Atty. Molly R. Ryan
Molly is a partner in the firm’s Employment Services and Commercial Litigation practice groups. She is a MSBA Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialist, and she has been recognized on the Minnesota Super Lawyers list since 2019.
Profile Summary
About Molly R. Ryan at a glance
Molly R. Ryan is a Partner based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, practicing at Meagher + Geer, P.L.L.P.. They have 23+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2003. Their practice focuses on employment, business, and litigation. Admitted to practice in Minnesota (2003), United States District Court, District of Minnesota (2004), United States Supreme Court (2007), and United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit (2007). Educated at William Mitchell College of Law (J.D., 2003) and University of St. Thomas (B.A., 2000). Serands clients in Minneapolis, MN and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Molly is a partner in the firm’s Employment Services and Commercial Litigation practice groups
- She is a MSBA Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialist, and she has been recognized on the Minnesota Super Lawyers list since 2019
- Molly has over two decades of experience partnering with employers to navigate complex workplace challenges
- She represents employers in all stages of litigation - both individual and class-wide - in state and federal courts and arbitration, and before federal, state, and local administrative agencies
- Molly has extensive experience litigating claims under a broad range of statutes, including: •The Minnesota Human Rights Act •Title VII of the Civil Rights Act •The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) •The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) •The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) •The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) •The Equal Pay Act (EPA) •Various other federal and state anti-discrimination, leave, whistleblower, and employment laws •State tort and contract theories In addition to her litigation practice, Molly is a trusted advisor to employers, providing practical counsel and training on all aspects of personnel management, including hiring, accommodations, leave, nondiscrimination, whistleblower protections, workforce reductions, and performance management
- Her proactive approach helps clients foster compliant and productive workplaces while minimizing legal risk
- Molly’s practice includes representing property owners and management companies in individual and class-wide claims alleging discrimination and retaliation under the Fair Housing Act and similar state and federal housing laws, violations of consumer fraud statutes, violations of statutory habitability requirements, civil conspiracy, and related contract and tort theories of liability
- In her commercial litigation practice, Molly represents for profit and non-profit business entities in various business disputes alleging breach of contract, negligence, and numerous state and federal statutory claims. “I enjoy practicing law because every day is challenging and offers the opportunity to analyze and resolve complex and unique legal issues - while collaborating with a diverse range of individuals, each with their own goals, needs, and strategies
- I am especially energized by working with people across the business spectrum - both for profit and not for profit - and learning about their industries
- I find purpose in empowering my clients to feel confident in their business decisions impacting their employees, crafting and presenting strong legal arguments, and ultimately achieving the best possible outcomes based on the relevant facts and my clients’ risk tolerance.” Outside the office, Molly spends most of her time as her daughters’ biggest fan on the sidelines of a soccer or lacrosse field or in the stands of a basketball court, or hockey rink, exploring the sites in the National Park System, gardening, and raising her chickens
- Community Involvement •Volunteer, Conciliation Court Referee, Dakota County District Court, 2023-present •Executive Chair, Parents’ Association, Academy of Holy Angels, 2024-present •Team Treasurer, Minnesota Thunder Academy, 2022 to present •Chair, Family Fun Night, Faithful Shepherd Catholic School, 2014-2023 •Communications Chair, Gala for Giving, Faithful Shepherd Catholic School, 2020-2023 •Board of Directors, Faithful Shepherd Catholic School, 2015-2018 •Volunteer, BenefitCrashers, 2021-present •Team Manager, Wave Soccer Club, 2017-2020 Accolades •Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association, 2016-present •Selected for inclusion in the Minnesota Super Lawyers list in the area of Employment Litigation: Defense, Thomson Reuters, (only five percent of the lawyers in the state receive this honor), 2019-2025 •Selected for inclusion in the Minnesota Rising Stars list, Thomson Reuters, (Only 2.5 percent of the Minnesota attorneys receive this honor), 2007-2018 Speaking Engagements & Publications •Contributor, Sexual Harassment Cases Through a New Lens, Minnesota Lawyer (June 2020) •Author, Claiming the Small Business Exemption From Paid Leave for Child Care, Employment Law Update (March 2020) •Author, DOL Guidance on the 'Health Care Provider' Exemption, Employment Law Update (March 2020) •Author, Paid Sick Time and Expanded FMLA Notice Requirements - DOL's Model Notice Published, Employment Law Update (March 2020) •Author, The Families First Coronavirus Response Act - A Summary of the Paid Sick Leave and Expanded FMLA, Employment Law Update (March 2020) •Moderator, The Nuts and Bolts of the Attorney Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine - When and How to Assert Both, MSBA Civil Litigation Section CLE (November 2019) •Presenter, Challenges and Solutions for Employers in this New Era of Workplace Harassment: #MeToo or #NotUs?, MRA Employment Law Update (March 2019) •Moderator/Presenter, Pre-Trial Basics, or How to NOT Screw Up the Case Before Trial and Keep Your Partner Happy, MSBA Civil Litigation Section and New Lawyers Section CLE (February 2019) •Presenter, Minnesota House of Representatives Civil Law and Data Practices Committee, Testimony relating to HF4459 - Sexual harassment definition clarified (April 2018) •Presenter, Hot Topics in Employment Law (February 2017) •Presenter, Director and Officer Liability, Interference with Contracts, and Ethical Representation (October 2016) •Presenter, Case Law and Legislation 2015 Update (June 2015) •Presenter, Director and Officer Liability (November 2014) •Presenter, Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation in the Workplace (April 2013) •Presenter, Director and Officer Liability (August 2012) •Presenter, Recent Developments and Trends in Religious Discrimination Litigation, Continuing Legal Education Seminar (February 2011) News •Jul 15, 2025 Meagher + Geer congratulates its 19 attorneys named to the 2025 Minnesota Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list •May 12, 2025 Meagher + Geer welcomes attorney Molly R. Ryan back to the firm’s Minneapolis office •Jul 18, 2022 Meagher + Geer congratulates its 23 attorneys named to the 2022 Minnesota Super Lawyers list Events •Mar 14, 2019 MRA Employment Law Update Federal and Minnesota Attorneys Debra Weiss, Bradley Lindeman and Molly Ryan will present Challenges and Solutions for Employers in this New Era of Workplace Harassment: #MeToo or #NotUs? •Oct 25, 2017 Join the Rebellion!
- DisruptHR The Management Association (MRA) •Sep 14, 2017 HR Conference - Minnesota The Management Association (MRA) Articles •Mar 31, 2020 Claiming the Small Business Exemption From Paid Leave for Child Care Employment Law Update by Molly Ryan •Mar 30, 2020 DOL Guidance on the 'Health Care Provider' Exemption Employment Law Update by Molly Ryan •Mar 27, 2020 Paid Sick Time and Expanded FMLA Notice Requirements - DOL's Model Notice Published Employment Law Update by Molly Ryan
Practice Areas Explained
Molly R. Ryan's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Molly R. Ryan handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Molly R. Ryan is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in Minnesota →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Molly R. Ryan is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Minnesota →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Molly R. Ryan is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Minnesota →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Minnesota
Practicing law in Minnesota. Legal matters in Minnesota are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Minneapolis are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Minnesota state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Minnesota brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Minnesota courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Minnesota attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Minneapolis or all attorneys in Minnesota.
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