Born and raised in Beaumont, Ryan has deep roots in East Texas. His practice focuses mainly on state and federal criminal trial and appellate work throughout our great State.
Ryan believes that no person accused of a crime should lack effective counsel; a lawyer who is willing and capable to take their case before a jury and require the government to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Since 2010, Ryan has tried numerous criminal cases before juries all over East Texas. He has met with great success; obtaining twelve acquittals and three directed verdicts in criminal cases during the past four years. In addition he prevented a client wrongfully accused of shaking her baby to death from facing capital murder charges.
Ryan has argued cases in both state and federal courts and is licensed in Texas and admitted to practice before the Eastern, Western, and Southern Federal District Courts. Additionally, he has argued cases before the First, Ninth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Courts of Appeal in Texas as well as the Fifth Circuit Federal Court in New Orleans.
While studying at the University of Houston Law Center, Ryan was elected to the Order of Barristers and won every advocacy competition offered by the University (mock trial, moot court, mediation, and negotiation) at least once. Additionally, he was elected as best speaker on three occasions in two different competitions. He also won the prestigious Ben G. Levy Essays in Freedom Award for authorship of an article on constitutional law.
Ryan has served on the Board of the Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association, the Board of Advocates of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Board of the Evelyn M. Lord Teen Court, and as the coach of the Central High School Mock Trial Team. Prior to law school, Ryan earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a master's degree from the George Washington University.
Ryan is AV rated as a preeminent lawyer by his peers. According to Martindale, AV Preeminent® is a testament to the fact that his peers rank Ryan at the highest level of professional and ethical excellence.
On May 2, 2014, Ryan Gertz received the Jefferson County Bar Association's "Outstanding Young Lawyer" Award. The award, which is given to only one attorney each year, recognizes a young lawyer who has demonstrated professional proficiency, service to the profession, and service to the community. U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn presented the award to Ryan at the Bar Association's annual Law Day event.
In June of 2014, Ryan won the State Bar of Texas' Publication Award for 'Best Human Interest Story' in the state for the May 1, 2013 - April 1, 2014 bar year. Ryan's winning article, "Michael Morton and Your Worst Nightmare," was published in the Fall 2013 Issue of the Jefferson County Bar Journal, Volume 9, Issue 3.
PRACTICE AREAS:
Federal cases-
white collar crime
IRS investigations
SEC defense matters
corporate fraud defense
securities fraud
conspiracy
mail/ wire/bank fraud
bankruptcy fraud
tax fraud
tax and securities investigations
antitrust violations
health care fraud
environmental violations
immigration fraud
custom violations
criminal antitrust violations
government/mail/wire fraud
bribery
embezzlement
State cases-
driving while intoxicated (DWI)
computer crimes
theft (shoplifting, employee theft)
possession of drugs/ controlled substances
carrying a weapon in a restricted area
assault (family violence)
aggravated assault
intoxication assault
sexual assault
aggravated sexual assault
indecency with a child
juvenile
murder
intoxication manslaughter
negligent homicide
