|
 |
Practice Profile
Chancery, Business and Consumer Law
Ryan’s chancery practice includes trusts and estates, proprietary estoppel, adverse possession, easements (with a particular interest in the acquisition of rights of way by prescription), and personal property. He has appeared in interim and final hearings in the Chancery Division.
In August 2009 he appeared for the objecting landowner in a four-day public inquiry into the registration of land in the Rhondda as a village green (Anthony Porten QC sitting as Inspector).
In commercial law, Ryan has experience of contractual disputes between companies, which include claims relating to construction, advertising, highway maintenance, and industrial salvage. He has drafted and made applications for injunctions at short notice, including restrictive covenants and applications in the Companies Court to restrain advertisement of winding-up petitions. He also has experience of professional negligence disputes.
Ryan’s practice also covers consumer law, and he has advised and appeared in cases under the Sale of Goods Act for both consumers and suppliers.
Employment
Ryan has acted in a wide range of unfair dismissal claims, having initially begun accepting pro bono instructions during his pupillage in 2008, and has done regular Tribunal work ever since. He has also been in involved in a variety of discrimination matters including pregnancy, race and gender re-assignment.
Recently, he has successfully represented Claimants in constructive dismissal following withdrawal of benefits, and failure to re-engage following a change in terms and conditions. His recent Respondent work has largely involved cases where unfairness was admitted but compensation was limited through Polkey, contributory fault or failure to mitigate. He has conducted a number of cases for law firms in claims brought by aggrieved ex-employees.
Ryan also accepts instructions to advise in writing and draft pleadings. He has done a number of days ‘in-house’ with solicitors reviewing files, drafting letters of advice and riders.
Personal injury
Ryan undertakes a variety of personal injury matters and has experience of fast track and multi track work. His practice has a particular focus on employers’ liability claims, but he frequently deals with highways, occupiers’ liability and RTA claims. He has conducted a number of CICA appeals. He regularly advises on liability and quantum both on paper and in conference, and drafts proceedings. His current caseload involves a multi-track claim for loss of earnings due to PTSD.
In March 2010 Ryan appeared at an approval hearing in a fatal medical negligence case, worth over £300,000 which attracted national media attention.
Ryan has experience of appearing before public inquiries (village greens, hearings before the Traffic Commissioner) and has also acted for local authorities in prosecuting a number of regulatory offences, ranging from fly-tipping to underage sales and unlicensed taxis. He has also represented individuals in Social Security appeals, including successfully resisting repayment of over £15,000 of housing benefit.
EDUCATION
2006-2007: Cardiff Law School, Bar Vocational Course
2002-2005: Mansfield College, University of Oxford, BA Jurisprudence (Law)
1996-2002: Pencoed Comprehensive School
INTERESTS
• Football (plays in the weekly five-a-side league at Gôl in Cardiff)
• Books
• Live music (punk in particular)
• Surfing
• Fly-fishing
• Photography
• Politics
