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Ryan Wooten

Partner

Houston

Austin

Ryan Wooten sits in Orrick’s Houston and Austin offices, where he is a trusted advisor to clients across a wide range of industries. Leading energy, financial services, and technology companies turn to Ryan to resolve their most challenging business disputes and to strategically guide them through regulatory investigations and enforcement actions.

Serving two of Texas’s major markets, Ryan’s versatility sets him apart. He has deep industry knowledge of the energy, technology, and financial services sectors, and understands where his clients' business and legal strategies intersect. Ryan regularly represents clients across the United States in federal and state courts and in front of arbitration panels. Ryan’s energy representations include hydrocarbon producers, explorers, transporters, and refiners. Ryan’s financial services experience includes representation of institutional banks and mortgage servicers. In addition, Ryan represents and counsels leading tech companies, including SAAS and cybersecurity providers.

Ryan seeks efficient outcomes for his clients and has a track record of prevailing at the summary judgment stage. In other cases, Ryan has efficiently negotiated with opposing counsel to reach early, favorable settlements. In the event a case is not fit for early resolution, Ryan is also a seasoned trial lawyer with experience trying cases to juries, the bench, and arbitration panels.

Ryan also maintains an active pro bono practice and works closely with the Houston Bar Association, including as a former chairman and member of its Habitat for Humanity Committee.

  • Technology

    • Representing legal services company in prosecuting claims for trade secret misappropriation, breach of fiduciary duty, and violations of covenants not-to-compete and not-to solicit employees and customers.
    • Represented owner and regulator of Formula One World Championship in defense of patent infringement lawsuit, resulting in favorable settlement.
    • Represented cybersecurity company in defense of lawsuit regarding stock options, resulting in favorable settlement.
    • Represented SAAS provider in defense of breach of contract lawsuit regarding referral agreement, resulting in favorable settlement.
    • Represented high-tech retailer in breach of lease dispute, resulting in temporary restraining order in favor or retailer and subsequent favorable resolution of the dispute.
    • Represented pharmaceutical company as creditor of bankruptcy estate of a pharmaceutical co-developer, resulting in successful transfer of pharmaceutical program to creditor.

    Energy

    • Represented petrochemical manufacturer in arbitration related to valuation of petrochemical plant, resulting in favorable arbitration award.
    • Represented exploration and production company in connection with litigated bankruptcy related to the purchase of Gulf of Mexico lease assets purchased in Section 363 auction.
    • Represented solar energy producer in defense of trespass lawsuit, resulting in dismissal of all claims.
    • Represented global energy project management, engineering, and construction firm in connection with mass tort lawsuit alleging claims of negligent design and construction in connection with flooding related to Hurricane Harvey.
    • Represented exploration and production company in the defense of trespass to try title and conversion action, resulting in a favorable settlement.
    • Counseled exploration and production company through appeal of multi-million dollar judgment, resulting in vacatur of damages award and a new trial on its affirmative claim.
    • Represented a petrochemical manufacturer in a personal injury lawsuit and, subsequently, insurance recovery action, resulting in nominal liability and fee exposure for the client.

    Financial Services

    • Represented RBL lender through plan confirmation in United States Bankruptcy Court, ensuring that the lender received full value for its secured claims.
    • Represented mortgage servicer in DOJ investigation regarding the mortgage servicer's compliance with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), resulting in DOJ closing the investigation.
    • Counseled mortgage servicer through lawsuit in which it alleged fraud and breach of contract claims, resulting in favorable settlement.
    • Represented a large financial institution in the defense of a shareholder derivative lawsuit alleging damages in excess of $60 million, resulting in a complete dismissal of all claims.
    • Represented a large financial institution in the defense of several class action lawsuits, each resulting in a favorable settlement.
    • Investigated and counseled a large financial institution regarding compliance with an Office of the Comptroller of Currency Consent Order.