Ryan M. Bates

Ryan has distinguished himself as a nationwide litigator handling complex employment litigation, trade secret cases, and other high-stakes litigation.  Ryan has litigated cases in the state and federal courts of 25 states.  He has been named a “Leader in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly, an award received by only about 1% of Virginia lawyers, as well as a “Legal Elite” and “Labor and Employment Star” by peer and industry publications.

Ryan’s employment litigation practice includes defending clients against class and collective actions involving misclassification, off-the-clock claims, meal/rest break claims, and related wage and hour disputes. He regularly litigates claims under Title VII, Title IX, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, and various state statutes.

Ryan routinely represents clients in high-profile trade secret and restrictive covenant litigation.  Representing both plaintiffs and defendants, he has secured significant injunctions and favorable results for clients in a variety of industries.  In one such case, Ryan obtained the largest-known trade secret injunction in the state, upheld on appeal, which preserved over $50 million in client revenue.    

Ryan frequently conducts internal investigations into harassment, discrimination, and other employee misconduct.  He routinely counsels nationwide employers on compliance with federal and state employment laws.  Ryan has defended over 200 administrative actions in over 35 states, including litigating against the DOL and EEOC. He advises clients during mergers and acquisitions and drafts executive employment agreements, severance packages, handbooks, and bonus plans.

Class and Collective Actions

• Defended health care client against collective action alleging off-the-clock work.
• Defended retail client against collective action alleging exemption misclassification.
• Defended health care client against collective action alleging exemption misclassification.
• Defended school system against collective allegation alleging independent contractor misclassification.
• Defended retail client against class action alleging failure to pay wages at termination.
• Defended technology client against collective action alleging exemption misclassification.
• Defended government contractor client against collective action alleging independent contractor misclassification.
• Defended health care client against class action for meal/rest break, overtime, and related claims.
• Defended manufacturing client against class action for meal/rest break, overtime, and related claims.

Trade Secret Litigation

• Represented a large pet food manufacturer in a case against a competitor and former executives for trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties, and related claims. The matter resulted in a preliminary injunction, permanent injunction, imposition of sanctions against the opposing party, and an award of nearly $600,000 in attorney fees and costs.
• Represented a manufacturing client in a case against a competitor and former executive for trade secret misappropriation, contract interference, breach of fiduciary duties, and related claims. The case resulted in a preliminary and permanent injunction order in client’s favor.
• Represented a manufacturing client in a matter against a former executive for trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, and related claims.
• Represented a real estate client against two former executives and their employer for trade secret misappropriation, breach of fiduciary duties, and related claims.
• Represented a financial services client in a case against a former executive and his employer for trade secret misappropriation, breach of fiduciary duties, unfair competition, and related claims. The case resulted in a preliminary injunction order in client’s favor. 
• Defended a professional services client against allegations of trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, and related claims.
• Defended an executive against allegations of trade secret misappropriation and related claims.

Employment Litigation

• Regularly defends employers against lawsuits and arbitrations arising under Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and various state discrimination statutes.
• Litigated cases in state and federal courts of 25 states, including Virginia, District of Columbia, Maryland, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
• Has defended employers in over 200 administrative actions filed with the EEOC, Department of Labor, and state/local agencies in over 35 states.

Title IX Litigation

• Has defended several cases involving Title IX and related claims. In one recent case involving a plaintiff seeking $22 million in damages, Ryan defend the case through a five-week trial, which resulted in a complete defense verdict. 

Employment Counseling and Investigations

• Regularly counsels clients on nationwide employment law issues including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and state disability laws, Family and Medical Leave Act and state leave laws, federal and state wage and hour laws, trade secret protection, and implementing reductions-in-force.
• Routinely conducts internal investigations into harassment, discrimination, employee misconduct, trade secret theft, and physical/sexual assaults.
• Regularly advises clients on labor and employment issues in conjunction with mergers and acquisitions.
• Regularly drafts executive employment agreements, severance agreements, employment handbooks, and bonus plans.
• In his spare time, Ryan serves on the Board of Directors for Virginia’s largest legal aid organization and represents victims of domestic violence seeking protective orders from their abusive partners.

• Listed as a Future Star, District of Columbia, Benchmark Litigation, 2024-25
• Recommended for Labor and Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense, Legal 500 United States, 2020-24
• Named a Best Lawyer in Litigation–Labor and Employment, The Best Lawyers in America, 2023-25
• Named one of Virginia Lawyers Weekly’s Leaders in the Law, 2022
• Named one of Virginia Business magazine’s Legal Elite for Labor/Employment Law, 2020, 2022-23
• Listed as a Labor and Employment Star, District of Columbia, Benchmark Litigation, 2020-2024

• Member, Federal Bar Association
• Member, Virginia Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
• Member and Past Program Chair, Fairfax Bar Association, Employment Law Section
• President, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, 2018-19
• Board of Directors, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, 2013-present