Ryan J. Byrnes is an associate in the firm’s Tax, Trusts, and Estates and Business, Corporate & Commercial Departments. He counsels wealthy individuals and families in all aspects of their estate planning, including preparation of wills and trusts, implementation of sophisticated strategies to minimize taxes and protect family assets. Ryan prides himself on working closely with his clients and their other trusted advisors to identify their objectives and provide creative and practical solutions designed to meet his client’s specific goals. On this business side, he has considerable experience negotiating and preparing asset purchase and sale agreements, partnership and compensation agreements, handling all aspects of residential and commercial real estate transactions, and counseling clients on estate planning opportunities that arise in connection with the sale of privately held businesses.Ryan draws on his experience to counsel clients on a wide array of estate planning and Surrogate’s Court matters to avoid common missteps that may otherwise lead to costly litigation. When litigation is necessary, he represents beneficiaries, executors and trustees in contested and uncontested Supreme Court, Superior Court and Surrogate’s Court proceedings throughout New York and New Jersey concerning the probate and construction of wills, accounting disputes, administration of estates and trusts and recovery of estate assets.

Counseled clients with respect to elder law, special needs planning, guardianship, asset protection planning, trust and estate administration, and estate planning.

The New England Innocence Project (NEIP) was founded in 2000 with the goal of identifying and exonerating wrongly convicted individuals through the use of DNA evidence. In 2009, the mission was expanded; NEIP now considers cases in which other scientific testing or investigative leads could establish a strong likelihood that an individual is factually innocent.NEIP is a member of the international Innocence Network of innocence projects. Each of these projects was modeled after the Innocence Project, which was founded by Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld at the Cardozo School of Law in New York in 1992.Many innocence projects around the country – and increasingly the world – are affiliated with law schools. NEIP, however, is an independent 501(c)(3) public charity. Our location in Boston affords us the unique opportunity to work with professors and students from the six Boston law schools, as well as with law schools throughout New England. Additionally, in the summer months, NEIP has a full-time legal internship program which draws students from states outside of New England as well as several foreign countries.NEIP consists of a small staff of attorneys, paralegals, administrative professionals, and volunteer law students who work in conjunction with a dedicated network of criminal defense attorneys, experts, and scholars. As a Legal Intern I:-Spearheaded pro bono legal assistance procedures to imprisoned inmates who were challenging wrongful convictions, providing support, confidentiality, and encouragement.-Conducted research pertinent to the exoneration of current or prospective clients by reviewing trial transcripts, motions, pleadings, court opinions, cases setting precedent, and other post-conviction documents.-Located DNA or forensic evidence related to the crime and submitted it for further testing as needed. -Drafted memoranda on whether to accept or reject a case after an investigation was complete.

KAPLAN RICE LLP represents corporate and individual clients in complex business and securities litigation, arbitrations and criminal matters. We have significant experience representing investment funds and other financial institutions as well as online trading platforms. We also represent companies and executives in a range of employment matters and high net worth clients in family law matters.As a Summer Associate I:-Drafted litigation documents, including client and expert affidavits, motion for preliminary injunction, order to show cause, motion for summary judgment, and reply brief to opposing counsel’s motion to dismiss amended complaint. -Drafted deposition outlines and correspondence with clients and opposing counsel and attended other related depositions, trials, oral arguments, and client interviews.-Identified, categorized, and summarized in legal memoranda statutory provisions on Business Corporation Law and Delaware General Corporation Law in connection with a partnership dissolution dispute filed in both New York and Delaware.-Assisted various attorneys in the drafting of submissions to the court, ranging from complaints to briefs and other pleadings regarding long arm jurisdiction, collective bargaining agreements, and Financial Industry Regulation Authority arbitration's. -Prepared advisory letters for clients in connection to class action defense involving claims of fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty and business torts arising from alleged insider trading.