Tel: 716.842.2800
Fax: 716.845.6709
Email: rsmith@websterszanyi.com

Practice Areas

• Labor & Employment (Management)
• Education
• Employment Litigation
• Civil Rights

Education

• State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, J.D.
• Union College, B.A.

Admitted to Practice

• New York State
• U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
• Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Professional Associations

• Erie County Bar Association
• Erie County Labor & Employment Law Committee
• Erie County Municipal and School Law Committee
• New York State Association of School Attorneys
• New York State Association of Management Advocates for School Labor Affairs
• New York State School Boards Association
• New York State Public Employer Labor Relations Association
• National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys
• Defense Research Institute
• Federal Practice Committee

Recognition

Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2013-present

Community Activities

• Board of Directors, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns (2018-2021)
• Strategic Planning Committee, Clarence Central School District
• Trustee, Erie 1 BOCES Educational Foundation
• Youth Basketball Coach (Clarence Upward Basketball)
• Youth Baseball Coach (Town of Clarence Baseball Association)
• Youth Soccer Coach (Clarence Soccer Club)
• Amherst Youth Basketball Coach (2014-2016)

Summary of Practice

Ryan is a labor and employment attorney with specialized experience in Education Law and civil litigation.  He concentrates his practice on representing school districts, municipalities and private employers.  Ryan routinely assists his clients with issues concerning employee discipline, leaves of absence, collective bargaining/grievances, Civil Service Law, constitutional rights, statutory compliance and internal investigations, to name a few.  He provides counsel to his school district clients on additional issues such as student residency and homelessness, FOIL, Open Meetings Law, student discipline, policy review, religious exemption requests and Commissioner appeals.  Ryan has extensive experience representing his clients in several forums, including state and federal courts.  His litigation experience includes defending against claims that range from simple negligence to complex claims of discrimination and civil rights violations.  He also provides legal representation before administrative agencies such as the NYSDHR, EEOC, PERB and Education Departments (state and federal), as well as in employee disciplinary hearings and arbitration.