James S. Ryan
Practice Areas
Experience
- Corporate Governance
- Family Office
- Family-Owned Business
- Healthcare Mergers & Acquisitions
- Mergers, Acquisitions, & Divestitures
- Venture Capital & Emerging Companies
Biography
James âJimâ S. Ryan, III is an experienced transactional lawyer specializing in mergers & acquisitions and private equity transactions. His practice regularly helps clients with matters that include business acquisitions and divestitures, capital formation and investments, and joint venture transactions. He has significant experience handling transactions for clients engaged in healthcare services as well as representing clients in the oil & gas, manufacturing, distribution, telecommunications and business services industries.
Jim works with clients from the earliest stages of their development through significant liquidity events. This allows him to bring a broad-based perspective to the matters he handles. His clients have ranged from newly formed entities, funded by seed capital or venture capital, to public companies with market capitalization in the billions of dollars.
Education
B.B.A., University of Notre Dame
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
Bar Admissions
Texas
- Represented two family-owned manufacturing businesses in sales to strategic buyers
- Represented Dallas-based telemedicine company through seven rounds of venture capital financing and in connection with multiple acquisitions
- Represented a physician staffing company in a sale to publicly held strategic buyer
- Represented a developer and operator of physician-owned surgical hospitals in developing ownership structures and raising capital
- Represented a publicly held physician practice management and surgery center business in connection with the simultaneous acquisition of two businesses in the same field â one privately held and one publicly held
- Led a team of lawyers representing a Dallas-based investment firm in raising capital and making investments in oil and gas assets
- Represented a publicly held retail services business in sale to its largest customer, also a publicly held business
- Represented both purchasers and sellers of long-term care facilities, home health agencies and hospice agencies
- Coordinated a sale in bankruptcy by a publicly held healthcare services business â including interests in over 20 surgery centers jointly owned by our client and physician groups â to a publicly held surgery center company
- Negotiated the sale of a baked goods business based in Texas to a Colombian conglomerate
- 2017 Dealmaker, Dallas Business Journal
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2013
- “Best Lawyers in Dallas,” D Magazine
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2008-2025
- Corporate Law, 2008-2025
- Health Care Law, 2020-2025
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2009-2025
- Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society, Inc. â Director Emeritus
- Dallas Arboretum Foundation â Board Member
- Ursuline Academy of Dallas Foundation
- Former Member, board of Directors
- Past Chairman
- Diocese of Dallas â Strategic Planning Committee for Diocesan Schools, Executive Committee
- The Catholic Foundation, Board of Trustees â Former Member
August 15, 2024
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this yearâs guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
August 17, 2023
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this yearâs guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
August 18, 2022
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
August 19, 2021
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 178 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2022 Edition, Including 8 “Lawyers of the Year” and 31 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 178 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 67 specialty practice areas in its 2022 edition, including 8 Lawyers of the Year and 31 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
August 20, 2020
Attorney News
âThe Best Lawyers in Americaâ Honors 164 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2021 Edition, Including 9 âLawyers of the Yearâ and 25 “Ones to Watch”
Jackson Walker congratulates the 164 attorneys who were selected by their peers as Best Lawyers, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 25 Ones to Watch, across 6 offices and 66 specialty practice areas.
August 14, 2019
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 109 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2020 Edition, With Eight Named “Lawyers of the Year”
Jackson Walker congratulates our 109 attorneys named to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Lawyers in America 2020 list, including eight attorneys who were named “Lawyers of the Year.”
August 16, 2018
Attorney News
Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 98 Jackson Walker Attorneys
Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas. For over three decades, recognition in Best Lawyers has been regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, since an attorney cannot pay to be listed.
August 15, 2017
Attorney News
Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 94 Jackson Walker Attorneys
The Best Lawyers in America, a widely regarded guide to legal excellence, has recognized 94 Jackson Walker attorneys in its 2018 edition. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
April 3, 2017
Attorney News
Jim Ryan Recognized as Top Deal-Making Attorney by Dallas Business Journal
Jackson Walker partner Jim Ryan has been named to Dallas Business Journalâs 2017 Dealmakers list.
Practice Experience
- Represented two family-owned manufacturing businesses in sales to strategic buyers
- Represented Dallas-based telemedicine company through seven rounds of venture capital financing and in connection with multiple acquisitions
- Represented a physician staffing company in a sale to publicly held strategic buyer
- Represented a developer and operator of physician-owned surgical hospitals in developing ownership structures and raising capital
- Represented a publicly held physician practice management and surgery center business in connection with the simultaneous acquisition of two businesses in the same field â one privately held and one publicly held
- Led a team of lawyers representing a Dallas-based investment firm in raising capital and making investments in oil and gas assets
- Represented a publicly held retail services business in sale to its largest customer, also a publicly held business
- Represented both purchasers and sellers of long-term care facilities, home health agencies and hospice agencies
- Coordinated a sale in bankruptcy by a publicly held healthcare services business â including interests in over 20 surgery centers jointly owned by our client and physician groups â to a publicly held surgery center company
- Negotiated the sale of a baked goods business based in Texas to a Colombian conglomerate
Recognition & Accolades
- 2017 Dealmaker, Dallas Business Journal
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2013
- “Best Lawyers in Dallas,” D Magazine
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2008-2025
- Corporate Law, 2008-2025
- Health Care Law, 2020-2025
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2009-2025
Community Involvement
- Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society, Inc. â Director Emeritus
- Dallas Arboretum Foundation â Board Member
- Ursuline Academy of Dallas Foundation
- Former Member, board of Directors
- Past Chairman
- Diocese of Dallas â Strategic Planning Committee for Diocesan Schools, Executive Committee
- The Catholic Foundation, Board of Trustees â Former Member