Ryan C. Wood
Experience
Ryan Wood practices in the firm’s Real Estate and Construction group focusing on
construction and business litigation. Ryan has a record of success challenging public
agencies in bidding and contract administration, achieving favorable results in bid
protests and public contract litigation. In addition to his litigation practice, Ryan
functions as outside general counsel for both construction and commercial entities,
where he advises clients on a wide range of matters affecting the day-to-day
operations of their businesses. Ryan also has experience in environmental litigation,
appellate and writs, corporate law and intellectual property and licensing.
In addition to his legal practice, Ryan served in the United States Navy and Navy
Reserve from 1993 to 2013. During his military career, Ryan deployed three times,
including one deployment to the Al Anbar province of Iraq with the Navy Seabees in
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ryan served a number of roles, including the
Partner
command Intelligence Chief for Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Eighteen, where
Sacramento, CA
he was responsible for threat assessment and mission planning.
(916) 319-4655 direct
Prior to joining Stoel Rives, Ryan served as Counsel for Downey Brand LLP.
Representative Work

Served as lead trial counsel successfully defending an asphalt plant operator and
its parent company in a trespass action brought by a gold dredging company
(916) 447-4781 fax
ryan.wood@stoel.com
Education

seeking disgorgement damages in excess of $10 Million.


School of Law, J.D., 2004, with
distinction
Served as lead counsel for a road construction firm, challenging the Town of
Moraga’s contract award to another contractor, and successfully persuaded the
University of the Pacific, McGeorge

California State University
Town Council to reverse its vote and award the contract to his client.
Sacramento, B.A., Asian Studies, 2001,
Served as lead trial counsel in a three-week jury trial on behalf of a large
Phi Kappa Phi
cum laude
pavement contractor, achieving a favorable result in the defense of the
contractor’s product warranty.

Served as second chair in a three-week jury trial involving a partnership dispute
in the money services business, successfully obtaining a favorable jury verdict
and costs award totaling more than $780,000.

Served as lead pro hac vice counsel for a pavement maintenance contractor
operating in Oregon, successfully securing an order of dismissal on an action
alleging breach of contract, quantum meruit, and an action on the payment
bond.

Represented a pavement maintenance material supplier as lead counsel in a
patent infringement action. The action resolved with favorable results at the
early stages of the litigation, which allowed the client to proceed with the use of
Admissions

California

Nevada
Ryan C. Wood
its proprietary product, saving the client more than half a million dollars in material costs.

Authored a successful CEQA writ of mandate brief to invalidate a City of Oakland ordinance banning plastic carryout bags at
retail establishments on the ground that the ordinance’s practical effect caused substantial adverse impacts on the
environment.

Successfully obtained a demurrer without leave to amend on behalf of three public agencies in a complex natural resources cas e
involving extraterritorial taxation and mineral royalties.

Provided a substantial role in the defense of a general contractor in a personal injury action that included significant insu rance
coverage and contractual indemnity disputes. The settlement was obtained without further cost to the client and included
complete indemnification of the client’s attorney fees.

Successfully briefed and argued a motion to quash service of summons for lack of personal jurisdiction on behalf of an out -ofstate client facing potentially significant exposure in a products liability action.

Provided substantial support in a case protecting several large grocery chains from unwanted aggressive solicitors, successfully
obtaining a summary adjudication of the key issues to the dispute followed by a favorable settlement.
Professional Honors and Activities

Distinguished Alumni Honoree, Los Rios Foundation, 2015

Listed among Rising Stars (Construction Litigation, Business Litigation), Northern California Super Lawyers®, 2011-2015

Included in Sacramento Magazine "Top Lawyers" list (Construction Litigation), 2015

Member, Business Law Section, Sacramento County Bar Association, 2005-present

Member, Washoe County Bar Association, 2010-present

Adjunct Law Professor, Practical and Persuasive Legal Writing, McGeorge School of Law, 2012-present
Presentations

"Deposition Tactics and Strategies," Barristers Club of Sacramento, Oct. 12, 2014

"Legal Matters Before Deployment," U.S. Navy Reserve, June 2006
Civic Activities

Chairman, Board of Directors, Youth Development Network, 2011–present; Board member, 2008-present

Incorporating Attorney and First General Counsel, Veterans Community Support Network, Inc., 2009

Former Governing Board, Community Legal Services, McGeorge School of Law, 2002-2004

Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 2007–present