I provide business legal services to companies of all sizes that have the need for regular, on-going legal advice but who do not want to devote full-time resources to a legal department or add more attorneys to their preexisting legal team.
I have the flexibility to provide quality legal services to business clients on their terms - with flexible fee arrangements, flexible hours, and with little overhead. My goal is to serve as a seamless extension of a company's existing Legal or Management team -- or as a trusted legal adviser to smaller businesses -- while keeping legal budgets under control.
I have represented clients in a variety of litigation matters in state and federal courts, focusing on insurance coverage litigation. For eight years, I served as in-house counsel to a global company withmore than 800 employees worldwide. My work touched on nearly every aspect of corporate business, including negotiation of contracts, advising corporate management regarding the impact of legal considerations on corporate business decisions, and providing advice on the company’s growing trademark, copyright, and patent portfolio. I also served as the company's insurance administrator, responsible for providing advice to company executives on risk management and insurance coverage matters for the company's international operations, procuring new insurance coverage, negotiatingand filing of claims, and maintaining insurance records. I oversaw most of the company's litigation matters, responsible for litigation strategy, drafting pleadings and discovery requests, and coordinating with outside counsel.
Practice areas
I provide outsourced legal services to companies who need in-house legal counsel, but do not want to hire an additional full-time lawyer. I also work with smaller business owners to make sure they are operating under the appropriate business structure, and then help them with ongoing legal needs as their businesses grow.
21 years
I work with business owners to make sure they are operating under the appropriate business structure, and then help them with ongoing legal needs as their businesses grow.
21 years
I work with my business clients to find effective resolutions to disputes, often before we find ourselves in court.
21 years
I provide trademark and branding legal advice to business clients.
16 years
Languages spoken
English
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
NC | Active | 2006 | 04/28/2022 |
DC | Resigned | 2005 | 02/26/2021 |
NY | Currently registered | 2002 | 02/24/2022 |
MA | Retired | 2002 | 02/22/2022 |
Legal answers | 0 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Peer Review Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2017 |
2016 Readers' Choice Award - Best Law Firm (Ryan S. Luft, PLLC) | Go Triad | 2016 |
2016 Readers' Choice Award - Best Attorney | Go Triad | 2016 |
Concentration in Intellectual Property Law with honors | Boston University School of Law | 2001 |
Technical Editor, Journal of Science & Technology Law | Boston University School of Law | 2000 |
Director, J. Newton Esdaile Appellate Moot Court Program | Boston University School of Law | 2000 |
Teaching Assistant, First Year Writing Program | Boston University School of Law | 1999 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Adjunct instructor, Advanced Business Law | University of North Carolina - Greensboro, Department of Accounting and Finance, Bryan School of Business and Economics | 2017 - Present |
Principal / Attorney | General Counsel Outsourcing / Ryan S. Luft, PLLC | 2015 - Present |
Senior Legal Counsel | Market America, Inc. | 2008 - 2015 |
Associate Attorney | Tuggle Duggins & Meschan | 2006 - 2007 |
Associate Attorney | Dickstein Shapiro, LLP | 2001 - 2006 |
Legal intern | United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, Computers and Finance Section | 1999 - 1999 |
Senior Paralegal/Information Systems Consultant | Dike, Bronstein, Roberts & Cushman, LLP | 1997 - 1999 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Carolinas-Virginia Business Brokers Association | Member | 2017 - Present |
Hamilton Lakes & Parks, Inc. | Member, Board of Directors | 2014 - Present |
Greensboro Bar Association | Member | 2006 - Present |
North Carolina Bar Association | Member | 2006 - Present |
Rotary Club of Greensboro | Member | 2016 - 2017 |
Guilford Merchants Association | Member | 2015 - 2016 |
Greensboro Bar Association, Fundraiser for Legal Aid of North Carolina | Committee Member | 2015 - 2016 |
B'nai Shalom Day School | Member, Board of Trustees | 2011 - 2016 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Boston University Journal of Science & Technology Law | Legal Update, “Attention Wal-Mart Shoppers: Supreme Court Requires Showing of Secondary Meaning for Product Design.” | 2001 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Boston University School of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 2001 |
State University of New York, Binghamton | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1996 |
St. Catherine's College, Oxford | 1995 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
HQ Greensboro Lunch-n-Learn | Bitcoin, Blockchain, & Digital Currencies: What's the law? | 2018 |
Summit Rotary - Meeting | Bitcoin, Blockchain, & Digital Currencies: What's the law? | 2018 |
Legal Issues for Startups | Legal Considerations for Startups | 2017 |
Legal and Financial Lunch and Learn for Startups and Small Businesses | Legal considerations for startups -- entity selection, potential liabilities, risk mitigation | 2016 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Purchase of a business | Successful representation of buyer of a professional office |
Sale of a business | Successful representation of seller of a healthcare business |
Insurance coverage dispute | Successfully represented policyholder in recovery of insurance proceeds. |
Purchase of an e-commerce business | Successful representation of buyer of an e-commerce business |
Breach of contract trial | Judgment in favor of client. |
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January 22, 2018
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May 15, 2017
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January 8, 2017
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January 4, 2017
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January 2, 2017
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February 13, 2016
William Medlin, Business Attorney on Jan 26, 2018
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I endorse Ryan Luft as an especially competent and effective business lawyer. After representing opposing clients in a business dispute, I have consulted with Ryan on several legal and business matters. Ryan is willing to take the time to learn the facts, study the law and come up with creative solutions for his clients' legal issues.
