HarrisMartin's MDL Conference: Lipitor & Incretin Mimetics - Januvia/Byetta Speaker Profiles

Ryan L. Thompson is the managing partner of the firm's pharmaceutical and medical device litigation department at Watts Guerra LLP. Ryan was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas. While at Texas, Ryan received University Honors for academic achievement, and was selected as a First Team All-Conference water polo player during his senior season. After graduation, Ryan joined the Texas Attorney General’s Office as an intern working under then Attorney General John Cornyn. At the conclusion of his internship, Ryan enrolled at Baylor Law School. In addition to Dean’s List honors and graduating near the top of his class, Ryan was recognized for his outstanding courtroom abilities through his selection into the Order of Barristers.

Upon graduation from law school, Ryan accepted a position in the Dallas office of the international law firm of Hunton & Williams LLP. While at Hunton, Ryan defended some of the largest corporations in the country, focusing on products liability and toxic exposure cases. Ryan gained significant hands-on litigation experience during his first year, and quickly distinguished himself as an aggressive, passionate trial lawyer with a talent for achieving outstanding results for clients.

In early 2005, Ryan left his position at Hunton for a job in the Dallas office of the international law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. While at Fulbright, Ryan tried over two dozen cases to verdict, attaining an impressive record of wins in both jury and bench trials. Ryan also demonstrated a remarkable ability for obtaining substantial settlements on behalf of his clients in a timely manner, often settling complex commercial and injury cases in a matter of months, saving his client’s time and maximizing their financial gains.

In the summer of 2009, Ryan left Fulbright to accept partnership at the nationally renowned trial firm of Watts Guerra LLP so he could pursue his longtime vision of representing individual and commercial plaintiffs. Ryan focuses on representing clients who have been wronged by the tortious acts of others, including cases such as catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, pharmaceutical and medical devices, and other mass torts. Ryan is also a highly skilled commercial litigator who aggressively advocates on behalf of his business clients damaged by another party’s wrongful conduct. After working for the country’s largest and most recognized defense firms and having represented Fortune 500 companies, Ryan has a unique insight and vast repository of knowledge that are invaluable to the clients he now represents.

Senior Partner Hunter J. Shkolnik concentrates his area of practice to the trial of significant personal injury cases primarily in the area of drug, automobile, heavy truck and aviation related product liability actions. He is currently serving as a chairman, leader or court appointed representative on Plaintiff Steering Committees in various drug and other mass torts.

Areas of Practice
Medical Devices
Pharmaceutical Drugs

Admissions
1992, South Carolina
U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina

Education
University of South Carolina, J.D., 1992
North Carolina State University, B.A., Economics, 1980; Business Management, 1980

Professional Memberships
Martindale-Hubbell Rated: BV
South Carolina Bar (Executive Council, Young Lawyers Division, 1993–1994)
South Carolina Association for Justice
The American Association for Justice