Ryan P. Avery is a Partner at Seder Law and practices in the firm’s Real Estate, Construction, Litigation, and Labor & Employment law practice groups. With a focus on resolving disputes, Ryan represents both individual and corporate clients in various legal matters.

Having litigated a wide array of labor and employment claims recognized under state and federal law, Ryan’s experience spans breach of contract, unpaid wages, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination cases. He has achieved remarkable success, securing millions of dollars in compensation for individual employees while skillfully defending companies against baseless claims. Ryan also assists clients in drafting and reviewing executive employment contracts, non-competition agreements, separation agreements, and personnel manuals.

Ryan also represents developers, contractors, and equipment-material suppliers across a comprehensive range of legal matters, including claims for defective and dangerous building conditions, time and cost overruns/change orders, lien and bond claims, public bidding disputes, land use/title disputes, and zoning/permitting appeals. Additionally, Ryan has extensive experience litigating commercial lease disputes.

Throughout his career, Ryan has secured favorable outcomes for clients before both judges, juries and private arbitration proceedings. Ryan’s legal representation has also been sought in panel and interlocutory appeals before various courts, including the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Appellate Division of the Massachusetts District Court, and the United States First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ryan routinely represents clients before state agencies including the Commission Against Discrimination, the Division of Administrative Law Appeals, the Division of Public Licensure, the Department of Labor Relations, and the Division of Apprentice Standards. He is also an appointed Hearing Officer for the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers, overseeing disciplinary proceedings against individual attorneys.

Ryan was appointed as a Special Prosecutor for the Middle District (Worcester County) by District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr., in 2020. He is currently serving as the President of the Worcester County Bar Association (“WCBA”). He also serves as a Trustee of the Worcester Law Library Trust.

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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)
Education
  • B.A., International Studies, magna cum laude, American University, 2007
    • Presidential Scholarship
  • J.D., Suffolk University Law School, 2010
    • Transnational Law Review
Representative Cases
  • Secured judgments for pipe supplier totaling more than $2 million on bond claims arising out of two public construction projects.
  • Secured payment of over $900,000 for site contractor after timely-filed mechanic’s lien placed on large commercial development in Worcester County.
  • Secured dismissal of all claims asserted by automobile repair business (valued at over $300,000) against commercial landlord following a jury trial in Norfolk County Superior Court.
  • Obtained verdict establishing clients’ ownership to four acres of disputed land following a five-day bench trial in Bristol County Superior Court; this verdict was affirmed on appeal with an award of appellate fees to client.
  • Successfully settled claims against general contractor totaling more than $3 million asserted by the U.S. Department of Labor and contractor’s surety bond company in three separate federal court actions filed in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
  • Secured dismissal of c. 93A claim filed by commercial landlord against Middlesex County dental practice client prior to trial.
  • Secured unpaid vacation wages and a six-figure arbitration award for unpaid severance on behalf of a corporate executive following a five-day arbitration hearing; final settlement also included reimbursement for client’s attorney’s fees.
  • Recovered approximately $420,000 in a small class action for pension contributions withheld from 65 employees of an environmental remediation contractor in Worcester County.
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).
Professional Engagements
  • Federal Bar Association, Massachusetts Chapter
  • Massachusetts Bar Association
    • Mock Trial Competition Judge
    • House of Delegates (2024 – 2025)
    • 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
    • President (2024-present)
    • Executive Committee (2017-2020; 2022 – present )
      • Sub-Committee or Section Chair (2014 – present )
        • Labor & Employment
        • Superior Court
        • Professional Responsibility
  • Greater Milford Area Bar Association
    • President (2022-2023)
    • Executive Board (2013 – 2020)
  • Community Legal Aid’s Access to Justice Committee
  • St. Thomas More Society of Worcester County
  • Last Green Valley, Inc.’s Headquarters Committee
Honors and Awards
  • Super Lawyers – Rising Star (2019-present)
  • Worcester County Bar Association President’s Award (2020)
  • Construction Lawyers Society of America Fellow