Ryan Christopher Smith

Ryan Christopher Smith, Construction Attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

focused on Construction and General

Partner

Philadelphia, PA

Trusted construction attorney serving Philadelphia.

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Quick answer

Ryan Christopher Smith is a partner based in Philadelphia, PA. The practice focuses on Construction and General.

Based in
Philadelphia, PA
Experience
attorney
Known for
Construction · General
  • Handles Construction and General matters from Philadelphia, PA.

About Ryan Christopher Smith: Ryan Christopher Smith is a partner based in Philadelphia, PA. The practice focuses on Construction and General.

Areas of practice

Legal matters Ryan takes on

Ryan concentrates on construction and general. Each area below outlines the kind of case Ryan handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.

Construction cases in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ryan takes construction matters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Ryan agrees to represent you.

General cases in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ryan takes general matters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Ryan agrees to represent you.

Biography

Meet Ryan Christopher Smith — construction lawyer in Philadelphia

Ryan Christopher Smith is a partner based in Philadelphia, PA. The practice focuses on Construction and General.

Ryan Smith joined the firm in 2015 and became a Partner in 2020. He is licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Ryan focuses almost exclusively on insurance litigation, including premises liability, construction accidents, professional liability, and insurance coverage. He represents individuals as well as local, regional, and national companies across multiple industries such as landscaping, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, healthcare, and construction.

Ryan’s expertise includes complex, multi-party auto and trucking litigation involving intersection accidents, highway accidents, and pedestrian accidents. Additionally, he has significant experience litigating claims involving uninsured and undersinsured coverage, bad faith, and limited tort or verbal threshold/limitation on lawsuit.

In his premises liability practice, Ryan defends individuals, residential and commercial landlords, property management companies, restaurants, bars, and other retail entities in matters involving slips and falls, sidewalk defects, negligent maintenance, inadequate security, and recreational accidents.

Prior to joining the firm, Ryan served as a Judicial fellow and Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Lisa M. Rau in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. During law school, he also interned with the Honorable Mary M. Johnston in the Delaware Superior Court. Both experiences provided Ryan with insight into the complexities of the court system. Ryan also served as a research assistant, constitutional law tutor, and contracts Dean Scholar, where he was tasked with preparing and running weekly supplemental contract courses for first-year law students.

Honors

•Selected for Inclusion to Super Lawyers, Rising Stars

Articles & Publications

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Clarifies COVID-19 Business Interruption Coverage: No Physical Damage, No Coverage

Speaking Engagements

•“Navigating the Maze of Bad Faith Claims in Property Damage Cases” PAMIC, April 2024 (Lancaster, PA)

News & Case Results

Philadelphia Slip & Fall Claim Dismissed on Summary Judgment

Summary Judgment with Prejudice Granted in Philadelphia Intersection Accident Case

Congratulations to Our 2024 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers & Rising Stars

6 Margolis Edelstein Attorneys Present at PAMIC’s 2024 Claims Summit

Congratulations to the Margolis Edelstein 2021 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars!

Ryan's approach to construction cases

Ryan Smith joined the firm in 2015 and became a Partner in 2020. He is licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Ryan focuses almost exclusively on insurance litigation, including premises liability, construction accidents, professional liability, and insurance coverage. He represents individuals as well as local, regional, and national companies across multiple industries such as landscaping,…

The kind of cases Ryan takes

Ryan reviews new inquiries case-by-case for construction and general matters in Philadelphia and the surrounding Pennsylvania area.

Credentials

Education, bar admissions, and languages

  • Drexel University School of Law J.D. summa cum laude

  • The Pennsylvania State University B.A. high distinction

Ryan studied at — in Drexel University School of Law J.D. summa cum laude and — in The Pennsylvania State University B.A. high distinction.

Law school and academic background

Ryan completed — in Drexel University School of Law J.D. summa cum laude and — in The Pennsylvania State University B.A. high distinction. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Ryan runs in Pennsylvania is where that training gets applied to real client questions.

Affiliations

Ryan's professional memberships and bar associations

  • Professional affiliations: •Philadelphia Bar Association

    membership

Locations

Ryan Christopher Smith's office in Philadelphia

Ryan's primary office is at The Curtis Center, 170 S. Independence Mall W., Suite 400E, Philadelphia, PA, 19106. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.

Main office

The Curtis Center, 170 S. Independence Mall W., Suite 400E

Philadelphia, PA 19106

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Client feedback

Client reviews of Ryan Christopher Smith

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Hiring guide

How to hire Ryan Christopher Smith — what to expect in your first consultation

Working with a new construction attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Ryan usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.

Consultation formats and pricing

Ryan charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Ryan's office.

What to bring to your first meeting

Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Ryan will tell you what matters and what doesn't.

Questions to ask a construction attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A short list to run through before you commit: How many construction matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?

Fees & payment

Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Ryan

Ryan discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in construction practice — ask which fits.

Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options

Every construction matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Ryan confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.

Payment methods and payment plans

Ryan's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many construction practices work with clients on structured schedules.

Frequently asked

Frequently asked questions about Ryan Christopher Smith

  • How much does it cost to hire Ryan for a construction case?

    Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Ryan walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.

  • Does Ryan offer a free consultation?

    Ryan charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Ryan's office. Some construction attorneys offer free consults — check Ryan's current terms during booking.

  • How long do construction cases in Pennsylvania typically take?

    Simple construction matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Ryan gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.

  • Can Ryan take my case if I'm outside Philadelphia?

    Ryan is licensed in Pennsylvania. Matters governed by Pennsylvania law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Ryan will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.

  • What should I bring to my first meeting with Ryan?

    Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Ryan will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.

  • Is Ryan accepting new construction clients right now?

    Ryan's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.

Areas served

Construction attorneys serving Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg in Pennsylvania

Ryan handles construction matters throughout Pennsylvania. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified construction attorneys in that community.

More counsel

If Ryan's intake is full or the fit isn't right, these construction attorneys in Philadelphia handle similar matters. Every profile below is verified and open to consultations.