Ryan Alexander Forbes is a trial lawyer who defends clients facing violent felonies, firearm charges, financial crimes, and white-collar investigations. He represents professionals, executives, financial advisers, business owners, and other clients whose careers, reputations, licenses, and livelihoods may be threatened by a criminal accusation.

Ryan understands that high-stakes cases demand discretion, aggressive defense work, careful judgment, and strategy.

Since joining the firm, Ryan has secured major dismissals and trial victories, including a full acquittal at trial in a felony firearm-possession case; the dismissal and sealing of robbery in the second degree and felony firearm-possession charges; the dismissal and sealing of an assault in the second degree violent-felony charge; the dismissal with prejudice of a first-degree sexual-abuse violent-felony charge; the dismissal of a felony-probation violation; and the avoidance of criminal charges following an investigation into more than $65,000 in fraud.

Ryan has defended clients in New York State courts and in federal matters arising in the Northern District of New York and the Western District of New York. His experience includes cases involving the United States Attorney’s Office, the New York State Attorney General, and federal law-enforcement agencies.

Before joining the firm, Ryan practiced at a private firm in Upstate New York, where he focused on criminal defense, white-collar investigations, and complex litigation involving civil regulatory compliance. He represented clients in federal proceedings in the Northern District of New York and assisted in the representation of judges before the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Earlier in his career, Ryan litigated civil-rights cases on behalf of plaintiffs in actions brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He began his legal career as a Judicial Intern to the Honorable Richard Rivera, Supervising Family Court Judge and Acting Supreme Court Justice in the Third Judicial District. He also worked with Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York and The Legal Aid Society, drafting motions involving human-rights and deportation matters. He later assisted the Albany County Community Police Review Board in developing a disciplinary matrix for
officer-misconduct violations.

Known for his courtroom poise and meticulous preparation, Ryan brings disciplined judgment, aggressive advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to the presumption of innocence to every case.

Case Results

• Full acquittal at trial in felony firearm-possession case. Obtained a not-guilty verdict
  on all charges following trial.
• Robbery and firearm-possession charges dismissed and sealed. Secured the
  dismissal and sealing of charges involving robbery in the second degree and felony
  firearm possession.
• Violent-felony assault charge dismissed and sealed. Secured the dismissal and
  sealing of an assault in the second degree charge.
• First-degree sexual-abuse charge dismissed with prejudice. Secured the dismissal
  with prejudice of a first-degree sexual-abuse violent-felony charge.
• Felony-probation violation dismissed. Secured dismissal of an alleged violation of
  probation arising from an underlying assault in the first degree matter.
• Criminal charges avoided following fraud investigation. Prevented the filing of
  criminal charges following an investigation involving allegations of more than $65,000 in
  fraud.
• Additional dismissals. Achieved numerous case dismissals in criminal matters.

Awards and Recognitions

• Member, The National Black Lawyers
• Certificate in Criminal Law with Honors, Albany Law School

Experience

Ryan’s practice focuses on serious criminal defense, including violent felonies, firearm cases, financial crimes, white-collar investigations, governmental investigations, and federal criminal matters. His experience includes felony trials, motion practice, appellate research and drafting, civil-rights litigation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, civil regulatory-compliance matters, and proceedings involving state and federal investigative agencies. He has also worked on matters involving judicial conduct, prisoners’ rights, immigration-related motions, and police-accountability standards.

Practice Areas

• Violent Felony Defense
• Firearm and Weapons Charges
• Financial Crimes
• White-Collar Investigations
• Federal Criminal Defense
• Governmental Investigations
• Misdemeanor Defense
• Civil-Rights Litigation
• 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Claims
• Civil Regulatory-Compliance Litigation

Bar Admissions

• New York State
• Northern district of New York

Education

• Albany Law School, J.D.
• Certificate in Criminal Law with Honors
• Albany Law Moot Court Travel Team
• Competitor, Dean Jerome Prince Memorial Evidence Competition
• Competitor, Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition
• Towson University, B.A., Philosophy, Law and Politics

Professional Memberships

• The National Black Lawyers, top 40 under 40

Clerkships, Government Service, and Special
Appointments

• Judicial Intern, Honorable Richard Rivera Supervising Family Court Judge, Albany County Family Court, and Acting Supreme Court Justice, Third Judicial District During his judicial internship, Ryan worked primarily on family-offense matters, juvenile-delinquency cases, and Title 9 prisoners’ rights matters. 
• Albany County Community Police Review Board Assisted in developing a disciplinary matrix for police-misconduct violations committed by
  officers.
• Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York Worked on human-rights matters, including motions involving the Convention Against Torture.

Community Involvement

• Representing nonprofit organizations in civil litigation.
• Representing plaintiffs in civil-rights actions under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
• Serving as a judge for the Tech Valley High School Mock Supreme Court project.
• Assisting students with career exploration.
• Serving as Community Outreach Chair for the Black Student Union at Towson University.
• Assisting with the development of a community garden.
• Mentoring high-school students through the College Readiness Outreach Program.

Industries and Clients Represented 

Ryan represents professionals, executives, financial advisers, business owners, and other individuals facing criminal investigations or charges that may threaten their freedom, professional licenses, reputations, and livelihoods.

Proven Results: 2026 Case Victories Handled by Ryan A. Forbes