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Biography

Ryan is a partner in the firm’s Franchise & Distribution and Corporate practices, where he advises national and international businesses on complex commercial, franchising, and supply chain transactions.  His practice focuses on representing franchisors, restaurant systems, purchasing cooperatives, group purchasing organizations, and consumer brands in matters that support growth and operational efficiency through sophisticated transactional and strategic counseling.

Ryan routinely serves as lead counsel on high‑stakes domestic and cross-border commercial arrangements, including supply and distribution agreements, logistics and warehousing arrangements, co‑manufacturing and co‑packing transactions, systemwide carbonated beverage agreements, and strategic sourcing initiatives. He also counsels franchisors on the development and registration of franchise documents and the navigation of state franchise relationship laws.

Additionally, Ryan has substantial experience leading mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic investments involving franchise systems and closely held and private‑equity‑backed companies.

Other Info About Ryan

Experience

Legal Work Highlights

Led counsel for national restaurant and consumer brands on complex supply‑chain and sourcing arrangements, including systemwide supply, distribution, logistics, warehousing, transportation, and co‑manufacturing agreements supporting domestic and international operations.

Lead negotiator for multi‑year, high‑value supply and commercial agreements involving food, beverage, and consumer packaged goods companies, including co‑packing, alternate proprietorship, toll manufacturing, vendor services, and procurement arrangements.

Representative counsel to franchisee‑owned purchasing cooperatives and group purchasing organizations, advising on governance matters, supplier negotiations, sourcing programs, and systemwide contractual frameworks.

Transaction lead on mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures involving franchisors, restaurant systems, supply‑chain businesses, and closely held and private‑equity‑backed companies, including asset and equity transactions, carve‑outs, and operationally complex deals.

Primary outside counsel to franchisors and franchise systems on franchise disclosure document development, state registration and renewal, ongoing compliance, franchise relationship law issues, and franchise system restructuring and expansion initiatives.

Advisor to senior executives and in‑house legal teams on supply‑chain consolidation, vendor rationalization, risk allocation, and operational transformation initiatives in connection with growth, restructuring, and global expansion.

Relationship partner for national clients, managing multidisciplinary teams across offices and practice groups to deliver coordinated legal solutions aligned with client business objectives.

Education

Law School

William & Mary Law School, J.D., 2019, cum laude

Undergraduate School

University of Louisville, B.A., English; Humanities, 2016, cum laude, Honors Scholar

Bar Memberships

Ryan is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Kentucky, 2019

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