Ryan McCarthy defends clients in high-stakes litigation and sensitive government investigations across a range of industries, including life sciences, healthcare, financial services, technology, and digital assets. Ryan frequently defends companies in enforcement actions and whistleblower litigation alleging violations of federal law, including the Anti-Kickback Statue and False Claims Act, and in complex civil litigation following government investigations. Drawing on deep industry knowledge from a career as a defense-side litigator, Ryan collaborates with clients to assure that their business objectives drive the legal strategy at every turn.
Ryan’s experience spans investigations and litigation arising under the False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, Food Drug & Cosmetic Act, Stark Law, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and the mail/wire fraud, money laundering, bank secrecy, public corruption, environmental, and securities laws, as well as laws enforced by state attorneys general. Ryan handles arbitrations, bench and jury trials, and appeals, and negotiates criminal resolutions, civil settlements, and corporate integrity agreements.
In healthcare and life sciences, Ryan’s experience crosses the industry landscape, including the defense of multiple global pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, pharmacy benefit managers, health insurers, telemedicine providers, and retail, mail-order, and specialty pharmacies.
In the pharmacy space, Ryan has advised and defended clients on a wide variety of issues, including retail and mail order pharmacy dispensing operations, pharmacy benefit management, patient adherence programs, discounts and promotions, drug utilization review, coordination of insurance benefits, product rebates and administrative fees, usual and customary pricing, prior authorization, formulary issues, patient privacy, medication compounding, and compliance with USP 797, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state pharmacy regulations.
In pharmaceutical manufacturing, promotion, and distribution, Ryan’s work includes litigation and investigations arising from alleged off-label promotion, promotional speaker programs, patient assistance programs, clinical trials, reimbursement and other product support, and issues arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In complex commercial and class action matters, Ryan has litigated securities disputes, employment discrimination and retaliation, fraud, breach of contract, professional negligence, trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, and unclaimed property disputes.
Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Ryan practiced at a national litigation firm in Washington, DC, and served as a law clerk to Judge Anthony J. Scirica of the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Philadelphia (2025)
Recommended, Dispute resolution: Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense, The Legal 500 US (2024)
Up and Coming, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Pennsylvania, Chambers USA (2024)
Comments Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review