Peter J. Ryan, Esq.
Peter J. Ryan, Esq.
- Partner
- (626) 514-0950
- ryan@floresryan.com
Education
- Notre Dame Law School, J.D., Cum Laude, Executive Articles Editor, Journal of Legislation
- University of Southern California, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations Global Business, Cum Laude
Admissions
- California
- United States District Court of California, Central
Memberships
- Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member
- Los Angeles County Bar Association, Construction Law Subsection, Member
- Ventura County Bar Association, Member
- Orange County Bar Association, Member
- Orange County Bar Association, Construction Law Subsection, Member
- Notre Dame Lawyers of Los Angeles
- American Board of Trial Advocates Foundation, Fellow
- Licensed Broker – California Department of Real Estate
Mr. Ryan advises general contractors, subcontractors, construction managers, owners, developers and property managers in complex construction contract, project administration, and litigation matters. Mr. Ryan enables clients to manage risks by structuring and negotiating complex construction contracts, joint venture agreements, MOUs, commercial leases, non-securitized debt, and real estate transactions.
With a litigation practice in both state and federal courts, Mr. Ryan has expertise in the nuances applicable to private, public, and federal construction projects in California and strategically advances his clients’ claims in all applicable forums including mediation and arbitration as well as bench and jury trials in state and federal courts. Mr. Ryan has served as local counsel for national companies with respect to construction and real estate disputes in California as well as national counsel for the coordination multijurisdictional matters.
Mr. Ryan was exposed to the construction industry at an early age via his grandfather’s electrical contracting business, which his father also served as president, and he interned at, learning the nuances of management, estimating, design, and field work. He is excited by the rapid rate of technologically driven advances allowing for safer, more efficient, and cost-effective projects and seeks to leverage these technologies to deliver superior solutions for clients in the context of disputes, negotiations, and risk management.
Speaking Engagements and Writing
- Active Negligence May Not Preclude Indemnity Rights – Engineer Contractors Association Magazine, May 2017.
- “Not An All-Or-Nothing Proposition ─ Active Negligence May Not Preclude Indemnity Rights” – HuntLaw, April 12, 2017.
- Montrose and Horizontal or Vertical Exhaustion: Is the Long-Tail (Claim) Wagging the Dog? – Insurance Journal, April 2, 2018.
- Stay Your Mechanic’s Lien Foreclosure Action – Or Waive Arbitration Rights On All Your Claims – HuntLaw, June 12, 2018.
- What to Look for in a Contruction Contract? – Hardhat Advice, December 16, 2019.
- California Mechanic’s lien Series – Hardhat Advice, December 16, 2019.
- California Prompt Payment Penalties – Hardhat Advice, March 26, 2020-April 18, 2020 series.
- Protect Payment Bond Rights and Enforce A Claim – Hardhat Advice, April 22, 2020.
- Make A Claim Against A Contractor’s License Bond – Hardhat Advice, April 23, 2020.
- Pay-When-Paid Clauses – Are They Enforceable in California? – Hardhat Advice, April 25, 2020.
- Webinar: How to Protect Payments During Construction Bidding – LevelSet, March, 2020.
- Webinar: Get Paid on California Public Projects: Stop Notices & Bond Claims – LevelSet, April, 2020.
- Webinar: Leveraging Data to Mitigate Claim Risks – Associated General Contractors of California, Sponsored by HammerTech, August 20, 2020.
- Webinar: Construction Attorney Guidance on Avoiding Payment Problems in California – LevelSet, September, 2021.
- "Construction Law: Introduction to Risk Management and Safety" - Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce and Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services, June 22, 2022.
- "Liens 101: What, When, Why, How" - LevelSet, December 14, 2022.
- "California Joint Venture Law" - Bonding Technical Assistance & Contracting and Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services, January 26, 2023.
- "Mechanics Liens" - GC Pay, July 29, 2023
- "Introduction to Risk Management and Safety" - Bonding Technical Assistance & Contracting and Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services, October 17, 2023.
- "Construction Contracts: What You Need to Know" - Bonding Technical Assistance & Contracting and Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services, November 7, 2023.
Representative Matters
- Recovered cost of repair and loss of use damages at mediation for church against contractor for improperly constructed sports facility.
- Approximately $500,000 settlement of second-tier public works subcontractor’s stop payment notice and payment bond claim on multi-site solar project.
- Effective defense of Right to Repair Act claims asserted against subcontractor.
- Successful representation of Subcontractor in substitution proceeding before LAUSD.
- Verdict including cost of repair, loss of use, and attorney’s fees after arbitration for large hospital contractor against curtainwall subcontractor. Successful Defense of counter claims for deign defects resulting in zero recovery their direction.
- Arbitration action resulting in approximately $500,000 disgorgement award on behalf of owners against improperly insured Contractor.
- Successful defense of Right to Repair Act claims asserted against general contractor.
- Accomplished release of Direct Contractor from DIR penalties for public works project where prevailing wages were not paid contemporaneously.
- Successful defense of equipment broker in DIR investigation and claim.
- Favorable settlement for contractor of claim by worker’s compensation carrier alleging underreporting of hours and miscategorization of workers.
- Represented steel erector in dispute with fabricator and general contractor. Successfully defended and brought counter claims, resulting in over approximately $300,000 settlement in favor of steel erector.
- Resolved via summary judgment land use/tort action in favor of defendant clients and secured an award of attorney’s fees.
- Assisted developer in successfully disposing of claims by and HOA under the Right to Repair Act pre-litigation proceedings.
- Successful Mechanic’s lien foreclosure action for material supplier against commercial owner
- Successful defense of mining contractor in OSHA investigation.
- Successful assertion of stop payment notice and bond claims as well a defense of counter claims for delay and non-conforming work in litigation against general contractor and public works owner on behalf underground piping contractor resulting in a substantial recovery.
- Defense, pursuit of counter claims and resolution of mechanic’s lien claims against owner by general contractor and subcontractors.
- National counsel for contractor to facilitate the recovery of amounts owed by bankrupt commercial lessee using liens and bankruptcy remedies.
- Successful defense of encroachment dispute for homeowners resulting is dismissal with prejudice and subsequent pursuit of malicious prosecution action culminating in substantial settlement for homeowners.
- Representation and negotiation of purchase agreement on behalf of electrical contractor in all asset acquisition.
- Representation of Optionee in action against Optionor in dispute over the terms of sale and financing of a substantially appreciated, multi-million dollar, commercial property culminating in the successful SBA financing and purchase of the Property by Optionees.
- Negotiation and preparation of secured financing to allow sufficient financing to complete stalled Project
- Successful resolution of action for specific performance of purchase agreement
- Substantial settlement of non-disclosure claim on behalf of buyers against sellers.
- Favorable settlement during trial of action to extinguish access easement for oil extraction.
- Successfully defense of action of wrongful termination in arbitration.
- Verdict after trial for commercial landlord in action against tenant including successful UD action for Landlord and total defense of fraud, breach of contract, and negligence claims advanced by tenant.
Representative Projects
- Bridges
- Pipelines
- Oil Field Infrastructure
- Mining Infrastructure
- Military Infrastructure
- Commercial Solar
- Gas Stations
- Harbors
- Ports
- Hospitals
- Manufacturing Facilities
- Educational Institutions
- Tenant Improvements
- Restaurants
- Large Tract Residential Developments
- Multi-Family Residential Buildings
- Fire, Water, Mold Remediation/Restoration