The C-Suite Awards annually recognize executives in the Pittsburgh region who demonstrate exceptional leadership and business savvy by contributing significantly to their organizations and the broader community. The awards celebrate individuals who have shown essential leadership skills, strong business acumen, and a dedication to success within their respective companies and throughout the region. The awards also highlight those who have navigated the evolving business landscape with skill, agility, and unwavering commitment in both prosperous and challenging times.
“I’m truly honored to be included among so many impressive Pittsburgh leaders. This recognition belongs to the talented people of Reed Smith who partner every day with our clients, support one another, and contribute to the communities in which we live and work,” said Ryan. “It is a privilege to lead Reed Smith in a time when the legal profession is evolving rapidly. This award is a testament to our team’s ability to embrace change, invest in innovation, and deliver extraordinary results for our clients around the world.”
The first woman in Reed Smith’s 148-year history to take the helm, Ryan has guided the firm decisively during a time of challenge in the legal industry. Initially appointed in 2023 to succeed Sandy Thomas, she was recently re-elected for a full four-year term beginning January 1, 2026.
As global managing partner, Ryan is responsible for leading the firm’s global operations and maintaining its culture across a platform of some 3,000 employees, including more than 1,600 lawyers in 33 offices worldwide. Under her leadership, Reed Smith has focused on providing first-in-class client service and innovation across its core industry groups – energy and natural resources; entertainment and media; financial services; life sciences and health care; and transportation.
Under Ryan’s guidance, Reed Smith has achieved the strongest financial performance in its history, with firmwide revenue of more than $1.5 billion. In the first half of 2025, the firm opened new offices in Atlanta and Denver, with a combined 57 lawyers focused on private equity, finance, and technology. The firm has also added more than 125 lawyers across its global platform since the beginning of the year.
The firm represents 20 of the top 30 Fortune 500 companies; handles more than 120 private equity deals and 300 financings annually; and has more than 100 trials, arbitrations, and hearings underway in 2025. Ryan also oversaw investments in new practice technologies, such as Reed Smith 360, the firm’s new intelligence hub. Under her leadership, the firm also welcomed its first directors of applied AI and change leadership, as well as a new chief marketing and business development officer.
In her former role as Reed Smith’s global head of legal personnel, Ryan launched groundbreaking programs such as Associate Life and Associate Advantage, which continue to have significant impact on recruitment, retention, training, and advancement. She also launched the firm’s Family Network and led the creation of Wellness Works, a firmwide health and well-being initiative that includes one of the first and most comprehensive mental health programs in Big Law. In addition, she supported the creation of an active alumni network that serves thousands of former Reed Smith lawyers and creates new business opportunities for the firm.
Ryan is the second Reed Smith leader to earn C-suite honors in recent years. Nick Bagiatis, the firm’s chief operating officer, was honored by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2023.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. With an inclusive culture and innovative mindset, we deliver smarter, more creative legal services that drive better outcomes for our clients. Our deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships, and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters.
For more information, please visit reedsmith.com.
