59 Attorneys. One Focus: Your Success.
Our diverse team brings expertise across all practice areas, with established leaders and emerging talent working collaboratively.
Ryan Brennan
Co-Founder & Senior PartnerRyan Brennan co-founded Ryan & Lauren LLP over two decades ago with a singular vision: to build a firm that pairs the depth of a large institution with the agility and personalised service of a boutique practice. His approach blends rigorous legal analysis with sharp commercial instincts — a combination that has made him one of the most sought-after corporate advisors in the region.
Called to the Bar in 2001, Ryan spent his early career at two of the country's largest commercial firms, where he advised FTSE-listed clients on major restructurings and cross-border transactions. He co-founded the firm in 2006 alongside Lauren Gath, and it quickly established itself as a trusted name in mid-market and enterprise corporate work.
Ryan specialises in mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, shareholder disputes, and corporate governance. He has advised boards through IPO processes, managed hostile takeover defences, and structured complex multi-jurisdictional deals across North America, Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa. His client base spans technology start-ups, energy companies, financial institutions, and family-owned conglomerates.
Ryan is a member of the International Bar Association's Corporate and M&A Committee, a frequent speaker at legal conferences, and a contributing author to several commercial law journals. He holds an LLB from University College London and an LLM (Corporate Law) from Columbia Law School.
M&A - 2024
Cross-Border Acquisition — Energy Sector
Lead counsel for a European energy group on the $340M acquisition of a Sub-Saharan African independent oil producer, navigating multi-jurisdictional regulatory approvals and complex title due diligence.
Corporate Governance - 2023
Board Restructuring — Global Financial Institution
Advised a Tier-1 bank's board through a full governance overhaul following a regulatory review, including director liability analysis, committee reformation, and updated Articles of Association.
Joint Venture - 2022
Technology JV — North American Market Entry
Structured and negotiated a strategic joint venture between a West African fintech and a North American payments infrastructure provider, including IP licensing, profit-sharing frameworks, and exit mechanisms.
Dispute Resolution - 2021
Shareholder Dispute — Family-Owned Conglomerate
Acted for a minority shareholder group in a contentious buy-out dispute, securing a favourable settlement through a combination of litigation strategy and mediated negotiation.
