Ryan K. French

Taylor Porter Partner Ryan French handles cases in a variety of areas, including commercial and complex litigation, corporate ownership fights, appellate practice, property right disputes, construction litigation, church property law, and white collar criminal defense.

Ryan has been ranked by Louisiana Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” in Business Litigation, and also by Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Litigation.

Ryan is an elected member of the Louisiana Association of Business & Industry’s (LABI) Legal Advisory Council. The council helps LABI set its policy priorities in the judicial branch and gather courtroom data needed to make informed advocacy decisions. Additionally, the council is responsible for enhancing the business community’s amicus brief program. LABI and its Board look to the Legal Advisory Council for guidance on important decisions relating to topics like civil justice policy, amicus brief participation, judicial administration and structure, and political positions.

Ryan graduated from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, where he served as Executive Senior Editor of the Louisiana Law Review, graduated fourth in his class, and earned the highest grade awards in Legal Writing I and II, Torts, Employment Law, Successions, Sales and Lease, Corporate Law, and Evidence.

Following law school, Ryan clerked for the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division in Dallas, Texas. He then clerked for the Honorable W. Eugene Davis on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, where he gained experience in federal procedure and appellate practice.

In addition to his legal practice, Ryan boasts a background in accounting and finance, having obtained a B.S. in accounting from LSU where he earned a 4.0 GPA and finished as a University Medalist. Before attending law school, Ryan successfully completed the CPA Exam in 2009.

Because of his accounting background, Ryan is better able to understand his clients’ businesses and can personally assess valuation issues, damage calculations, present value determinations, and related expert witness testimony. Ryan’s background as an appellate clerk has also made him uniquely able to assist clients on appeal, both with brief-writing and with oral argument presentation.

Ryan is an Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America program. In the community, Ryan formerly served on the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross Louisiana Capital Area-West. Ryan has also handled multiple pro bono cases, including successions, unfair trade practice claims, and contested real estate title actions.

• Representation of clients sued by prior employers for alleged violation of non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.
• Representation of Fortune 500 chemical company against plaintiffs alleging misappropriation of property.
• Representation of multiple clients in lawsuits involving disputed business valuations and related claims.
• Serving as lead counsel or co-counsel for local churches in property ownership disputes, including the representation of multiple Presbyterian churches in lawsuits with national entities concerning the existence of a denominational trust.
• Representing businesses with bad faith insurance claims for wrongful denial of insurance coverage and defense costs.
• Obtaining breach-of-contract damages on behalf of business-owners, including damages for lost profits and lost business opportunities.
• Representation of multiple closely-held business clients in corporate ownership/stockholder disputes.
• Representing businesses against lenders who have failed to honor terms of borrowing agreements and/or promissory notes.
• Defending an individual client in a multi-million-dollar securities fraud case.
• Representation of various clients through appeal before the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeals, the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Mississippi Supreme Court, and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D., summa cum laude, 2012
• Louisiana State University, B.S. Accounting, summa cum laude, 2009

• Louisiana, 2012
• United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2012
• Middle District, 2012
• Eastern District, 2012
• Western District, 2012

• Baton Rouge Bar Association
• Louisiana State Bar Association
• LABI Legal Advisory Council

• Louisiana Super Lawyers – Rising Star – Business Litigation
• Best Lawyers in America – Commercial Litigation

• “What Lawyers Need to Know About Notarial Liability in Louisiana,” CLE, Louisiana Legislature, Dec. 4, 2020

• American Red Cross Louisiana Capital Area – West (Past Board Member)