Casey Ryan

Partner

Education

  • University of Notre Dame Law School, 1996, J.D., Lead Articles Editor, Journal of Law Ethics and Public Policy
  • University of Notre Dame, 1993, B.A., magna cum laude, English, Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Admissions / Qualifications

  • Pennsylvania

Court Admissions

  • State Supreme Court - Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals - Third Circuit
  • U.S. District Court - Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court - District of Colorado
  • U.S. Court of Appeals - Fifth Circuit

Casey is the Vice Chair of Reed Smith's Global Litigation Department. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA and Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Casey represents employers in a wide variety of employment-related disputes, including harassment, retaliation, discrimination, wrongful discharge, equal pay and breach of contract litigation. She has successfully litigated in federal and state courts throughout the United States, and routinely appears before both federal and state agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and various state human relations commissions. She also has successfully defended employers in employment class actions and in litigation brought by the EEOC.

Casey has an extensive arbitration practice, routinely represents employers in FINRA, AAA and JAMS proceedings, and has prevailed in numerous arbitrations involving matters such as breach of employment contracts, wage claims, and bonus and incentive pay disputes. 

As part of counseling employers on day-to-day issues, Casey regularly advises on issues of hiring, disciplining and firing in both unionized and non-unionized workplaces. She also authors employment policies, including drug and alcohol testing procedures, executive contracts, separation agreements and employee handbooks. Casey frequently conducts on-site training sessions on topics such as workforce management, workplace violence, harassment and discrimination, and computer and Internet usage. 

A substantial portion of Casey's practice involves traditional labor law and counseling employers on contract interpretation and discipline issues. She has represented employers in grievance arbitrations and in National Labor Relations Board proceedings, and has advised employers during union organizing campaigns. 

Casey routinely represents colleges and universities on employment issues, as well as those involving tenure, Clery Act compliance and student affairs. She is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and has presented at NACUA’s regional and national conferences. 

Additionally, Casey has conducted numerous internal investigations into matters including fraud, embezzlement, theft, discrimination and harassment. She also trains human resource professionals on conducting and documenting internal investigations.

Employment History

  • 1996 - Reed Smith
    • Vice Chair, Global Litigation Department (2012-present)
    • Global Practice Group Leader – Labor & Employment Group (2010-2012)
    • Deputy Practice Group Leader – Labor & Employment Group (2004-2010)
    • Chair – Women's Initiative Network of Reed Smith, Pittsburgh Office (2006-2010)

Honors & Awards

  • Included on Employment Law 360's 2010 national list of 10 labor and employment lawyers under 40 to watch
  • Included in The US Legal 500 and described as: "The finest attorney I have every worked with - loyal, fiercely competitive but always in a positive professional manner."
  • Recognized in Chambers USA as one of America's leading labor and employment lawyers since 2009
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America in Labor and Employment Law since 2006
  • Selected as a "2006 Lawyer on the Fast Track" by The Legal Intelligencer
  • Designated as a "Pennsylvania Rising Star" by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2011
  • Designated Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in 2012 and 2013

Professional Affiliations

  • National Association of College and University Attorneys
  • Pennsylvania Bar Institute – Faculty Member and Course Planner, Employment Law Institute – West
  • United Way of Allegheny County – Member of the Board of Directors