Profile
Presentations
Publications

John Ryan's litigation practice includes defending his clients against a variety of state and federal statutory claims, especially those that allow for fee shifting. He litigates both individual claims and class actions in state and federal courts. John has successfully argued cases to verdict for his clients and defended cases at various appellate levels in both state and federal courts.

John employs a cost-effective litigation defense strategy in significant exposure class actions as well as in individual claims. His creative legal arguments have allowed his clients to find a positive resolution at various court levels, including the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Throughout his career, John has successfully defended companies and attorneys in numerous class actions involving the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act (ICFA), and the Illinois Right of Publicity Act (IRPA), as well as other common law and statutory claims. He has become a leading defense counsel in Illinois and around the country, defending statutory privacy claims that seek statutory or liquidated damages. He has received opinions in favor of his clients in numerous trial courts, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and several state supreme courts.

John has defended more than 100 privacy class actions for alleged Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) violations and claims under the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA). Relying on his substantive experience, John works with his clients to provide dynamic strategies for defending these newly litigated matters and develops cost-effective resolution strategies to end their BIPA or other privacy class actions. While the laws on BIPA, VPPA, and other statutory privacy claims continue to evolve, John identifies critical issues and provides a tactical plan tailored for his clients.

John also represents lottery winners, from presenting the winning ticket to the state to financial/estate/tax planning. He guides his lottery-winning clients through the lottery-winning claims process, including providing advice to protect their anonymity and help them assemble a trustworthy team of financial/estate/tax planners. He represents the historic winners of the Mega Millions jackpot.

Professional Affiliations

  • ACA International
  • NCBA
  • GLCCA

Honors & Awards

  • Recognized as an "Emerging Leader" by Leading Lawyers Magazine in 2015 – 2019

Presentations

  • Co-Presenter, "Consumer – State Law Updates," 2023 Auto Finance Seminar: Driving Ahead: Auto Finance Insights from Industry Leaders, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago, Illinois, May 4, 2023
  • Co-Presenter, "Recent Biometric Privacy Act (BIPA) Cases, Compliance, and Best Practices," Hinshaw's 26th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 27, 2022
  • Moderator, "Attorney Panel - Latest Trends and Tips plus Q&A," 6th Annual Conference, Great Lakes Credit and Collection Association (GLCCA), May 13, 2022
  • Panelist, "Reg F Session Part 2: Best Practices, What's Working, What's Not Working, Work Arounds," 6th Annual Conference, Great Lakes Credit and Collection Association (GLCCA), May 12, 2022
  • Panelist, "Reg F Session Part 1: Best Practices Around Compliance and Compliance Litigation," 6th Annual Conference, Great Lakes Credit and Collection Association (GLCCA), May 12, 2022
  • Moderator, "Latest Trends and Tips Plus Q&A," Great Lakes Credit & Collection Association Conference, Bloomington, Minnesota, October 29, 2021

  • Panelist, "Reg F… Let's Discuss," Great Lakes Credit & Collection Association Conference, Bloomington, Minnesota, October 29, 2021

  • Co-Presenter, "Ethics Session: Privacy And Technology's Effect On the Attorney-Client Relationship," National Creditors Bar Association, San Antonio, Texas, October 14, 2021

  • Co-Presenter, "Do Your Workplace Screening and Monitoring Policies Acknowledge Employee Privacy Rights?" Hinshaw's 25th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Virtual Event, October 29, 2020

  • "Biometric Privacy: Litigation Trends and Defenses," Hinshaw U, Chicago, Illinois, February 12, 2019

  • "The Supreme Court's Trilogy on Consumer Law - Gomez, Spokeo and Gillie - How Will These Opinions Affect Your Practice?," The National Creditors Bar Association, 2016 Fall Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 29, 2016

  • "Extra Judicial Efforts to Regulate Attorney Debt Collection Harms the Profession, Clients and the Courts," Annual Consumer Financial Services Conference, Chicago, Illinois, September 16, 2016

  • "The Ethical Implications on the Use of Technology," The Illinois Credit Union League's 39th Annual Attorneys' Conference, September 9, 2016

  • "The Continuing Evolution of the TCPA," Lorman Education Services, webinar, July 2016

  • "Licensing Requirements and Their Implication on Collection Attorneys," Defense Bar Education Session, NARCA 2014 Fall Collection Conference, October 2014

Publications

John assisted in the research and editing of  "The Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 – Navigating Through its Sea of Uncertainty, Parts I and II," which was authored by Hinshaw attorney, Steve Puiszis. It was published in For the Defense, Vol. 47, Nos. 10 and 11, Defense Research Institute, October and November 2005, and also in the UIC Law Review (formerly John Marshall Law Review), Volume 40, Fall 2006, Number 1.

Hinshaw Publications

J.D., cum laude, University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, 2006

  • Member, Moot Court Executive Board

B.B.A., St. Norbert College, 2002