Atty. Ryan Willis
Ryan is a highly skilled trial attorney with two decades of experience, having tried more than 35 cases to verdict in both state and federal courts. His extensive trial experience includes securing not guilty verdicts for clients facing serious felony charges, including sex offenses, serious drug felonies, and violent crimes.
Criminal Law & More Attorney · Serving Raleigh, NC · 22+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Ryan Willis at a Glance
Ryan Willis is a Founder based in Raleigh, North Carolina, practicing at Ryan Willis Law PLLC. They have 22+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2004. Their practice focuses on dui/dwi, drug crimes, criminal defense, federal crimes, and white collar. Admitted to practice in North Carolina U.S. Court of Appeals (2004). Educated at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (J.D., 2004) and North Carolina State University (B.A. History, 1998). Active member of North Carolina Bar Association Tenth Judicial District Bar American Bar Association National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Serves clients in Raleigh, NC and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Ryan Willis
- Ryan is a highly skilled trial attorney with two decades of experience, having tried more than 35 cases to verdict in both state and federal courts
- His extensive trial experience includes securing not guilty verdicts for clients facing serious felony charges, including sex offenses, serious drug felonies, and violent crimes
- He has successfully defended individuals accused of first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, felony assault, and sex offenses, including securing acquittals in complex cases such as second-degree rape
- Ryan’s experience also includes white collar criminal investigations
- He has been lead counsel in government investigations involving health care fraud, antitrust violations, insurance fraud, bank fraud, and political corruption
- He has represented companies as outside General Counsel, helping his clients avoid criminal prosecution and advising them on compliance matters when the stakes are high
- Ryan has helped individuals and companies respond to Grand Jury subpoenas in civil and criminal matters
- He has guided clients served with target letters from United States Attorney’s Office navigate the criminal process, and has successfully helped several of those clients avoid prosecution
- Beyond the courtroom, Ryan has a track record of achieving results that never make headlines, his best work is done privately by quietly convincing law enforcement and prosecutors to decline charges or dismiss cases wrongly indicted
- His deep knowledge of both state and federal law has been instrumental in securing favorable plea agreements and guiding clients through high-stakes investigations
- Ryan also has extensive experience handling federal cases, including drug trafficking, fraud, and other serious charges
- He understands the nuances of federal prosecution and has successfully negotiated favorable outcomes for clients in North Carolina, Florida, and Delaware
- His advocacy begins long before an indictment, often working behind the scenes to prevent federal adoption of state cases or to secure non-prosecution agreements
- A Raleigh native, Ryan was an Assistant District Attorney in Wake County, North Carolina, following law school
- He is a member and the past Chair of the Board of Trustees of Raleigh’s First Baptist Church
- In 2016, Ryan co-founded Dysart Willis, a boutique law firm focused on criminal defense and white collar matters
- The firm built a strong reputation for handling complex investigations and high-stakes litigation across North Carolina
- In March 2024, Dysart Willis merged with Maynard Nexsen, a national firm with more than 600 attorneys
- During his time at Maynard Nexsen, Ryan worked on a broad range of litigation, gaining valuable insight into the operations of a large, full-service firm
- After a year, he chose to return to a more focused practice, founding his own firm to continue his work defending individuals and small businesses in criminal and white collar cases
Practice Areas Explained
Ryan Willis's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Ryan Willis handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Raleigh.
DUI / DWI Defense in Raleigh
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Ryan Willis is one of 29,739 dui/dwi attorneys indexed nationally. Browse dui/dwi attorneys in North Carolina →
Drug Crimes in Raleigh
Ryan Willis is one of 6,914 drug crimes attorneys indexed nationally. Browse drug crimes attorneys in North Carolina →
Criminal Defense in Raleigh
A criminal defense attorney protects your rights from arrest through trial. Find experienced lawyers handling DUI, drug, federal, theft, and violent-crime charges.
Ryan Willis is one of 212,605 criminal defense attorneys indexed nationally. Browse criminal defense attorneys in North Carolina →
Federal Crimes in Raleigh
Ryan Willis is one of 6,716 federal crimes attorneys indexed nationally. Browse federal crimes attorneys in North Carolina →
White Collar Crimes in Raleigh
Ryan Willis is one of 19,824 white collar attorneys indexed nationally. Browse white collar attorneys in North Carolina →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Raleigh
Practicing law in North Carolina. Legal matters in North Carolina are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Raleigh are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate North Carolina state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in North Carolina brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in North Carolina courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Raleigh Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Raleigh-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional North Carolina attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Raleigh or all attorneys in North Carolina.
Frequently Asked
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Raleigh Choose Ryan Willis
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Ryan Willis's practice in the field of dui/dwi, drug crimes, criminal defense, federal crimes, and white collar.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Ryan Willis brings 22+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering dui/dwi, drug crimes, and criminal defense, Ryan Willis can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Raleigh
A Raleigh-based practice means Ryan Willis attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
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Ryan Willis's Practice Areas & Specializations
Education & Law School Background
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