Ryan G. Baker

Top rated Intellectual Property Litigation attorney in Los Angeles, California

Waymaker LLP
Ryan G. Baker
Waymaker LLP

Practice Areas: Intellectual Property Litigation, Appellate, Business Litigation; view more

Licensed in California since: 2001

Education: Harvard Law School

Languages Spoken: English, French

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2025 Selected to Rising Stars: 2009 - 2012

Waymaker LLP

515 S. Flower St
Suite 3500
Los Angeles, CA 90071 Visit website

Details

Since founding the firm in 2006, Ryan Baker has established a reputation the media has described as “tenacious,” a “trailblazer” and a “leader.” His victories have been described as a “legal earthquake” and “landmark.” Ryan tries cases and argues appeals in state and federal courts across the country, including the U.S. and California Supreme Courts. He has also arbitrated cases before numerous arbitral organizations, including FINRA.

Ryan is at home in any courtroom where he represents both plaintiffs and defendants. His litigation practice areas include commercial and entertainment disputes, intellectual property (copyright, trademark, trade secret and patent), antitrust, securities, financial technology and white-collar crime.

Based on his experience and success, Ryan has recognized by the National Law Journal as a “Litigation Trailblazer,” a “Super Lawyer” by Los Angeles Magazine, a Benchmark “Star,” a “Top Lawyer” by Cablefax, and a “Leader in Law” by Los Angeles Business Journal. Most of these recognitions have been repeated.

Ryan regularly publishes in various academic and legal periodicals, including Intellectual Property and Business Law Today. He has appeared on CNN’s Burden of Proof and on NBC Channel 4 News in Los Angeles. Ryan has been repeatedly quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, National Law Journal, Hollywood Reporter and numerous other national business and legal publications.

Ryan is a member of the Anti-Defamation League’s (“ADL’s”) Los Angeles Regional executive committee and legal advisory board, through which he advises the ADL on important legal issues to further the fight against bias and hate. He is also a member of the California Central District pro bono panel. Through that panel, he represents indigent individuals in civil rights and other cases in federal court. Ryan is also a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and an ambassador for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.

Ryan received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 2000, where he was a member of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. In 1997, he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Brigham Young University graduating magna cum laude with University Honors.

Prior to Waymaker, Ryan practiced at Quinn Emanuel and Cooley.

Representative Engagements

  • Argued and obtained reversal of trial court’s determination that client’s arbitration agreement was unconscionable. California Court of Appeal found that the trial court’s refusal to permit an evidentiary hearing prior to finding unconscionability was reversible error.
  • In Ninth Circuit, argued and won affirmance of district court’s determination that civil RICO’s predicate act requirement was not satisfied by an allegation that certain intangible property was taken, where such property was not actually transferred.
  • Argued in California Supreme Court to overturn broad anti-SLAPP ruling. Obtained unanimous ruling reversing the trial court’s ruling, which granted an anti-SLAPP motion based on a confidential and allegedly defamatory report, which was found to extent California’s anti-SLAPP law beyond what was intended by the Legislature. Opinion is published here. Oral argument video can be viewed here.
  • Obtained vacatur of seven-figure judgment for client, a real estate holding and management company. Case subsequently settled for approximately 2 percent of the prior judgment amount.
  • Obtained reversal of a Florida cyberstalking injunction in the Florida District Court of Appeals. After oral argument, the Florida appellate court agreed the issued injunction was an improper prior restraint of First Amendment free speech and that no cyberstalking had been established. The Appellate Court directed dismissal of the case in its entirety.
  • Obtained “landmark” copyright ruling, in which the Central District of California court found, for the first time, that an Internet retransmitter of television programming could be entitled to a compulsory copyright license under Section 111 of the Copyright Act.
  • Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of client in patent infringement case against Cirque de Soleil related to Michael Jackson One show.
  • Argued, and won, Ninth Circuit appeal against insurance companies on behalf of Mattel in the Barbie-Bratz litigation.
  • Successfully defended multimillion dollar arbitration brought by international investment bank against client; after five days of arbitration, client prevailed on all claims and recovered attorneys’ fees and costs.
  • Prevailed in two separate but related California appeals to protect client’s right to jury trial.
  • Obtained a favorable settlement for The Carlyle Group in a dispute against the defendant seller of a building that contained asbestos.
  • Defended manufacturer of revolutionary lightweight sport aircraft against engineering company. Obtained a walk-away settlement following the articulation of potential cross-claims.
  • Secured dismissal of claims brought by a landlord against a popular Los Angeles nightclub.
  • Pursued breach of contract claims on behalf of client DIRECTV against a former dealer. Prevailed in arbitration, obtaining an award of all damages sought, in addition to attorneys’ fees.
  • Represented a major retailer and independent studio in a dispute related to the motion picture Monster. After a week of jury trial in Texas state court, obtained a favorable settlement.
  • Filed action for breach of a loan agreement on behalf of his client, a real estate developer, in Maine federal court. Obtained summary judgment on all claims; also obtained sanctions against the defendants based on defendants’ discovery misconduct.
  • Represented a software company seeking to prevent competitor from infringement. Obtained an unprecedented preliminary injunction for client, which enabled that client to protect its intellectual property while pursuing claims against a competitor.
  • Represented a major grocery store chain against discrimination claims brought by a former employee in a week-long jury trial. Client settled on favorable terms while appeal was pending.
  • Defended Rolls-Royce in a dispute related to the construction of an oil platform. Obtained summary judgment of all claims.

