Attorneys
James Ryan
Jim Ryan graduated from Marquette Law School in 1985. He has been practicing since that time, focusing exclusively on insurance defense. He has tried well over 100 jury trials to verdict.
Jim has been a pioneer in litigating Special Investigations Units (SIU) claims. In addition, he has been involved in a variety of other cases. Jim successfully argued the seminal bad faith case to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, entitled Brethorst v. Allstate. In that case, the court held that bad faith cannot be predicated merely on an insurance company’s poor investigation, but the Plaintiff(s) must also prove that the insurance company breached its contract.
In 2014, Jim started the Ryan Law Firm with his son, Attorney Joseph Ryan.
Presentations
- Invited Speaker on insurance fraud seminar in Washington, D.C. with U.S. Senators and other dignitaries
- Invited Speaker for multiple Wisconsin Bar seminars
- Featured Speaker at various Wisconsin Defense Counsel seminars
- Speaker and Moderator numerous times at the Wisconsin Association of Special Investigations Units
Awards
AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell for over 25 yearsAssociations
1985 - Present
- State Bar of Wisconsin - Member
- Milwaukee Bar Association - Member
- Wisconsin Defense Counsel - Member
1993 - Present
- Wisconsin Association of Special Investigation Units – Attorney Member
Publications
August 2005 Wisconsin Lawyer, Volume 78, Number 8: Punitive Damages Against a Drunk DriverSpring 2012 Wisconsin Defense Counsel Journal, Brethorst v. Allstate: A Turn in the Tide of Wisconsin Bad Faith Law?
Joseph Ryan
Joseph Ryan is a lifelong resident of Southeastern Wisconsin. He was born in Milwaukee and grew up in Waukesha. He received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin and his law degree from Marquette University Law School.
While in law school, Joe interned for the Office of the United States Trustee. They are the “watchdogs” of bankruptcy court. Joe also interned for the IRS, Office of the Chief Counsel. After graduation, he founded Milwaukee Debt Attorneys, helping individuals file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 personal bankruptcies.
Joe left his bankruptcy practice after two successful years in order to open Ryan Law Firm with his father, James Ryan. Ryan Law Firm specializes in civil litigation, with an emphasis on insurance defense.
Joe is admitted to practice law in the State of Wisconsin as well as the Federal Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin. He is also a member of the Wisconsin Defense Counsel.
