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Ryan S. Smethurst is a partner in McDermott Will & Emery LLP, resident in the Firm's Washington, D.C. office.
Ryan focuses his practice on complex insurance and reinsurance disputes, particularly in the context of highly-publicized mass torts. Ryan recently served as liaison counsel for twelve liability insurers of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles with respect to the largest and most complex settlement of clergy sexual abuse cases worldwide. In addition, he has been actively involved in the resolution of, and successful insurance and appellate litigation regarding, approximately 150 additional childhood sexual abuse claims in California and South Carolina. Ryan also has represented insurers regarding September 11th-related respiratory injury claims, asbestos and environmental coverage actions, claims under D&O and E&O policies, bad faith and fraud allegations, and investigations of contingent commission practices in the insurance industry, among many other matters. In addition, Ryan is an editor of the forthcoming edition of the American Bar Association's Manual for Complex Insurance Coverage Litigation.
In addition to his insurance and reinsurance experience, Ryan regularly represents clients in a wide variety of commercial litigation matters in federal and state courts. In this capacity, he has represented Citigroup, CSC, McDonalds and Verizon, as well as an electrical component manufacturer, a defense contractor, a dialysis provider and a family-owned business. Ryan also has handled pro bono matters in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Prior to entering private practice, Ryan interned on three occasions for the Honorable Bruce S. Mencher of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He also clerked for the General Services Administration's Office of Regional General Counsel in Washington, D.C.
Ryan is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Maryland and the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.
Education
George Mason University School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 1999
Cornell University, B.A., 1993 | 