Practice areas

Intellectual Property Litigation, Appellate, Business Litigation, Securities Litigation, Antitrust Litigation, General Litigation

Focus areas

Antitrust & Trade Litigation, Appeals, Litigation, Trade Secret

  • 20% Intellectual Property Litigation
  • 20% Appellate
  • 20% Business Litigation
  • 20% Securities Litigation
  • 10% Antitrust Litigation
  • 10% General Litigation

First Admitted: 2001, California

Professional Webpage: https://www.waymakerlaw.com/trial-lawyers/ryan-baker

Bar/Professional Activity:
  • Anti-Defamation League National Executive Committee, 2021
  • Harvard Law School Association Los Angeles Board Member, 2021
  • Member, Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
  • Second Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Northern District of California
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Central District of California
  • American Bar Association, Litigation Section
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Southern District of California
  • Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
  • In a win for consumer-facing companies utilizing electronic signature technology, Waymaker achieved a complete victory in a two-day arbitration in which the claimants sought to void a contract they had previously electronically executed. Claimants, San Diego-area home owners, commenced arbitration, claiming they never signed a contract for the installation of solar panels on their roof. During the two-day arbitration, Waymaker demonstrated that claimants had, in fact, signed the Sunnova agreement using DocuSign. Waymaker also established that the solar panel system had resulted in energy savings for the claimants, contrary to their allegations. The arbitrator’s interim award was issued March 29, 2021. Based on the evidence and argument presented, the arbitrator summarily denied all claimants’ claims. Sunnova Energy International achieved a complete victory., 2021
  • Argued in California Supreme Court to overturn broad anti-SLAPP ruling. Obtained unanimous ruling reversing trial court, which had granted an anti-SLAPP motion based on a confidential and allegedly defamatory report. The Court concluded the confidential report was not protected. Accordingly, the trial court overextended California’s anti-SLAPP law beyond the legislative intent. , 2019
  • Following discovery and summary adjudication win in a breach of commercial lease matter, negotiated a favorable settlement for restaurant client against landlord, after landlord violated provisions of the commercial lease agreement that interfered with client’s ability to open and operate., 2022
  • After a two-hour argument before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, the firm was able to negotiate a favorable settlement of the copyright dispute between the firm's client, a provider of internet television content, and the major television networks. , 2017
  • After several successful demurrers, facilitated resolution of series of consumer actions against firm client at the pleading stage., 2019
  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of FilmOn, an internet video streaming company, on FilmOn's claim it is entitled to a compulsory copyright license under Section 111 of the Copyright Act.  This victory was hailed as a "legal earthquake," "unprecedented" and a "landmark ruling." , 2015
  • After Baker Marquart set aside a seven-figure default obtained against the firm's client, client was able to favorably settle the dispute in its entirety., 2018
  • Baker Marquart substituted for prior counsel a year into litigation brought by client plaintiff against purchaser of commercial laundromat equipment.  Shortly after Baker Marquart appeared, Mr. Baker obtained a settlement for an undisclosed sum, which was greater than any amount previously offered by defendant., 2017
