Ryan practices complex commercial litigation. Among other high-stakes business disputes, Ryan has recently litigated covenants not to compete and trade secrets, commercial real estate transactions, contract disputes, business torts, and shareholder and corporate-governance issues. Ryan’s practice includes antitrust litigation, in which he represents large corporate clients in courts around the country.
Ryan’s clients span many industries, including manufacturing, real estate development, insurance, healthcare, chemicals, education, distribution and sales, financial services, technology, private equity and finance, food and beverage, and startups. He represents publicly traded companies, large private companies, small businesses, and individuals. In addition to trials and appeals in state and federal courts, Ryan advises clients on litigation avoidance and assessment. He is recognized by attorney ranking guides such as Chambers USA and Best Lawyers in America® for his work
Ryan was the valedictorian of his law school class and served as the Editor in Chief of the Vanderbilt Law Review. Before joining the firm, he was a law clerk for the Honorable Gilbert S. Merritt of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
As a former public school teacher, Ryan is passionate about public education. In February 2022, Governor Lee appointed him as the Congressional District 5 Representative on the Tennessee State Board of Education. In 2011, Ryan helped found Intrepid College Prep Charter School, for which he served as a volunteer board member for twelve years, including six years as Board Chair. After college, he taught sixth-grade math in New York City through Teach For America.
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Representative Experience
Antitrust Litigation:
- In re: RealPage Antitrust Litigation, in federal court in Nashville (representing defendant property manager)
- In re: Cattle and Beef Antitrust Litigation, in federal court in Minneapolis (representing larger grocers and wholesalers in antitrust lawsuit alleging price fixing by beef producers)
- In re: Pork Antitrust Litigation, in federal court in Minneapolis (representing larger grocers and wholesalers in antitrust lawsuit alleging price fixing by pork producers)
- In re: Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, in federal court in Chicago (representing larger grocers and wholesalers in antitrust lawsuit alleging price fixing by chicken producers)
- New Horizon Home Care, LLC v. Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital, in federal court in Nevada (defeated antitrust claims on dispositive motions on behalf of defendant healthcare system)
- In re: American Express Antitrust Litigation, in federal court in New York (represented direct action plaintiffs in antitrust lawsuit against American Express)
Corporate and Business Litigation:
- FKP v. Premier Parking, in the Chancery Court for Davidson County, Tennessee (represented partnership in lawsuit alleging breach of contract and fraud)
- Presley v. Livingston Regional Hospital et al., in Chancery Court for Clay County, Tennessee (defending hospital against claims of tortious interference with business relationships and negligent supervision)
- Accurate Energetic Systems, LLC v. Maxam North America, Inc., in Chancery Court for Humphreys County, TN (obtained emergency injunctive relief of dismissal of multiple lawsuits in Canada brought in violation of forum selection clause)
- Solugen v. M3 Chemical Group, LLC, in federal court in Houston (represented chemical company regarding claims of breach of contract and fraud involving stock options)
- Fishon v. Mars Petcare US, Inc., in federal court in Nashville (defended national pet-food company against class-action claims for breach of warranty)
- Baurle v. Kelty, in Business Court for Davidson County, Tennessee (obtained summary judgment for minority owners of real estate investment LLC regarding ownership percentages and control rights)
- Schwartz v. Tennessee Brew Works, LLC, in Business Court for Davidson County, Tennessee (defeated injunction to block start-up brewery from raising capital)
- Accurate Energetic Systems, LLC v. American Sporting Supplies, LLC, American Arbitration Association (prevailed on contract and tort claims after trial between manufacturers of explosive products)
- SFEG Corp. v. Blendtec, Inc., in federal court in Nashville (defended manufacturer against claims of breach of contract and warranty)
- Cain v. Cain, in Chancery Court for Davidson County, Tennessee (prevailed at trial to disassociate partners and obtain valuation of ownership interests)
Commercial Real Estate Litigation:
- Houston Humphreys, LLC v. Houston Street Partners, LLC, in Chancery Court for Davidson County, Tennessee (representing owners of large commercial property in litigation involving $30+ million real estate transaction)
- Domus Development, LLC v. Titan Development, LLC, in federal court in Nashville (represented real estate developer regarding partnership agreement for large real estate transaction)
- Propst Development Fiddler’s Glen Nashville, LLC v. Paul W. Chrisman, Jr., in Chancery Court for Williamson County, Tennessee (represented real estate developer regarding commercial real estate transaction)
