Ryan C. Young

As a shareholder in Fredrikson’s Litigation, Commercial Law, Securities Litigation and Investment Management groups, Ryan represents clients in a wide range of legal issues and business disputes.

Ryan represents clients nationally in all stages of litigation in state and federal courts and prides himself in taking a pragmatic and results-oriented approach to handling complex litigation across a broad range of legal disputes. His practice includes shareholder disputes, common law fraud and securities fraud cases, merger and acquisition litigation, investor broker disputes, contract and commercial disputes, and business torts, among others.

Ryan also maintains a practice providing advice and representing clients in the financial services industry in regulatory proceedings before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and state regulatory agencies.

Ryan is actively involved in the firm’s pro bono program. He serves on the firm’s pro bono committee and has successfully represented criminal defendants at trial, on appeal, and in post-conviction proceedings and has successfully represented individuals seeking asylum in the United States.

Business Litigation

• Represented majority shareholder in shareholder dispute brought by minority shareholders asserting claims for breach of fiduciary duty, violation of Minnesota’s Limited Liability Company act, and breach of contract. Successfully resolved the dispute shortly before trial.
• Represented investor and lender in litigation asserting claims for breach of contract, fraud, and securities fraud. Member of the trial team that obtained a jury verdict for fraud and breach of contract that resulted in an $8.8 million judgment.
• Represented company in litigation brought by former employee and minority shareholder asserting claims for breach of contract and violation of Minnesota’s wage statutes, among others. The company asserted counterclaims for breach of fiduciary duty. After a bench trial, the Court ruled in favor of the company on all counts, including finding that the former employee and minority shareholder breached his fiduciary duties to the company and awarding the company damages.

Securities Regulation & Litigation

• Represented investor in FINRA proceeding asserting claims for breach of fiduciary duty, securities fraud, recommendation of unsuitable investments, and violation of senior investor statutes. The case resolved on favorable terms shortly before arbitration.
• Represented Registered Investment Adviser in FINRA proceeding asserting claims for defamatory Form-U5 and improper termination, among others. Successfully resolved the dispute on favorable terms during arbitration.
• Represented non-profit foundation in litigation against investment adviser asserting claims for breach of fiduciary duty, securities fraud, and breach of trust agreements. Successfully resolved the dispute on favorable terms.

Pro Bono

• Successfully obtained asylum for Ethiopian activist who was persecuted by the Ethiopian government on account of his ethnicity and political opinions and affiliation.
• In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Ramos v. Louisiana, represented a client in post-conviction proceedings regarding the constitutionality of a murder conviction resulting from a non-unanimous jury verdict.
• Represented a client before the Minnesota Court of Appeals in multiple appeals regarding the constitutionality of a no-knock warrant.

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 2015, cum laude
• University of Minnesota, B.A., 2012, with honors
• Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, Rothberg School for International Studies, 2012

Admissions

• Minnesota, 2015
• U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 2015
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, 2021

Clerkships

• Judicial Intern, Honorable Jeffrey Keyes, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 2013

• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, 2021-2024
• Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year Award, Fredrikson & Byron, 2022
• North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2016-2017, 2020-2022
• Minnesota Law Review, Articles Submission Editor, 2014-2015
• Dorothy O. Lareau Legal Writing Award, University of Minnesota Law School
• Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Activities

• University of Minnesota Human Rights Litigation and International Legal Advocacy Clinic, Student Director, 2014-2015
• Minnesota Law Review, Articles Submission Editor, 2014-2015

Community 

• Minnesota Public Defender Pro Bono Appellate Program, Volunteer Attorney
• Children’s Law Center, Volunteer Attorney
• Hennepin County Fourth Judicial District, Guardian ad Litem, 2013-2015