Ryan Forbes

Ryan Forbes is a litigation attorney with a practice focusing on criminal defense, governmental investigations, and civil rights claims. During his career, Ryan has investigated and defended felony matters, represented clients in several trials to verdict, drafted and researched related motions and appeals.

Ryan has represented clients under Government investigations by agencies such as the United States Attorney’s Office, State Attorney General’s office, and Homeland Security. He also commits significant time to pro bono matters, including representing non-profit organizations in civil litigation and representing plaintiffs in § 1983 civil rights cases.

While in law school, Ryan served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Judge Richard Rivera, Supervising Family Court Judge, Third Judicial District, Albany County Family Court, and Acting Supreme Court Justice, Third Judicial District. While there, he primarily worked with family offenses and juvenile delinquency cases, as well as Title 9 prisoners’ rights cases. His academic tenure included working with Prisoners Legal Services of New York and The Legal Aid Society, where he drafted motions for conventions against torture and stay of deportation. Ryan has also worked with the Albany County Community Police Review Board to create a disciplinary matrix for police misconduct violations committed by officers.

Ryan earned his J.D. from Albany Law School with a Certificate in Criminal Law with Honors. He was a member of the Albany Law Moot Court Travel Team, where he participated in the Dean Jerome Price Memorial Evidence Competition and the Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition. He received his undergraduate degree from Towson University where he majored in Philosophy, Law and Politics. During his time at Towson University, Ryan completed an internship with the Public Justice Center of Washington D.C. assisting with tenants’ rights claims. He also served as the Community Outreach Chair for the Black Student Union, overseeing the coordination of over 300 community service hours for the organization. This involved building a community garden and mentoring high school students through the College Readiness Outreach Program.