Ryan M. Bledsoe

Ryan M. Bledsoe

Partner

503.802.2120
ryan.bledsoe@tonkon.com

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Services & Industries

Education

J.D., summa cum laude, University of Arizona, Rogers College of Law, 2007, Order of the Coif

M.A. Economics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2000

B.A. Economics, summa cum laude, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 1999

Bar & Court Admissions

Oregon State Bar
Washington State Bar
U.S. District Court of Oregon
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington

Ryan Bledsoe is a results-driven litigation attorney who represents individuals and companies of all sizes. Bledsoe focuses on understanding your dispute, legal rights, and goals as early as possible in the litigation process. With a full understanding, Bledsoe tenaciously pursues a resolution that is favorable to you or your company. Bledsoe enjoys his job most when he is in the courtroom, but he is determined to get you the best result attainable as cost-effectively as possible. Bledsoe’s experience includes handling numerous cases in both federal and state courts involving a broad range of issues including shareholder oppression, trusts and estates, antitrust, securities, breach of fiduciary duties, and contract law.

Prior to entering law school, Bledsoe worked as a financial analyst for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, D.C. As an undergraduate, Bledsoe was selected to the GTE Academic All-America First Team for his accomplishments both on and off the soccer field.

Bledsoe has enjoyed hiking and backpacking in national parks in the United States, Canada, Argentina, and Chile. Closer to home, Bledsoe enjoys hiking on the Wildwood Trail, especially with his wife and sons.

Representative Matters

Automotive Industries Pension Trust Fund et al. v. Barber Auto Sales, Inc. et al.

U.S. District Court, District of Northern California — Bledsoe successfully represented approximately 15 companies and a former owner of numerous auto dealerships in an ERISA withdrawal liability action.

Commercial Litigation

Bledsoe handles the broad scope of Tonkon Torp’s clients’ business disputes.

Doris M. Young Revocable Living Trust

Clackamas County Circuit Court — After Ms. Young amended her trust, many of her family members claimed that she was improperly influenced to do so. The family agreed to appoint a neutral, successor trustee, and Bledsoe represented the successor trustee. Bledsoe and the successor trustee determined that Ms. Young intended to amend her trust and that the amendment should be enforced. After a bench trial, the court agreed. See the court’s opinion here.

Grove City Veterinary Service, LLC et al. v. Charter Practices International, LLC

U.S. District Court, District of Oregon — Bledsoe worked as part of a team to defend a client against multiple claims with alleged damages of approximately $20 million. Bledsoe’s efforts focused on the experts in the case, including deposing all of the plaintiffs’ purported experts. In a deposition, Bledsoe got the plaintiffs’ “financial expert” to testify that he could do nothing more than basic math. The federal court dismissed many of plaintiffs’ claims because they failed to offer any admissible evidence of damages. The federal court also agreed with Bledsoe that the plaintiffs’ medical expert should be barred from testifying at trial. See the court’s opinion here. Without financial or medical experts, plaintiffs’ lawsuit came to an end.

Insurance Coverage Litigation

Frequently, insurers do not pay for covered losses. When this happens, Bledsoe advocates for his clients to receive the insurance benefits that they are entitled to.

Shareholder Oppression Litigation

Bledsoe has handled numerous matters involving shareholder, partnership, and LLC member disputes. Bledsoe both defends and prosecutes company ownership disputes. Bledsoe has received multi-million dollar payments for oppressed shareholders and helped remove minority shareholders.

Swickard Corp v. 21st Century Pacific Insurance Company

Clackamas County Circuit Court — The insurer interpreted the insurance policy to benefit its interests, but Bledsoe determined that there was another interpretation that benefitted his client. The court agreed that the insurance policy could be construed multiple ways and construed it in Tonkon Torp’s client’s favor. See the court’s opinion here. At trial, the court awarded the client full coverage for its losses, including prejudgment interest. See the court’s opinion here. After trial, the court awarded the client attorney fees and costs and multiplied the attorney fee award by 150 percent. See the court’s opinion here.

Trust and Estate Litigation

Bledsoe has handled numerous matters involving trust and estate litigation, including trust contests, fiduciary duty disputes, and elder abuse claims. Bledsoe's trust and estate litigation experience includes multiple, successful bench trials.

The Ramos Project

In April 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down non-unanimous jury convictions in criminal cases in Ramos v. Louisiana. A shameful carryover from the Jim Crow era, Louisiana and Oregon were the last two states that allowed non-unanimous criminal convictions when as many as two jurors believed a defendant was innocent. Overnight, more than 260 cases in Oregon became eligible to seek post-conviction relief for unconstitutional non-unanimous convictions. Housed in the Criminal Justice Reform Clinic (CJRC) at Lewis & Clark Law School, the Ramos Project is a statewide pro-bono initiative providing legal assistance to those seeking redress.

Tonkon Torp Guides Pacific Foods through Oregon’s Largest Acquisition of 2017

Tonkon Torp led Oregon’s largest M&A transaction in 2017, the $700 million acquisition of Tualatin-based Pacific Foods of Oregon LLC by Campbell Investment Company. Pacific Foods is an iconic, nationally distributed organic food brand founded in 1987.

Community Involvement & Activities

Community Energy Project
Board of Directors

Forest Park Conservancy
Former Board of Trustees

Oregon State Parks Foundation
Former Board of Trustees

Oregon State Bar Antitrust and Trade Regulation Section
Former Chair


Professional Memberships

Multnomah Bar Association
International Society of Barristers

The Best Lawyers in America

2018-2024 Litigation – Trusts & Estates

Super Lawyers

2018-2019, Oregon Super Lawyer – Business Litigation
2014-2017, Oregon Rising Star – Business Litigation
2010-2011, Oregon Rising Star – General Litigation

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International Society of Barristers

Fellow, 2020-Present

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Best Lawyers in America® Includes 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2024 List

Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 36 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024. All of the attorneys have been previously named to the peer-review list, and most have been listed for more than 10 years.

Best Lawyers in America® Includes 53 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2023 List

Fifty-three Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 37 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023. Nearly all the attorneys have been previously named to the peer-review list, and most have been listed for more than 10 years.

Tonkon Torp Unveils Shareholder Disputes & Governance Practice Group

Tonkon Torp has launched a new practice group, Shareholder Disputes & Governance.

Best Lawyers in America® Includes 53 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2022 List

Fifty-three Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022

Best Lawyers in America® Includes 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2021 List

Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 36 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021. A majority of attorneys have been named to the peer-review list in past years, and most have been recognized for more than five years.

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Publications & Presentations