About Ryan
Ryan is an associate at Belcher Sykes Harrington, PLLC, where he focuses his practice on alcoholic beverage law and the full spectrum of practice areas that come along with it, including business formation, commercial contracts, distribution agreements, hospitality law, and civil litigation. He provides practical counsel to clients and excels at balancing the competitive demands of business with the governmental restrictions of closely regulated industries. His previous career experience as a sommelier allows him to communicate as kin to industry members and translate complex and esoteric legal issues into readily understandable concepts.
Before joining the firm, Ryan served as counsel to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission where he represented the agency in administrative hearings, pursued investigations of tied-house violations, and led direct-to-consumer wine shipping enforcement.
He received his B.S. in Agriculture from the University of California, Davis, and his J.D. as a member of the fourth graduating class of Belmont University College of Law. He is a member of the Nashville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, and the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators.
Ryan is lives in Nashville and is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area. He is an avid winemaker and home cook.