Ryan Nilsen is a partner in the San Diego office of Lewis Brisbois, a vice-chair of the Consumer Warranty Practice, and a member of the Products Liability Practice. He is a trial lawyer with 20 years of experience defending product manufacturers. Whether it’s an ATV crash in California, medical-device dispute in Minnesota, or warehouse fire in Maryland, Ryan is the lawyer for all time zones. He prioritizes client service and partnership, takes pride in understanding his client’s goals, and recognizes the increasing strain on legal budgets and the importance of predictability in costs, advocating for creative fee arrangements. With complex litigation experience in 43 states—and Canada—Ryan has expertise in consumer product, medical device, and motor vehicles, and is licensed in California, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Ryan also has 22 years of experience defending clients in the hospitality industry including national hotel chains, fast-food restaurants, shopping malls, and retail coffee and snack shops—against litigation involving premises liability, food poisoning, foreign objects, and negligent services. Ryan is licensed in all of the Courts in California and has litigated cases for clients in 42 states nationwide.

The following provides a snapshot of his experience:

• National counsel for global leader of cash logistics and security services.
• Coordinated fire claims investigation and resolution nationwide for off-road vehicle manufacturer.
• Defended zero-turn-mower manufacturer in catastrophic roll-over case in Wisconsin.
• Negotiated settlement for water treatment manufacturer in $85 million spoiled-carrots case in California.
• Defended nationwide putative class action involving 13 million passenger vehicles.
• Successfully argued appeal to Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of off-road vehicle manufacturer.
• Resolved significant injury cases for off-road vehicle manufacturers, involving traumatic burn injuries, amputations, and death.
• Defense verdict as first-chair trial attorney for water treatment manufacturer in trade secrets and unfair competition case in Minnesota.
• Led investigation and developed legal response for building products manufacturer into alleged defects in fire-safing panels used in high-rise construction throughout United States.
• Represented insulation manufacturer in $4.5 million claim arising out of alleged defects at cryogenic plant in New York.
• Achieved voluntary dismissal in chemical-inhalation exposure, double-lung transplant case in Texas.
• Defended numerous businesses in the hospitality industry, including hotel and restaurant chains.

Publications

Pro Bono & Philanthropy

Professional Presentations

• “Best Practices for International Recalls and Resulting Litigation,” presentation at DRI Product Liability Conference, New Orleans (February 2016)
• “Circumstantial Evidence of Defect,” presentation at ABA’s Litigation Conference in Chicago (November 2015)
• “Toxic Torts: Moderator for Panel of In-House Counsel,” DRI Product Liability Seminar in Las Vegas (February 2012)
• “The Potential Pitfalls of Social Media for Corporations,” DRI Product Liability Seminar, Las Vegas (February 2012)
• “Causation Issues in Toxic Tort Cases,” DRI Product Liability Seminar in New Orleans (2011)
• “Discovery and the Dying Plaintiff,” DRI’s Product Liability Seminar in Las Vegas (2010)
• “Expert Preparation for Deposition and Trial Testimony,” keynote speaker at SEAK’s Expert Witness Conference in Cape Cod (2009)
• “Tips and Tactics for Successful Depositions,” keynote speaker at DRI’s Web-Conference Series (2008)
• “Death by Daubert: Arranging the Jazz Funeral for Junk Scientists,” DRI’s Product Liability Seminar in New Orleans (2007) 
• “How to Get Your Expert Testimony Admitted into Evidence: How to Refute Opposing Expert Testimony,” speaker at MN Corporate Counsel CLE (2007)

Admissions

• State Bar Admissions
  • California
  • Wisconsin
• United States District Courts
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of California
  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
• United States Courts of Appeals
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

Admissions

California

Minnesota

Wisconsin

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

Associations

• Defense Research Institute leadership roles, including Product Liability Committee Marketing Chair (2014)
• Product Liability Committee Liaison to Industry (2015)
• Chair of Chemical and Toxic Tort SLG (2010-2012)
• Product Liability Steering Committee (2008-2015)
• Young Lawyers Steering Committee (2005-2008)

Awards & Honors

• Super Lawyer” recognition in Minnesota from Thomson Reuters (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016) 
• “Up & Coming Attorney” recognition from Minnesota Lawyer Journal (2008)
• “Rising Star” recognition in legal profession from Thomson Reuters (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009)
• Burton Award for Legal Writing Achievement (2010) for “Defending Lead-Containing Toy Lawsuits,” in Defense Research Institute’s For The Defense journal (2009)

Education

University of Minnesota Law School

Juris Doctor, cum laude, 2000

University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts

Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, 1997