Preston Nelson, Business Attorney on Jan 18, 2018
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I've known Ryan for a while and we have worked together on a few different matters. I think he is a knowledgeable and valuable asset for business deals. And he is on my short list to call when my commercial projects go beyond what I want to handle alone.
William Medlin, Business Attorney on Jan 26, 2018
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I endorse Ryan Luft as an especially competent and effective business lawyer. After representing opposing clients in a business dispute, I have consulted with Ryan on several legal and business matters. Ryan is willing to take the time to learn the facts, study the law and come up with creative solutions for his clients' legal issues.
Preston Nelson, Business Attorney on Jan 18, 2018
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I've known Ryan for a while and we have worked together on a few different matters. I think he is a knowledgeable and valuable asset for business deals. And he is on my short list to call when my commercial projects go beyond what I want to handle alone.
Blake Hurt, Business Attorney on Jan 17, 2018
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I have known Ryan for a while now and have always found him to be prompt, professional, and effective in his legal practice. It is my pleasure to endorse Ryan to all potential clients as his efficiency, responsiveness, and client management in the pursuit of desirable outcomes on behalf of his clients are second to none.
Linda Patino, Business Attorney on Nov 30, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Ryan is dedicated to providing legal services to clients in the most efficient and effective manner. He is constantly working to improve his legal skills and benefit his clients.
Galina Petrova, Business Attorney on Nov 28, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Ryan is an excellent attorney who stands out with his intellect and practical approach to helping clients. Ryan is pleasant and fantastic to work with. His in-house counsel experience shines through. It all comes to benefit his manufacturing and furniture industry clients, as well as other growth-oriented businesses.
Stacey Kraftchick, Business Attorney on Apr 26, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Through a legal career exceeding 20 years, I have met and worked with many hundreds of attorneys. Ryan stands out in that field of lawyers as incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable as to varying aspects of the laws governing business transactions, while balancing evaluation and advice with an eye toward corporate operations priorities. He is at all times dedicated to meeting the needs of his clients, presenting information and legal guidance professionally and with astute business savvy. I have observed Ryan to successfully address business issues ranging from corporate formation, contract and vendor issues, employment, intellectual property, insurance coverages and claims, and corporate transaction investigations and evidentiary matters from the litigation perspective. I highly recommend Ryan Luft.
Andrew Fitzgerald, Business Attorney on Apr 26, 2016
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I introduced and connected Ryan to a good client who needed representation in an asset sale. Ryan did a fabulous job, and his bill was beyond reasonable.
Blaire McClanahan, Business Attorney on Dec 31, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Ryan practices in the same community and has a stellar reputation. He is honest and hardworking.
Robert Friedman, Insurance Attorney on Dec 31, 2015
Relationship: Supervised lawyer
Ryan is smart, hard-working, and efficient. He is someone you want on your team.
Cheryl David, Business Attorney on Nov 9, 2009
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer's work. Ryan has an excellent reputation in the community and is extremely knowledgeable in the areas of business law, corporate law, employment law and human resource development. I also appreciate the work he has done in the legal community setting up an online network for local attorneys to touch base and share ideas.