Skip to content J. Hayes Ryan

Lawyers

Chicago
One North Wacker
Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60606


St. Louis
211 North Broadway
Suite 2150
St. Louis, MO 63102


Education

J.D., John Marshall Law School, 2000

B.A., Kenyon College, 1996

Lord Rothermere Scholar, New College, Oxford, England, 1994

Honors

Super Lawyers® distinction in the fields of Personal Injury - Products: Defense, Employment Litigation: Defense, and Environmental (2012-2022, Law & Politics)

Rising Stars® distinction in the fields of Personal Injury - Products: Defense, Employment Litigation: Defense, and Environmental (2010 and 2011, Law & Politics)

Best Lawyers in America® distinction in Employment Law - Management (2024-2025)

Biography

Hayes Ryan is a Partner in the Chicago office and member of the firm's Executive Committee. He handles a wide range of litigation, including matters involving employment law, environmental and chemical exposure claims, product liability, business disputes, professional liability and consumer fraud. His experience includes lead counsel roles in jury trials and arbitrations. Hayes has well proven experience representing Fortune 500 clients in complex, multi-plaintiff product liability class actions and mass torts, including currently serving as National Coordinating Counsel for the largest full line wheel-service equipment manufacturer in North America.

Hayes’ business and business owner clients also utilize his services to assist with various complex commercial disputes, including breach of contract, business fraud, investor disagreements, alliance and joint venture disputes, construction contracts, purchase and sale matters. He also serves as outside general counsel to a large regional health management provider that designs and administers partially self-funded healthcare plans for middle-market companies involving an extensive network of partnerships with broker/clients and strategic vendors.

Additionally, Hayes handles numerous real estate matters, including escrow, landlord-tenant class actions.  He also defends professional liability claims, including those focused on insurance agents and brokers.

Admissions

  • Illinois
  • Missouri 

Memberships

  • State Bar of Illinois
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Illinois Defense Counsel
  • University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation
  • GRSM Diversity Committee
Experience
Publications & Presentations
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