David Thomas Ryan - a West Hartford, Harford (CT) Lawyer

Updated: 02/16/2026

Attorney Information

Overview

For more than 35 years, David Ryan has worked diligently as a successful trial attorney to serve the legal needs of clients facing a wide array of difficult legal challenges. Over the course of his extensive career as an advocate, David has tried numerous wrongful death, personal injury, products liability, professional liability, and property damage claims, securing favorable outcomes for individuals, businesses and towns alike.

David began his legal career at Georgetown University Law School in Washington, D.C. while working full-time. He also served as the associate editor of the Georgetown Law Journal. Soon after he earned his J.D., David moved back home to Connecticut, where he clerked for former Justice House of the Connecticut Supreme Court. He later joined the law firm of Robinson & Cole LLP and practiced there for many years. He is admitted to practice before both state and federal courts in Connecticut, as well as before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the U.S Supreme Court.

Since he began practicing law, David has been involved in numerous high-profile cases, including one of the first wrongful death suits brought against a diet pill manufacturer. He has also helped establish legal precedent protecting the rights of franchisees against illegal contract termination. His hard work and legal expertise has helped him achieve positive results for many of his clients, including several multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements.

Because of his extensive jury trial experience, David has been inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) as a Fellow and serves as an Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is listed in Who’s Who in America. David is also a former member of both the Federal Civil Procedure Rules Committee for the ACTL and the Sedona Conference Working Group II, which established principles and best practices related to protective orders, confidentiality of courtroom proceedings, and motions to vacate or modify public access in civil suits. In addition, he has taught appellate writing at the University of Connecticut School of Law. In 2006, former Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell appointed David to the Commission for Judicial Reform, where he worked with judges, other attorneys, and law professors to file recommendations to improve the legal system.

Awards and Honors

Honors

Listed in Who's Who in America

Education

Legal Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia, 1965
  J.D.
  Law Journal: Georgetown Law Journal, Associate Editor, 1964 - 1965
Non Legal Education
- University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 1961
  B.S.

Current Employment Position(s)

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Of Counsel
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Past Positions

Connecticut Supreme Court, Justice Charles S. House, Law Clerk, 1965 - 1966
Robinson & Cole LLP

Classes and Seminars

Lecturer in Law, University of Connecticut School of Law, 1975, 1977-1980

Representative Clients

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Amtrak, Metro North Commuter Railroad
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Employers Reinsurance Corporation
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Bar Admissions

Connecticut, 1966
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

Other Affiliations

American Board of Trial Advocates, 1987 - Present (Advocate)
American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), 1988 - 1998 (Fellow)
Board of Governors, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 2003 - Present
Commission on Judicial Reform, 2006 - Present
American Bar Association (Member, Litigation Section)
Federal Civil Procedure Rules Committee of the ACTL (Past Member)
Sedona Conference Working Group II (Active Member)

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Contact

West Hartford, CT

Town Center
29 South Main Street
West Hartford, CT 06107 - 2449

Directions

Phone: (860) 561-1555

Fax: (860) 561-0390

Email: Send a message

Website: http://www.bw-law.com

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David Thomas Ryan - West Hartford, CT