Ryan Nilsen is a trial lawyer who represents corporations in courtrooms throughout the United States. He routinely defends product manufacturers, from recreational products to appliances, pesticides to power tools. Ryan counsels manufacturers during challenging product recalls, catastrophic-injury lawsuits, and bet-the-company disputes. He is also lead counsel in the defense of consumer product class actions.
In addition to his extensive trial experience, Ryan manages internal teams in early case assessment and the efficient resolution of large volumes of claims on a national scale. Ryan understands his clients have business problems that drive their legal needs. He is a strong proponent of alternative-fee arrangements, helping general counsel model innovative approaches to controlling the predictable costs associated with their claims management and litigation strategy.
An attorney at Bowman and Brooke’s Minneapolis office since 2000, Ryan has litigated cases in over 40 states, including high-exposure building fires, cases involving birth defects, leukemia, chemical blindness, quadriplegia, death and other catastrophic injuries. Ryan has deposed scores of experts in a variety of fields, including fire cause-and-origin, toxicology, epidemiology, chemistry, psychiatry, neurology, orthopedic surgery, vehicle design, economic damages, and has handled many Daubert challenges. He lectures nationally on expert witness depositions and expert exclusion strategies.
When not practicing law, Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, traveling, fishing, biking and camping. Ryan is a member of DRI’s Product Liability Steering Committee, after serving several years on the Young Lawyer Steering Committee.