Ryan graduated cum laude from Florida's first law school, Stetson University College of Law, where he received the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award. He interned for the Honorable Elizabeth A. Kovachevich in law school. Before taking up personal injury law, Ryan worked at the Tampa office of Freeborn & Peters LLP, focusing on insurance coverage litigation, professional liability defense, and complex commercial litigation.
Before attending law school, Ryan was a Paralegal at Hollingsworth LLP in Washington, DC, assisting in mass toxic tort and product liability defense. Ryan's many years of legal experience have helped him win settlements worth millions of dollars for his clients. He has litigated personal injury cases against major corporations in both State and Federal court.
Ryan has been recognized by the Super Lawyers publication as a Rising Star consecutively since 2021. Rising Stars is an exclusive list of top-rated attorneys in specific practice areas. The National Black Lawyers named him a "Top 40 Under 40" attorney in Florida, an honor given to a select group of lawyers for their superior skills and qualifications. He also was Lawyer Monthly's injury LegalAwards recipient in 2020.
Ryan is admitted to practice in all State courts in Florida and the United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida.
He is a member of the American Bar Association, Florida Justice Association, American Association for Justice, TBTLA, and the Hillsborough County Bar Association. In addition to practicing law, Mr. Hicks is on the Board of Trustees for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – Suncoast Chapter.
