Patrick Ryan concentrates his practice in the areas of insurance law, insurance coverage, surety and fidelity law, construction and litigation. His experience includes representing owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and design professionals in connection with various disputes arising from the construction of residential, commercial and mixed-use projects, including claims for bodily injury, construction defects, defective design, breach of warranty, and delay and inefficiency claims. Patrick also regularly represents insurers involving complex coverage disputes and claims for bad faith.
Patrick advises and represents clients regarding claims made by financial institutions under fidelity bonds and commercial crime policies for alleged losses resulting from fraudulent acts, including claims for employee or director dishonesty. He advises clients in transactional services by drafting and negotiating construction contracts, employment agreements, and counseling on risk allocation and insurance. Patrick’s additional experience includes advising on business, real estate and construction law matters.
Admissions
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
US District Court for the District of Massachusetts
US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Education
J.D., cum laude, Suffolk University Law School, 2013
B.A., College of the Holy Cross, 2010
Memberships
Massachusetts Bar Association
Boston Bar Association
American Bar Association (ABA)
Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section
Leadership Academy (2021 - 2022)
Fidelity Law Association
Surety Claims Institute
Experience
Successful defense of construction contractors in connection with bodily injury and property damage liability claims in courts in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of a national insurer involving an alleged trip and fall incident, resulting in bodily injury in which a commercial landlord sought coverage as an additional insured on the tenant-insured’s commercial general liability policy.
Successful representation of a general contractor in a complex construction dispute involving claims of construction and design defects, delay and extra work claims, and acceleration and lost labor productivity with respect to the construction of a clinical manufacturing facility.
Successful defense of a residential landlord against a wrongful death suit arising out of a fatal fire at a condominium complex.
Obtained dismissal in favor of a general contractor in a construction defect case on grounds of the statute of repose.
Successful representation of a homeowner against claims of social host liability where an allegedly intoxicated underage guest was involved in a car accident resulting in bodily injury to a third-party.
Presentations
Co-Presenter, "What’s in the Answer? Formulating the Insurer’s Defenses," Fidelity and Surety Law Conference, Nashville, Tennessee, August 2022
Co-Presenter, "Fidelity Insurance Underwriting – What is in the Underwriter’s File and How is it Used?" Fidelity and Surety Law Conference, New York, New York, November 2021
"Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. United Rentals (N. Am.), Inc. – Defining the Scope of Additional Insured Coverage and Priority of That Coverage," Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association, November 2021
"Navigating Contract Dispute Provisions and Pass-Through Claims," Surety Claims Institute, Beaver Creek, Colorado, June 2021
Co-Presenter, "What is Loss? And When Does it Occur?" American Bar Association, November 2020 (Virtual)
