Ryan Bradley
As an entrepreneur and former business owner, Ryan Bradley has walked in his clients’ shoes, giving him a unique ability to understand the stress and uncertainty of litigation. Because of this, he takes an assertive but balanced approach to advising businesses, individuals, and institutions to anticipate problems and propose solutions early in the process to avoid litigation altogether.
- FINRA Registered Investment Advisor and Venture Advisor
- Illinois Editor of the American Bar Association’s Law of Class Actions Manual
- Adjunct Professor of Business Law at Parkland College
Ryan Bradley
Attorney in Champaign, IL
Ryan Bradley has extensive legal and business experience across a wide array of practice areas and business sectors. Based out of the firm's Champaign office, Ryan focuses his practice on business and financial litigation and commercial transactions, including real estate and agricultural law. Ryan also enjoys working with individuals and businesses on estate, wealth and succession planning.
As a pragmatic counselor to business and individual entrepreneurs, Ryan has been a pivotal player in multi-million-dollar transactions and has also served as a trusted advisor to businesses on every step of their journey from formation to exit. As a litigator, he has represented individual plaintiffs and corporations on both sides of the aisle. While he has tried numerous cases to verdict, Ryan is most proud of his ability to reach a common ground between parties, having settled multiple seven-figure cases through negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
Before joining Heyl Royster, Ryan was a founder and Partner at his former firm. In his tenure, Ryan advised and counseled various individuals and institutions and developed deep connections and relationships in the central Illinois community. He brings a practical approach to solving even the most complex legal and business issues, whether they arise in the boardroom or the courtroom. Ryan has served as a valued counselor and advisor to venture capital funds, financial institutions, businesses, and not-for-profits of nearly every size. As an entrepreneur and former business owner, Ryan has an uncommon depth of knowledge across variety of sectors, from law practice to technology startups to clothing and apparel companies.
With nearly two decades of civil litigation experience ranging from serious bodily injury cases to national class actions, Ryan's litigation practice has allowed him to practice in both state and federal courts across the United States and in front of the Multidistrict Litigation Panel (MDL). Additionally, Ryan has successfully argued before the Illinois State Court of Appeals and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
A rigorous reader who enjoys writing and commenting on business and legal issues, Ryan has been published or quoted in Forbes, Inc., The Huffington Post, James Publishing, Tech.co, Success Magazine, The Street, and others. He also serves as the editor of the American Bar Association's Law of Class Actions Manual and two Chapters on Consumer Causes of action for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education.
A native of the Washington, DC area, Ryan has a strong interest in government and politics and has provided counsel to multiple campaigns. He played Division One Tennis for Loyola University and is a diehard supporter of the University of Illinois's tennis team. He is the current president of the CU Tennis Association which focuses on bringing professional tennis to Central Illinois. Away from the office, he spends his time with his wife and four kids, traveling to swim meets and dance recitals all over the country and, when time allows, going to concerts, fly fishing, and watching history documentaries.
Practices
- Agribusiness
- Business & Commercial Litigation
- Business Organizations & Transactions
- Casualty & Tort
- Class Action & Mass Tort
- Construction
- Creditors' Rights & Bankruptcy
- Employment & Labor
- Estate Planning, Administration & Guardianship
- Governmental
- Healthcare
- Insurance Services
- Mediation Services & Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Not-for-Profit Organizations and Religious & Clergy
- Professional Liability
- Professional Regulation & Licensure
- Real Estate
- Trucking
Credentials
Education
J.D., Vermont Law School, transfer
TC Williams School of Law, University of Richmond
B.A., Loyola University, Business Administration, cum laude
Licensure(s) and Admission(s)
State Courts of Illinois
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States Supreme Court
Professional Associations
American Bar Association
Champaign County Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
Community Involvement
Champaign County YMCA Swim Team Board
CU Tennis Association Board
My Morning Out Community Daycare, Former President
Rotary Club of Champaign
Results
Dwight MILLER et al., Plaintiffs–Appellants, v. ST. PAUL MERCURY INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant–Appellee: Successfully argued in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals for the application of insurance for clients in a securities fraud case based on the applicability of the “insured v insured” exclusion.
Medical Device Litigation. Represented nearly 200 individual plaintiffs in central Illinois against the maker of defective metal-on-metal hip implants. Authored a successful brief defeating removal to federal court based on the distributor statute.
Business & Commercial Litigation. Worked with a collection of national firms to represent hundreds of individual farmers across Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana against a chemical company and other defendants for misrepresentations related to the marketability of a certain GMO corn variety to China.
