Ryan L. Nilsen

Ryan Nilsen is a trial lawyer who represents corporations in courtrooms throughout the United States. He routinely defends product manufacturers, from recreational products to appliances, pesticides to power tools. Ryan counsels manufacturers during challenging product recalls, catastrophic-injury lawsuits, and bet-the-company disputes. He is also lead counsel in the defense of consumer product class actions.

In addition to his extensive trial experience, Ryan manages internal teams in early case assessment and the efficient resolution of large volumes of claims on a national scale. Ryan understands his clients have business problems that drive their legal needs. He is a strong proponent of alternative-fee arrangements, helping general counsel model innovative approaches to controlling the predictable costs associated with their claims management and litigation strategy.

Ryan has litigated cases in over 40 states, including high-exposure building fires, cases involving birth defects, leukemia, chemical blindness, quadriplegia, death and other catastrophic injuries. Ryan has deposed scores of experts in a variety of fields, including fire cause-and-origin, toxicology, epidemiology, chemistry, psychiatry, neurology, orthopaedic surgery, vehicle design, economic damages, and has handled many Daubert challenges. He lectures nationally on expert witness depositions and expert exclusion strategies.

Ryan is a member and recently appointed Marketing Vice Chair of DRI’s Product Liability Committee, after serving several years on the Young Lawyer Steering Committee. When not practicing law, Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, traveling, fishing, biking and camping.