  • Baker Marquart won a Florida appeal, reversing a trial court's restraining order after Mr. Baker convinced the Florida Court of Appeal that the trial court's order violated the First Amendment.  In this case, Mr. Baker obtained support from the American Civil Liberties Union and the University of Florida.  This victory was hailed by the Washington Post and others as an important First Amendment ruling.  It's impossible to put a dollar value on free speech!, 2016
Representative Clients:
  • University of Southern California
  • Avery Dennison Corporation
  • FilmOn.com
  • ICON Aircraft
  • THUMS Long Beach
  • DIRECTV
  • Bank of the West
  • Motorola
  • Sumitomo
  • Zions Bankcorporation
  • The Carlyle Group
  • Funtastic Limited (Australia)
  • Mattel
  • Rolls-Royce
Pro bono/Community Service:
  • Anti-Defamation League Executive Committee, 2021
  • International Mountain Biking Association Singletrack Society, 2020
  • Anti-Defamation League Legal Advisory Committee, 2019
  • Member, Central District of California Pro Bono Panel, 2012
  • Board of Advisors, After-School All-Stars, 2009
  • Ambasador for Children's Hospital Los Angeles
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles, 2004
  • Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, 1998
Honors/Awards:
  • Recognized as an influential law firm attorney and a 2023 visionary in Business of Law: Updates, Trends and Visionaries Magazine., LA Times Visionary, LA Times, 2023
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2021
  • Legal Visionaries, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2022
  • Elite Boutique Trailblazers, National Law Journal, 2022
  • Benchmark, Litigation Star, 2020
  • Litigation Trailblazer, The National Law Journal, 2019
  • Named "Rising Star" by Los Angeles Magazine
  • Highest Peer Review Rating on Martindale-Hubble – AV Preeminent
  • Named "Super Lawyer" by Los Angeles Magazine
  • Recognizing Ryan's "tenacity and still as an advocate," Ryan was recently selected by editors and readers of Cablefax, a leading media and communications publication, as a 2017 top lawyer.  Cablefax described the award as follows: In a world of constant change—from the new video world order to the regulatory uncertainty of a new administration—these are the heroes in the trenches. In this inaugural edition, Cablefax salutes the top lawyers in media and communications as chosen by our editors and readers. These legal eagles excel in contract negotiations, M&A, the intricacies of the FCC, intellectual property, spectrum issues and much more. Read on to learn more about the industry’s greatest legal minds, Top Lawyer, Cablefax, 2017
Educational Background:
  • Brigham Young University, Bachelor's Degree in Policital Science with honors, magna cum laude, 1997
  • Harvard Law School, J.D., 2000
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
Other Outstanding Achievements:
  • Quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, National Law Journal, Hollywood Reporter and numerous other publications
  • Appeared numerous times on BBC and NBC to discuss various topics ranging from the Depp v. Heard trial to social media liability arising from harm to children., 2022
  • Seven-time winner of Leadville 100 finisher's buckle, 2022
Industry Groups:
  • Banking
  • Bitcoin
  • Media
  • New Media
  • Real Estate

Office location for Ryan G. Baker

515 S. Flower St
Suite 3500
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Phone: 424-652-7800

Selections

12 Years Super Lawyers
4 Years Rising Stars
  • Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2025
  • Rising Stars: 2009 - 2012

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