Ryan
Stefani

OVERVIEW

Crafting an argument for the court—especially one that ultimately wins the day for his client—is one of the most satisfying elements of Ryan Stefani's practice. “What is the most fulfilling and meaningful to me is being able to take a client’s problems and craft a very thoughtful and well-reasoned argument to the court,” Ryan says, “I particularly enjoy writing briefs that are easy to understand in a way that is persuasive, logical, and easy to follow.”

That's valuable in his intellectual property litigation practice. Ryan helps clients protect their intellectual property through patent and trademark litigation, and he has assisted with IP litigation in federal courts around the country. Ryan has assisted clients to obtain dozens of consent judgments against patent- and trademark-infringing defendants. Ryan also helps clients protect their trade secrets and other confidential information from disclosure in open records requests. In addition in his labor and employment practice work, Ryan assists employers who face discrimination claims from current employees, former employees, and job applicants. 

Although Ryan comes from a family of lawyers, that wasn’t the only reason he decided the law was the right career path. An in-depth conversation with a mentor and successful businessman guided Ryan to law school. It turned out to be the right fit and exactly what he wanted to do.

He’s used his law degree and an undergraduate communication degree as strong foundations for his approach to the law, and Ryan has also applied elements he’s learned from an unexpected source: comedy.

“I think to be really successful, the best comedians are usually very smart and clever and witty,” Ryan says. “That, I think, feeds into effective communication and effective delivery in public speaking settings.”

While he takes the law and its practice seriously, Ryan also makes sure to apply the principles of effective communication to his work with thoughtful, logical arguments that help his clients’ cases succeed.

RECOGNITION

Great Plains Super Lawyers
Rising Stars, 2022

ABA Advocacy Competition

• Captain, 2013–2014 
• Participant, 2012–2013

Drake Criminal Defense Clinic
Student Attorney, 2013–2014

Drake Journal of Agricultural Law 
Junior Staff Member, 2012–2013

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS

American Bar Association

Iowa State Bar Association

Polk County Bar Association

SPEECHES & PUBLICATIONS

“Drafting and Enforcing Non-Compete Clauses in Iowa: A Thirty-Year Review,” 64 Drake Law Review 325, 2016 (co-author)

SIGNIFICANT CASES

Keith Allen v. Hubbell Realty Company (Polk County, Iowa 2019). First chair in jury trial of disability discrimination claim, resulting in defense verdict.

Nila Haleen v. Tari Thompson d/b/a Chick-fil-A Ames (Story County, Iowa 2018). First chair in jury trial of premises liability claim, resulting in defense verdict.

Southern Insurance Company v. CJG Enterprises, Inc., No. 3:15–cv–00131, 2017 WL 3449610 (S.D. Iowa May 12, 2017). Successfully briefed and argued for dismissal of Plaintiff’s tort claims under the economic loss doctrine.

Carter Goodwin v. Annett Holdings, Inc. (Polk County, Iowa 2020).  Second chair in jury trial of disability discrimination claim, resulting in defense verdict.