Faculty Profile: Ryan Holt

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.

Recognized by attorney ranking guides such as Chambers and Best Lawyers 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.