While clerking at the Supreme Court of Texas, Ryan Paulsen gained an appreciation for excellent appellate advocacy. Assisting with the work of the Court, he saw firsthand the issues and arguments that resonated with the justices, learning by observation how the best practitioners in the state craft written arguments and advocate for their clients in the give-and-take of oral argument.
Ryan now draws on that experience to assist his clients at every stage of the case:
- Pre-trial: Ryan has experience drafting both discovery-related and dispositive motions in federal trials.
- Trial: Ryan has advised attorneys in trial on relevant legal issues, assisted in trial briefing, and prepared jury charges in trials at both the state and federal level.
- Post-verdict: Ryan has assisted in preparing for post-verdict hearings, drafted motions seeking post-judgment relief, and participated in judgment collection efforts in cases in state and federal district courts.
- Appeals: Ryan has worked on briefs in support of and in opposition to appeals taken to the intermediate court of appeals and the Texas Supreme Court and has presented oral argument before the Dallas court of appeals.
These efforts have resulted in:
- Affirmance by the Fifth Circuit of a take-nothing summary judgment order on employment discrimination claims;
- Reversal by the Fifth Circuit of a district court order of dismissal; and
- Favorable settlements in cases before the Fifth Circuit, federal district court, and the Texas state courts of appeals.
Professional Recognition
- “United States Supreme Court Update,” The Appellate Advocate, Vol. 22, No. 3, Spring 2010 – Present
- "Mohawk: Limited Interlocutory Review of Federal Court Orders to Disclose Potentially Privileged Attorney-Client Information," Karen Precella and Ryan Paulsen, The Appellate Advocate, Vol. 22, No. 4, Summer 2010.
- "Texas Courts of Appeals Update - Procedural," Layne S. Keele and Ryan Paulsen, The Appellate Advocate, Vol. 22, No. 1, Fall 2009.
- Speaker, "Appellate Case Update," Dallas Bar Association, Appellate Practice Section Meeting (February 2009).
Selected Representative Experience