- Nashville Cool Springs, L.P. v. Sports Land Group, LLC, in Business Court for Davidson County, Tennessee (obtained summary judgment for developer regarding commercial real estate transaction)
- PSC Metals, Inc. v. Shelby Land Co. LLC, in federal court in Nashville (obtained summary judgment for owners of scrapyard property in downtown Nashville regarding valuation of property)
- Wells Fargo Bank v. Independence Place Fort Campbell Patriots, LLC, in Chancery Court for Montgomery County, Tennessee (obtained summary judgment for guarantor of commercial-mortgage backed securities)
- 2005 Qualified Annuity Trust with Cumberland Trust & Investment Company, Trustee v. HTDG LLC, in Chancery Court for Davidson County, Tennessee (adverse possession and encroachment in downtown Nashville)
Non-Compete and Trade Secret Litigation:
- Freedom Capital Group, LLC v. Blue Metric Group, LLC et al., in federal court in Nashville (defending real estate companies against claims including alleged misappropriation of trade secrets)
- Servpro Industries, LLC v. Zollman, in Circuit Court for Sumner County, Tennessee (defending individual sued regarding non-compete)
- Bell Holdings, LLC, v. Isham, in Chancery Court for Davidson County, Tennessee (defended lead-generation business sued for alleged tortious interference with non-compete and non-solicitation covenants)
Constitutional Litigation:
- Lovins v. Parker, 712 F.3d 283 (6th Cir. 2013) (issuance of writ of habeas corpus to invalidate sentencing enhancement as violation of Sixth Amendment), 2:08-cv-02706 (W.D. Tenn.) (obtained court order that ordered client to be immediately released from prison for warden’s violation of prior court order)
Advertising Material – Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Education & Bar Admissions
EDUCATION
- Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D.
- Editor in Chief, Vanderbilt Law Review
- Founder’s Medal
- Member, Order of the Coif
- Valedictorian
- University of Nebraska – Lincoln, M.A., economics
- Vanderbilt University, B.A., summa cum laude
- Phi Beta Kappa
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Tennessee
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Recognition
- Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial (2023 – present)
- Best Lawyers in America®, “Lawyer of the Year,” Nashville, Litigation – Real Estate (2025)
- Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Real Estate (2021 – present)
- Benchmark Litigation “Future Star” (2019 – present)
- Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, Antitrust Litigation (2024)
- Super Lawyers “Rising Star,” Business Litigation, Antitrust Litigation (2013 – 2023)
- Nashville Emerging Leader Award, Finalist (2016)
- Nashville Bar Journal, Article of the Year (2012)
- Tennessee Supreme Court Attorneys for Justice Pro Bono Honor Roll (2015 – 2016)
Speaking Engagements
- Presenter, “The Business of Lawyering: Professional Development for Today’s Attorney,” Tennessee Bar Association (February 5, 2016)
- Panelist, “Fundamentals of Federal Appellate Practice,” Tennessee Bar Association (August 8, 2015)
Publications
- Ryan Holt, Lessons from a Pedal Tavern: Why You Need a Good Operating Agreement, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison Blog (November 29, 2021)
- Ryan Holt, Breaking Up Is Hard to Calculate: Recent Case Clarifies How to Value a Terminated Member’s Interest in a Tennessee LLC, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison Blog (June 14, 2021)
- Ryan Holt, COVID-19 and Sellers of Goods: A Possible Defense, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison Blog (March 25, 2020)
- Ryan Holt, Is COVID-19 an “Act of God” Under Tennessee Law?, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison Blog (March 24, 2020)
- Ryan Holt, Thinking Inside the Box: Six Lessons on Drafting and Litigating Contracts After IHS v. BCBS, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison Blog (March 4, 2019)
- Ryan Holt, Sucker Punch: Manny Pacquiao and Nondisclosure Litigation, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison Blog (May 12, 2015)
- Ryan Holt, Is Your Choice-of-Law Clause Enforceable in Tennessee?, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison Blog (January 5, 2015)
- Ryan Holt, Kicked Out of School: Charter Schools and Expulsion Law, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison Blog (November 4, 2014)
- Ryan Holt, So You Want to Subpoena Facebook Content…, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison Blog (October 3, 2014)
- Ryan Holt, Was the Bankruptcy Filed in Bad Faith?, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison Blog (September 16, 2014)
Professional & Civic Activities
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Member, Nashville Bar Association
- Member, Tennessee Bar Association
- Nashville Bar Foundation Leadership Forum (Class of 2016 – 2017)
- Nashville Emerging Leaders (Class of 2013)
- Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law (Class of 2019)
CIVIC ACTIVITIES
- Former Board Member, Montgomery Bell Academy Young Alumni Board
- Founding Board Member, Intrepid College Preparatory Charter School
- Four-year mentor, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
- Member for TN-5, State Board of Education
Practice Areas
