Ryan Weinstein is a former federal prosecutor with a diverse trial practice focused on complex, high-stakes civil litigation and white collar criminal defense. In his more than 15 years of experience, both in private practice and with the federal government, Ryan has successfully defended and prosecuted individuals and corporations in a wide variety of criminal, civil and regulatory matters, including those involving alleged securities fraud, defense contractor fraud, health care fraud, intellectual property disputes, business torts, shareholder derivative actions, putative class actions, unfair competition and false advertising claims, and breach of contract matters.
Ryan has obtained successful results for clients in a broad range of industries, including health care, technology, sports, and financial services.
Ryan served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles from 2012 through 2019. During his tenure as a federal prosecutor, Ryan conducted dozens of complex grand jury investigations and served as lead or co-lead counsel in several trials, resulting in successful prosecutions of defendants for bank fraud, tax fraud, wire fraud, access device fraud, money laundering, and other federal criminal offenses. Over his seven-year tenure, Ryan achieved a 100% conviction rate at trial. Ryan also has briefed and successfully argued numerous appeals before the Ninth Circuit. In recognition of his achievements, Ryan received commendations and awards from the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service.
Experience
- Served as lead trial counsel for one of the largest health care providers in the United States in an action against a major insurer seeking to recover reimbursement for over $200 million in emergency medical services. Secured a highly favorable mid-trial settlement.*
- The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee in an action alleging sexual abuse by a member of the USA Weightlifting team. Helped secure the plaintiff’s voluntary dismissal of all claims.*
- A private equity firm in an action brought by shareholders challenging the firm’s Series B financing of an energy start-up. Helped secure dismissal of all claims against the firm and a former director on favorable terms.*
- KPMG in multiple matters, ranging from fraud, negligence, and securities actions, including in connection with civil litigation filed seeking $100 million in damages relating to tax advice provided by the firm. Helped secure complete victories in both state and federal court actions.*
- William J. Ruehle, the former CFO of Broadcom Corporation, against criminal and civil charges in the largest stock-option backdating case brought by the federal government. After an eight-week trial, the court granted Mr. Ruehle’s motion for judgment of acquittal and motion to dismiss the indictment for prosecutorial misconduct, and dismissed all of the SEC’s charges against Mr. Ruehle and his co-defendants in the parallel civil enforcement action.*
- MGA Entertainment, Inc., as a member of the trial team, in its highly publicized multibillion-dollar “battle of the dolls” trial against Mattel, Inc. over the rights to the “Bratz” doll franchise. The Daily Journal called the case one of California’s “hardest-fought and highest-stakes intellectual property trials in recent memory.” The initial jury verdict was less than 1% of the amount demanded by Mattel and ultimately vacated by the Ninth Circuit.*
- Gregory Reyes, the former CEO of Brocade Communications, in the first-ever federal criminal trial charging a corporate executive with securities fraud for improperly backdating stock options.*
*Experience prior to joining Ropes & Gray