Expertise | Commercial Litigation, Defamation, Trade Secrets, Political and Elections Law
Licensed | Utah State and Federal Courts; Utah Supreme Court; Tenth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals
Education | Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 2003
Ryan Bell is an experienced trial attorney with broad litigation expertise in defamation, trade secrets, founder disputes, and related commercial litigation including NDAs, non-competes, and contract claims. He has litigated significant matters for large and small technology and healthcare companies, public universities, consulting firms, and individuals. Ryan joined MBL (formerly KB&A) after more than a decade at one of Utah’s largest and oldest law firms.
Ryan approaches litigation with a strategy-first philosophy: his first priority is finding creative, efficient paths to de-escalate conflict and resolve disputes without unnecessary cost or risk. Where litigation is required, he pursues clear, aggressive strategies aimed at achieving the most favorable outcome for his clients. That approach has produced significant jury verdicts, negotiated settlements, and decisive defense victories. He has been awarded an AV Preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as one of Utah’s “Legal Elite” by his peers for many years.
Recent representative victories include: a unanimous Utah Supreme Court decision permitting dismissal of all claims against an MBL client in a multi-party defamation case; a Tenth Circuit ruling in favor of his client in a multi-billion-dollar satellite technology trade secret dispute; a federal jury verdict for a plaintiff in a defamation case; and the exclusion of approximately $1 million in economic damages on the eve of trial in a separate defamation matter.
Ryan earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2003 and clerked for the Honorable Ted Stewart of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. He holds a B.S. from Brigham Young University.
Active in the community, when he isn’t working, you can find Ryan leading the Model United Nations team for his local high school, coaching little league football, playing tennis, or skiing with his family.
HONORS & EDUCATION
- J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2003
- B.S., Brigham Young University, 1999
- AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- Utah Legal Elite – multiple years
HISTORY & EXPERIENCE
- Ray Quinney & Nebeker (2006–2017)
- Snow, Christensen & Martineau (2004–2006)
- Judicial Clerkship, Honorable Ted Stewart, U.S. District Court for the District of Utah (2003–2004)
ADMISSIONS & PRACTICE
- Utah State and Federal Courts
- Utah Supreme Court
LECTURES & PUBLICATIONS
- Co-author, “Indirect Profits from Copyright Infringement: Establishing the Connection,” Business Valuation Resources, IP Management & Valuation, Vol. 1, No. 1 (January 2012)