Ryan Meltzer

Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

Austin
United States
T:+1 512 536 5234
Austin
United States
T:+1 512 536 5234
Ryan Meltzer

Ryan Meltzer

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Biography

Ryan Meltzer is a partner in Norton Rose Fulbright's Austin office and a member of the firm's Regulations, Investigations, Securities and Compliance group. He has broad experience in complex commercial and securities litigation, including shareholder- and whistleblower-litigation defense, M&A disputes, intellectual property disputes, breaches of fiduciary duty, and regulatory enforcement matters. Ryan has litigated at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts nationwide, as well as before government bodies and regulatory agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the International Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. He also regularly advises clients in a wide range of industries on sensitive issues affecting their business—from internal investigations, to contract disputes on the verge of litigation, to compliance with state and federal securities, anti-corruption, and anti-discrimination laws. 

Ryan joined Norton Rose Fulbright following a clerkship with the Honorable Edward C. Prado of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Before practicing law, Ryan worked as an investigator at the New York Civilian Complaint Review Board, an independent police oversight agency in the New York City government tasked with investigating complaints of misconduct by members of the New York Police Department. Ryan's investigative experience, coupled with his time at the Fifth Circuit and his years of prolific brief-writing across the firm's many practice groups, make him a trusted advisor and a valuable member of any litigation team.

Professional experience

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JD, with highest honors, The University of Texas School of Law, 2014
BA, with honors, Political Science, Vassar College, 2007

At UT Law, Ryan was inducted into the Chancellors Honors Society as Grand Chancellor, recognizing the student with the highest GPA in their class through their second year. Ryan is admitted to practice in Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Northern, Western, Southern, and Eastern Districts of Texas. 

  • Texas State Bar
  • Defended public oil-and-gas company and outside directors in derivative suit for breach of fiduciary duties arising from conflicted controller transaction; secured dismissal of all counts in the Delaware Court of Chancery and successfully opposed motions for relief from final judgment, vacatur, and substitution in the Delaware Court of Chancery and the Delaware Supreme Court.
  • Defended public bank holding company and executives against federal securities fraud suit in the Southern District of New York based on alleged misstatements regarding provisions for loan losses and loan impairment; secured dismissal of all counts.
  • Defended broker-dealer and principals against FINRA disciplinary charges based on alleged sale of unregistered securities; secured complete reversal of FINRA's findings of violations and sanctions, without remand, from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  • Defended state university and officials in putative class action in the Southern District of Texas challenging DEI initiatives and alleging discrimination against white and Asian men in faculty hiring; secured dismissal of all counts.
  • Defended leading U.S. semiconductor company against patent infringement claims brought by a patent assertion entity in the International Trade Commission.
  • Defended international oil-trading company in TRIA attachment proceeding in the Southern District of Texas; secured judgment on the pleadings.
  • Conducted internal investigation into potential FCPA violations at Latin American subsidiary of multinational chemical corporation.
  • Defended Canadian health benefits provider in breach of contract lawsuit in the Western District of Texas; secured dismissal of all counts. 
  • Defended public HVAC manufacturing company in putative nationwide products liability class action in the Southern District of Florida; secured dismissal of all counts.
  • Defended public downstream energy company and directors in merger litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery; negotiated favorable settlement.
  • Represented national facilities-management services company in litigation in the Delaware Superior Court arising out of an M&A dispute.
  • Represented publicly traded life insurance company in litigation in Texas state court and prosecuted claims of trade-secret misappropriation, unfair competition, and breach of contract against former executives and employees who formed a copycat company. 
  • Represented national trade associations and merchants in federal lawsuits in the District of D.C. and the Eastern District of Texas challenging FDA regulations on constitutional, statutory, and administrative grounds; secured industry-wide relief on multiple counts.
  • Defended CFO of public energy company against Wells Notice raising charges of securities fraud and books-and-records violations; persuaded SEC not to file charges.
  • Defended former CEO of oil-and-gas exploration and production company in SEC investigation into alleged securities fraud; negotiated favorable settlement.
  • Advised numerous energy-storage companies in disputes with manufacturers and suppliers of renewable-energy technology over breaches of warranties, performance deficiencies, site safety issues, and liquidated damages.
  • Advised university on conduct of internal investigation and preservation of attorney–client privilege and on defense of alleged NCAA rules violations.
  • Advised investment fund in securities fraud lawsuit brought by disappointed investor in private placement.
  • Represented former Salvadoran police officer pro bono in asylum proceedings; won asylum at trial.
  • Represented disability rights organization pro bono in challenge to state's implementation of the National Voter Registration Act; negotiated change in state policy to achieve full compliance with federal law.
  • Represented residential tenants pro bono in eviction proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, Corporate Law, Best Lawyers, 2021 - 2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Best Lawyers, 2021 - 2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, Government Relations Practice, Best Lawyers, 2021 - 2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, Litigation – Securities, Best Lawyers, 2021 - 2025
  • Texas Rising Star, Securities Litigation, Thomson Reuters, 2022 - 2024
  • Co-author, "US Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of Liability for Omissions Under Rule 10b-5(b)," Norton Rose Fulbright - Legal Update, April 2024
  • Co-author, "US Federal Court Issues Mixed Ruling in Watershed SEC Action on Ripple's XRP," International Journal of Blockchain Law, Vol. 7 (Oct. 2023)
  • Co-author, "SCOTUS Further Narrows the Scope of Federal Public-Corruption Charges," Norton Rose Fulbright - Legal Update, May 2023
  • Co-author, "US SEC Prevented from Expanding Fraudulent Scheme Liability," Norton Rose Fulbright - Legal Update, August 2022
  • Co-author, "US SEC Administrative Tribunals in the Crosshairs," Norton Rose Fulbright - Legal Update, May 2022
  • Co-author, "SEC Administrative Tribunals Held Unconstitutional," Norton Rose Fulbright - Legal Update, May 2022
  • Co-author, "The Delaware Supreme Court clarifies the standards for director oversight liability under Caremark," Norton Rose Fulbright - Legal Update, June 2019
  • Co-author, "US, Canada Issue Major Insider Trading Decisions," Norton Rose Fulbright - Legal Update, Dec. 2016
  • Co-author, "New Considerations From COSO For Internal Controls," ​Law360, Oct. 18, 2016
  • Co-author, "SEC Spotlights Undrilled Reserves And Resource Estimates," Law360, Oct. 12, 2016
  • Co-author, "5th Circuit Rejects Securities Fraud Class Action: Public Disclosures, Pleading Standards Prove Fatal," Norton Rose Fulbright - Legal Update, Jan. 2016
  • Author, Note, "Qualified Immunity and Constitutional Norm-Generation in the Post-Saucier Era: 'Clearly Establishing' the Law Through Civilian Oversight of Police," 92 Texas L. Rev. 1277 (2014)

Avoiding Director and Officer Liability - Presentation to the Association of Corporate Counsel - Austin Chapter (Sept. 15, 2022)

  • Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, Board of Directors, 2024 - Present
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2024 - Present
  • Open Door Preschools, Board of Directors, 2019 - 2024
  • Austin Bar Association/Austin Young Lawyers Association Leadership Academy, 2018
  • Spanish

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