Profile

Recognized in Best Lawyers in America and Upstate New York Super Lawyers, Ryan is a business and tort trial attorney who practices complex civil litigation in state and federal courts. He has tried both jury and non-jury trials, argued at the appellate level and represented clients during mediation and arbitration proceedings. Ryan routinely represents corporations, small businesses, construction companies, individuals, insurance companies, third-party administrators, public entities and school districts in a wide range of litigation matters.

Ryan represents clients in a variety of business/commercial disputes ranging from breach of contract, construction disputes, business torts, fraud, unjust enrichment, unfair competition, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, whistleblower claims, partnership dissolution, waivers and releases, enforcement of employment agreements, covenants not to compete, non-solicitation and non-disclosure agreements.

In addition to business/commercial litigation, Ryan spends the other 50% of his practice in the areas of personal injury, premises liability, product’s liability, defamation, professional malpractice, construction litigation, Labor Law §§ 240(1), 241(6) & 200, motor vehicle accidents, fire loss, water loss, toxic tort, insurance coverage disputes and cybersecurity matters.

Ryan volunteers his time as a member of the Board of Directors for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). The mission of CASA is to broadly support and develop local volunteer advocacy on behalf of the best interests of abused and neglected children. Ryan also handles landlord/tenant and prisoner rights pro-bono matters.

When Ryan is not practicing law, he is spending time with his family, skiing, cycling, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing and playing team sports. He is also an avid fan of college and professional sports and he has a strong passion for cars.

  • Listed in:
    • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, 2020-2025 (listed for more than 5 years)
    • New York Super Lawyers 2024®, Business Litigation
    • New York Super Lawyers 2022®, Upstate New York Rising Star, Business Litigation (2015 - 2022)
  • Justinian Honorary Law Society
  • New York State Bar Association, Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section
  • Empire State Counsel Honoree by the New York State Bar Association
  • NDNY Federal Court Bar Association
  • Albany County Bar Association
    • Director, Board of Directors 
  • Saratoga County Bar Association
  • 21st Century Leadership Society
  • Winner, Domenick L. Gabrielli Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Competition
  • Semi-finalist, Karen C. McGovern Senior Prize Trials
  • Spong Constitutional Law Moot Court Invitational

  • Presenter, Litigation Avoidance, Capital Region Chamber of Commerce, January 2023
  • Presenter, Litigation Avoidance, Meeting Point, May 26, 2022
  • A Conversation with Ryan Keleher, Unblinded, July 5, 2022 
  • An Interview with Ryan Keleher, Litigation, Legally Bond Podcast, October 4, 2021
  • Panelist, Workers’ Compensation Lien Recovery, Loss Transfer, Third Party Actions, Grave Injury and Settlement of Third-Party Actions, PMA Management Claims Managers, April 7, 2021
  • Presenter, FAZ Forensics, Defenses to Premises Liability and Motion Practice, October 24, 2019
  • Moderator, Cybersecurity & GDPR Update, Albany Business Review, April 16, 2019
  • Presenter, Associations and the Law: Selected Tips, Tricks and Hacks, ESSAE, April 12, 2019
  • Presenter, Keeping Current with New York Automobile Litigation, New York State Bar Association, February 15, 2018
  • Presenter, How To Get Your Social Media, Email and Text Evidence Admitted (And Keep Theirs Out), National Business Institute, April 28, 2017
  • Panelist, Fall Insurance Forum - Ferraro Amodio & Zarecki CPAs, December 2, 2016
  • Moderator, Intro to Civil Practice Skills: Torts and Insurance Law, New York State Bar Association, October 29, 2015
  • Panelist, Everything You Don’t Know About E-Discovery (But Wish You Did), National Business Institute, January 21, 2015
  • Panelist, Legal Aspects of Insurance Claims and Fraud Forum

  • "Court Rules that Red Wing Has a Vested Right to Mine its Property," Materials Matter, Fall 2020 
  • Legal Alert, “Cybersecurity and Data Privacy: A Proposed New York State Regulation Requires First-Of-Their-Kind Cybersecurity Requirements for Financial Services Companies,” September 2016
  • Legal Alert, "Appellate Division, First Department Creates a Defamation by Implication Standard," June 2014
  • Legal Alert, "Federal Court Decision Interprets Meaning of Prejudice Under Amendment to New York Insurance Law § 3420," February 2013

  • Executive Member, MeetingPoint
  • Founder and President, Capital Region Connections
  • President, Board of Directors, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New York State