Ryan Carty

Lawyer. Litigator. Problem-solver. Negotiator. Peacemaker. Arguer. Bargainer. Troublemaker. Those are just a few of the titles thrown at Ryan Carty with some regularity.

Ryan is a family law practitioner, which is the polite way to explain at a fancy dinner party that he is a divorce lawyer without the word divorce ever spilling out across the table. Ryan spends most of his days in court, preparing for court, or explaining to his clients why they should attempt to avoid court at all costs.

Being in court -- litigating -- is what drew Ryan to the practice of family law. Ryan is no stranger to big stages. Ryan made his first front page newspaper headline when he was less than two weeks old. He fractured his skull (it was an accident!) before he could walk. He attended home school, private school, and public school. Ryan left private school halfway through his junior year of high school, despite his parents' best efforts to dissuade him, and transferred to one of the largest public high schools in Southwest Washington (State, not D.C.). Ryan was elected student body President less than five months after setting foot in the door.

Ryan's first job was as a door-to-door salesman; he was 12. He started his own window washing business before he could drive a car. He spent time as a groundskeeper, bartender, and dog-walker. Ryan performed tooth extractions in Nicaragua. He laid roof in the Appalachians. And he has never lost an alpine skiing

Lawyers are sometimes referred to as sharks, or blood-suckers. Ryan has played one of those on the big screen. A blood-sucker, not a shark. Ryan has died on film; he has killed on film; he has been yelled at by Michael Bay (not on film).2

Ryan was in a punk rock band for a short period of time, but got out before getting some smokin' tattoos. He sang tenor 2 in an all-male choir (also leaving before acquiring any tattoos). He played Nathan Detroit in a college production of Guys & Dolls despite having never gambled in a casino in his life.

Ryan is married to the love of his life. They have three amazingly wonderful boys who sometimes simultaneously drive them crazy and make them crazy proud to be their parents. Ryan's boss once told Ryan that he is a better family law lawyer because he has kids of his own, which means Ryan understands just how important issues like custody and parenting time really are to his clients. And Ryan can appreciate that yelling at your child doesn't mean you're a bad parent.

By the same token, Ryan believes that life experience is what makes good lawyers great lawyers. Ryan's life experiences are the reason he is one of only two private lawyers in the State of Oregon to currently serve in an advisory role to the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court on matters pertaining to family law. Ryan's life experiences propelled him in to a position in which he finds himself regularly testifying before the Oregon Legislature on behalf of the Oregon State Bar regarding proposed family law legislation.

Ryan's life experiences are why you want him by your side.

1. Ryan has never actually participated in an alpine skiing race.
2. Is there anyone who has worked in the film industry who hasn't been yelled at by Michael Bay?