Ryan Avery joined MIRAGEAS & AVERY in 2012, where he focuses on the resolution of real estate, construction and employment disputes for both individual and corporate clients.
Ryan has litigated nearly every type of labor and employment claim recognized under state and federal law, including claims for breach of contract, unpaid wages, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. He has recovered millions of dollars for individual employees while successfully defending many small and medium-sized businesses against meritless claims. Ryan is also frequently called upon to draft and review executive employment contracts, non-competition agreements, separation agreements and personnel manuals.
In addition to overseeing most of the firm’s labor and employment litigation, Ryan represents developers, contractors, material suppliers and homeowners in a wide range of construction and real estate litigation matters including claims for defective and dangerous building conditions, time and cost overruns, lien and bond claims, land use/title disputes and zoning/permitting appeals.
Ryan regularly represents clients in the District and Superior Court Departments of the Massachusetts Trial Court, as well as in United States District Court, where he is oftentimes pitted against a team of attorneys from some of the largest law firms in the United States. He has successfully tried civil cases before both judges and juries and obtained significant awards for clients in private arbitration.
Ryan is well-versed in Massachusetts administrative procedure, and has represented clients before a variety of state agencies including the Department of Environmental Protection, the Commission Against Discrimination, the Department of Secondary and Early Education, the Disabled Persons Protection Commission, the Division of Unemployment Assistance, the Division of Administrative Law Appeals, the Department of Labor Relations, and the Division of Public Licensure. He is an appointed Hearing Officer for the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers, which oversees disciplinary proceedings brought against individual attorneys.
In 2020, Ryan was appointed as a Special Prosecutor for the Middle District (Worcester County) by District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.
Ryan lives in Charlton with his wife Sarah and son Thomas.
Bar Admissions
- Massachusetts (2010)
- New York (2010)
- Rhode Island (2014)
- U.S. District Court (D-Mass.) (2012)
- U.S. Federal Court of Claims (2016)
- U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals (2022)
Professional Engagements
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Mock Trial Competition Judge
- Co-Chair, Real Estate Section Council; House of Delegates (2021-2022)
- Worcester County Tiered Mentoring Program (2017-2019)
- Rhode Island Bar Association
- Worcester County Bar Association
- Executive Committee (2017-2020; 2022 – )
- Sub-Committee or Section Chair (2014 – )
- Labor & Employment
- Superior Court
- Professional Responsibility
- Greater Milford Area Bar Association
- President (2022-2023)
- Executive Board (2013 – )
Community and Civic Engagements
- St. Thomas More Society of Worcester County
- Town of Charlton Zoning Board of Appeals
- Town of Oxford Zoning Board of Appeals (2014 – 2019)
- Vice Chairman, 2017-2019
- Chairman, Town of Oxford Town Manager Selection Committee (2018)
- Town of Milford Industrial Development Commission (2017 – 2019)
- Alternatives Unlimited, Inc. (now Open Sky Community Services)
- Milford Advisory Council (2016 – 2018)
Honors and Awards
- Thomson Reuters SuperLawyers – Rising Stars (2019-2022)
- Worcester County Bar Association President’s Award (2020)
- Construction Lawyers Society of America, Fellow
Publications
Gratuitous Tenancies: A Conundrum of Massachusetts Property Law, Massachusetts Bar Association Section Review (May/June 2022).
Evaluating OT Policies in Anticipation of FLSA Overhaul, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (August 7, 2014).
Fair Shake or an Offer They Can’t Refuse? The Protection of Cooperating Alien Witnesses Under United States Law, 33 Suffolk Transnat’l. L. Rev. 347 (2010).
Education
- B.A., International Studies, magna cum laude, American University, 2007
- Presidential Scholarship
- J.D., Suffolk University Law School, 2010
- Transnational Law Review
Contact
Tel: 508-381-0499
Fax: 508-478-0984
E-mail: [email protected]