor.
Level-headed and open-minded, Ryan handles every legal concern arising from the employment relationship, including discrimination and harassment claims, wage, hour and leave matters, employment agreement disputes, and trade secret and restrictive covenant issues.
Ryan’s role as the firm’s co-general counsel has provided him with valuable perspectives that inform his business guidance, ensuring that his advice is not only well-grounded in the law but also practical, actionable and well-suited to address articulated needs and goals. In addition to his work for clients and the firm, Ryan has used his talents and experience to serve others, providing pro bono services to individuals from diverse immigrant communities facing wage and employment issues and representing indigent litigants in civil rights matters as a member of the federal Trial Bar.
