Ryan V. Fraser

Ryan V. Fraser represents clients in high-stakes criminal and civil matters, with a focus on white-collar criminal defense and complex federal litigation. Based in Los Angeles, California, Ryan brings substantial experience in federal court and approaches each matter with careful preparation, strategic analysis, and strong advocacy.

Ryan joined Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP after serving for six years as a trial attorney with the Federal Defenders of San Diego, where he represented clients facing allegations involving fraud, cross-border smuggling, and other federal offenses. His practice included trial work, motion litigation, sentencing advocacy, and appeals in matters carrying significant personal and professional consequences for clients.

Throughout his practice, Ryan has obtained numerous dismissals of felony charges and has successfully advocated for alternatives to incarceration in federal sentencing proceedings. He also has experience addressing collateral issues that may arise in criminal matters, including immigration and professional licensing concerns. Following a hung jury in one of his early federal trials, the presiding senior district judge described Ryan as a “rising star.”

Ryan maintains an active appellate practice and has briefed multiple appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In one matter, his appellate briefing led to the rare granting of an en banc hearing.

In addition to his criminal defense work, Ryan gained significant civil litigation experience while serving for three years as a law clerk to United States District Judge Joseph S. Van Bokkelen of the Northern District of Indiana. During that time, Judge Van Bokkelen also sat by designation on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Ryan worked on a broad range of civil matters involving dispositive motions, evidentiary issues, and trial proceedings.

Ryan is actively involved in mentoring attorneys and law students through training programs, collaborative case work, and professional development initiatives. While with the Federal Defenders of San Diego, he regularly conducted annual trainings on the federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Ryan earned his J.D. from Berkeley Law, where he also received a fellowship in law and economics. He graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service with a B.S.F.S. in international economics and departmental honors. Ryan is fluent in Spanish and German.

Before attending law school, Ryan worked in Goldman Sachs’ investment banking division in Frankfurt, where he focused on transnational mergers and acquisitions. He advised corporate shareholders in connection with the sale of an autobahn-services company to a British investor in a transaction valued at more than €1 billion.

Ryan’s recognized practice areas include Criminal Defense and White-Collar matters.