John P. Ryan
John P. Ryan
Partner
He/Him
"I take a tenacious approach in defending class actions, while simultaneously understanding the need for a cost-effective litigation strategy."
John P. Ryan
Partner
He/Him
"I take a tenacious approach in defending class actions, while simultaneously understanding the need for a cost-effective litigation strategy."
About John
John’s litigation practice includes defending clients against state and federal statutory claims, especially those involving fee shifting. Whether at the state or federal level, John litigates individual claims and class actions, having argued cases to verdict and defended appeals. He has appeared before the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
He defends companies and attorneys in class actions under statutes including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), Illinois Consumer Fraud Act (ICFA), and the Illinois Right of Publicity Act (IRPA), as well as other common law and statutory claims. As a leading defense counsel in the state and the nation, he focuses on statutory privacy claims seeking statutory or liquidated damages. He has secured favorable rulings for clients in trial courts, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and state supreme courts.
Areas of Focus
Industries:
Services:
- Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA);
- Consumer & Class Action Defense;
- Data Breach;
- Data Privacy, AI & Cybersecurity;
- Due Diligence;
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA);
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA);
- Labor & Employment;
- Litigation & Trial;
- Mortgage Lending & Servicing Litigation;
- Regulatory & Compliance;
- Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA);
- Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA);
- Website Data Privacy
Initiatives:
Experience
- Prevailed in the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit) on Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) claims that the debt collector failed to report the debt dispute to a credit agency. The appellate court affirmed the district court's summary judgment dismissing the case on the grounds that the debt collector complied with the FDCPA and the FCRA did not provide a private right of action for the alleged violation.
- Secured a victory on behalf of passive debt buyers in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. The court held that passive debt buyers are not debt collectors under the licensing statute. The court reviewed the legislative history of the Massachusetts Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) and the FDCPA and noted that the Massachusetts licensing regulator has consistently concluded that a passive debt buyer is not included in the definition of a "debt collector."
- Represented an asset buyer in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, who had obtained a default judgment against a consumer on a delinquent account. After the default judgment, the consumer sued the company for not being licensed under the New Jersey Consumer Finance Licensing Act (NJCFLA). The appellate court affirmed a lower court finding that plaintiffs were barred by res judicata and the Entire Controversy Doctrine from bringing a claim that the consumer could have presented in an earlier action.
- Prevailed on successive motions to strike a plaintiff's proposed class definitions. Ultimately, the court ruled that the plaintiff could only proceed on an individual basis. As a result, the litigation never proceeded to expensive electronic discovery.
- Prevailed on a motion to strike a plaintiff's proposed class definitions, limiting the plaintiff's ability to only represent people who could assert claims like his own. The Hinshaw team was able to establish why a class of those like the plaintiff's could never be certified.
Recognition
- Leading Lawyers Magazine, Emerging Leader, 2015 – 2019
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, Moot Court, Executive Board
Credentials
Education
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, JD, cum laude, 2006
- St. Norbert College, BBA, 2002
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- US District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
- US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Thought Leadership
Presentations
- Co-Presenter, "Outbound AI Voice Bots and the Law: Compliance Requirements You Cannot Ignore," AccountsRecovery.net, Webinar, June 10, 2026
- Co-Presenter, "The Post-Breach Playbook: Navigating a Cyber Attack," Cybersecurity Risk Forum, ACA International, Virtual Conference, March 3, 2026
- Co-Presenter, "Wolf of Wall Street Legal Edition: Business Development," Hinshaw University, CLE Webinar, June 26, 2025
- Co-Presenter, "Privacy, Information Sharing, & Connected Cars," 2025 Auto Finance Seminar, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago, Illinois, May 1, 2025
- Panelist, "Updates on the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA)," Municipal and Law Committee MCLE, Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois, January 23, 2025
Interests
Did you know...
John enjoys spending time with his kids, attending their activities, coaching his son's baseball team, and golfing.
Thought Leadership
Presentations
- Co-Presenter, "Outbound AI Voice Bots and the Law: Compliance Requirements You Cannot Ignore," AccountsRecovery.net, Webinar, June 10, 2026
- Co-Presenter, "The Post-Breach Playbook: Navigating a Cyber Attack," Cybersecurity Risk Forum, ACA International, Virtual Conference, March 3, 2026
- Co-Presenter, "Wolf of Wall Street Legal Edition: Business Development," Hinshaw University, CLE Webinar, June 26, 2025
- Co-Presenter, "Privacy, Information Sharing, & Connected Cars," 2025 Auto Finance Seminar, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago, Illinois, May 1, 2025
- Panelist, "Updates on the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA)," Municipal and Law Committee MCLE, Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois, January 23, 2025
John's Insights
Consumer Crossroads: Where Financial Services and Litigation Intersect
Jan 29, 2026
US Supreme Court to Resolve Who Qualifies as a "Consumer" Under Video Privacy Protection Act
Consumer Crossroads: Where Financial Services and Litigation Intersect
Jan 29, 2026
US Supreme Court to Resolve Who Qualifies as a "Consumer" Under Video Privacy Protection Act
Consumer Crossroads: Where Financial Services and Litigation Intersect
Mar 4, 2025
Navigating Standing Considerations in Data Breach Class Actions
Privacy, Cyber & AI Decoded Alert
Jan 28, 2025
Hinshaw's 5 Data Privacy Day Regulatory and Litigation Predictions for 2025
Event
May 16, 2024
Driving Ahead Auto Finance Seminar: Insights from Industry Leaders
In The News
Apr 29, 2024
Hinshaw Makes Waves—and the Airwaves—at the Recent General Counsel Conference Midwest 2024
Privacy, Cyber & AI Decoded Alert
Mar 5, 2024
A Surge in Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA) Claims Poses Threat to Employers
Hinshaw Alert
Feb 26, 2024
U.S. Supreme Court Holds Consumers Can Sue the Government for Violating the FCRA
Privacy, Cyber & AI Decoded Alert
Jan 31, 2024
Privacy, Cyber & AI Decoded Alert
Jan 24, 2024
Lucky Number 13: What to Look Out For in New Jersey’s Data Protection Law
Event
Thursday, May 4, 2023