Governmental Litigation. Representing multiple counites in a municipal opioid litigation case.
Christie Clinic, LLC v. General Reinsurance Corp. (In re Reciprocal of Am. (ROA) Sales Practice Litig.) Represented the Plaintiffs’ class with respect to fraudulent reinsurance coverage related to nose and tail coverage for medical malpractice claims.
Presentations/Publications
Presentations
"Legal Careers in Healthcare," Health Care Law Practicum - Panel Member, University of Illinois College of Law (2018)
“Presentation on Medical Malpractice as Applicable to Nursing,” Parkland College School of Nursing (2015)
“Presentation on the Anatomy of a Vehicle Accident Case,” Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (2007)
Publications
“New FTC Rule Bans Non-Compete Agreements,” Heyl Royster Employment & Labor Client Advisory (April 2024)
“Survey of State Class Action Law, A Report of the State Laws,” (Illinois Chapter), Subcommittee of the Class Actions and Derivative Suits Committee, American Bar Association (2007-Present)
“Emerging Legal Issues Not to Ignore in 2017,” Huffington Post (March 7, 2017)
“The Billable Hour is Dead, Or should Be,” Forbes Online (May 26, 2017)
“The Fiduciary Rule May Be in Limbo: What Entrepreneurs Should Keep in Mind,” Huffington Post (August 2, 2017)
“Why Cybersecurity Matters to Small Business,” Forbes Online (December 4, 2017)
“Allocation of Settlement Proceeds Between Multiple Tortfeasors,” Trial Journal of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Volume 19, Number 2 (Summer 2017)
“Understanding the FDA Approval Process for Drugs and Medical Devices,” Recall Guide (April 4, 2016)
“How Medical Devices Make it to You,” Living Safer, Vol. 8, Edition 1 (2017)
“Illinois Causes of Action –Removal and Remand from Federal Court, Illinois Consumer Fraud Act,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (2008-2017 ed.) (contributing author re: complex litigation) (with G.D. Forrester)
“Monthly Investment Column.,” Central Illinois Business Magazine (2008-2011)
Illinois State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Newsletter, Volume 53, No. 3, December 2008.
“Handling a Vehicle Crash from A – Z, Topic: Claims against Common Carriers,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (October 2007)
Public Profile
Ryan Bradley has extensive legal and business experience across a wide array of practice areas and business sectors. Based out of the firm's Champaign office, Ryan focuses his practice on business and financial litigation and commercial transactions, including real estate and agricultural law. Ryan also enjoys working with individuals and businesses on estate, wealth and succession planning.
As a pragmatic counselor to business and individual entrepreneurs, Ryan has been a pivotal player in multi-million-dollar transactions and has also served as a trusted advisor to businesses on every step of their journey from formation to exit. As a litigator, he has represented individual plaintiffs and corporations on both sides of the aisle. While he has tried numerous cases to verdict, Ryan is most proud of his ability to reach a common ground between parties, having settled multiple seven-figure cases through negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
Before joining Heyl Royster, Ryan was a founder and Partner at his former firm. In his tenure, Ryan advised and counseled various individuals and institutions and developed deep connections and relationships in the central Illinois community. He brings a practical approach to solving even the most complex legal and business issues, whether they arise in the boardroom or the courtroom. Ryan has served as a valued counselor and advisor to venture capital funds, financial institutions, businesses, and not-for-profits of nearly every size. As an entrepreneur and former business owner, Ryan has an uncommon depth of knowledge across variety of sectors, from law practice to technology startups to clothing and apparel companies.
With nearly two decades of civil litigation experience ranging from serious bodily injury cases to national class actions, Ryan's litigation practice has allowed him to practice in both state and federal courts across the United States and in front of the Multidistrict Litigation Panel (MDL). Additionally, Ryan has successfully argued before the Illinois State Court of Appeals and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
A rigorous reader who enjoys writing and commenting on business and legal issues, Ryan has been published or quoted in Forbes, Inc., The Huffington Post, James Publishing, Tech.co, Success Magazine, The Street, and others. He also serves as the editor of the American Bar Association's Law of Class Actions Manual and two Chapters on Consumer Causes of action for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education.
A native of the Washington, DC area, Ryan has a strong interest in government and politics and has provided counsel to multiple campaigns. He played Division One Tennis for Loyola University and is a diehard supporter of the University of Illinois's tennis team. He is the current president of the CU Tennis Association which focuses on bringing professional tennis to Central Illinois. Away from the office, he spends his time with his wife and four kids, traveling to swim meets and dance recitals all over the country and, when time allows, going to concerts, fly fishing, and watching history documentaries.
