Ryan M. Christian

Counsel

Atlanta
T +1.404.256.8234
F +1.404.459.5734

Overview

Ryan M. Christian is a former federal prosecutor and seasoned international lawyer with substantial experience in both U.S. and global investigations involving cybercrime, illicit finance, corruption, international trade, national security and transnational criminal organizations. He also is an accomplished litigator, having tried complex cases to verdict, briefed and argued novel matters in the U.S. Courts of Appeals and served as counsel of record in the U.S. Supreme Court. As a member of the Digital Risk Advisory and Cybersecurity team, Ryan guides clients through security incidents and counsels them in proactively assessing and mitigating data privacy and cybersecurity risks.

Ryan’s data privacy and cybersecurity practice focuses on advising clients on incident response and compliance with state, federal and international data privacy and data security laws and guidance.

Ryan’s litigation and investigation experience spans a broad range of industries, including telecommunications, financial services, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, fintech, private equity, broadcast media, wine, manufacturing and others. He has tried cases to verdict in state and federal courts and has conducted bench trials and other evidentiary proceedings.

Ryan has taught and spoken extensively on law, legal practice and public policy, including at Harvard Law School, Stanford University, Georgetown University Law Center, Carnegie Mellon University, American University Washington College of Law and the University of Edinburgh. He also has served as a volunteer judge for the trial practice programs at the University of Virginia School of Law and Emory University School of Law.

Select Experience

  • Led investigation of European based cyber threat actor who operated an international dark web marketplace offering for sale stolen personally identifiable information and other illegal goods and services.
  • Led investigation of African based syndicate that victimized public and private entities through business email compromise schemes and other cyber enabled fraud.
  • Led investigation of online money laundering platform and associated Asian based criminal network that laundered cybercrime proceeds.
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Experience

  • Led investigation of European based cyber threat actor who operated an international dark web marketplace offering for sale stolen personally identifiable information and other illegal goods and services.
  • Led investigation of African based syndicate that victimized public and private entities through business email compromise schemes and other cyber enabled fraud.
  • Led investigation of online money laundering platform and associated Asian based criminal network that laundered cybercrime proceeds.
  • Led investigation of cybercriminal who utilized social engineering to redirect funds held in online brokerage accounts.
  • Led investigation of cybercriminal who utilized social engineering to redirect payroll deposits.
  • Led investigation of South American business persons who utilized a hidden business unit, a network of shell companies and the global financial system to disguise the source and disbursement of bribe payments and to launder the proceeds of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations.
  • Led investigation of Asian financial intermediaries who utilized a complex web of real estate transactions to launder the proceeds of bribes and misappropriated assets.
  • Led investigation of Eastern European financiers who utilized a global network of shell companies and financial institutions to launder the proceeds of a massive fraud against a European bank.
  • Led investigation of Asian company for evasion of U.S. export controls and sanctions.
  • Represented European bank in connection with multijurisdictional investigation concerning global interest rate manipulation.
  • Served as counsel of record in the U.S. Supreme Court to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) v. Fox Televisions Stations et al., 10-1293, a challenge to FCC indecency standards.
  • Served as associate counsel in the U.S. Supreme Court to Par/Paddock Pharmaceuticals in Federal Trade Commission (FTC) v. Actavis, 12-0416, an antitrust challenge to a reverse-payment patent settlement agreement in pharmaceutical litigation.
  • Served as counsel to wine industry trade associations in multistate constitutional litigation challenging state wine-shipping laws.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • U.S. Attorney’s Award for Exceptional Dedication and Commitment to the Pursuit of Justice (2017)
  • U.S. Attorney’s Award for Superior Performance in Prosecution (2019)

Memberships

  • State Bar of Georgia, Young Lawyers Division: Representative Council

Community

  • Youth Soccer: Coach (2015 to present)

Emerging Issues

Prior Positions

  • U.S. Department of Justice
    • Assistant U.S. Attorney, Cyber and Intellectual Property (2020 to 2022)
    • Trial Attorney, International Unit (Kleptocracy Initiative), Money Laundering and Asset Recovery (2019 to 2020)
    • Assistant U.S. Attorney, Transnational Organized Crime (2014 to 2019)
  • The University of Edinburgh (U.K.) Academy of Government:
    • Honorary Lecturer (2014)
    • Visiting Fellow (2013)
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia: Law Clerk to The Honorable Henry H. Kennedy, Jr. (2008 to 2009)
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: Law Clerk to The Honorable Emilio M. Garza (2007 to 2008)

Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • Georgia
  • California
  • District of Columbia
  • Pennsylvania

Education

  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, magna cum laude; Articles Editor, The Georgetown Law Journal
  • Graduate Certificate, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
  • M.S., Carnegie Mellon University, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, highest distinction
  • B.S., Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business, honors