Richard Ryan

Since joining Maurice Blackburn in 2007, Richard’s work has included the conduct and settlement of some of the largest class actions in Australia across a wide range of subject areas, including:

• the Montara oil spill class action, which settled for $192.5 million in November 2022 after the plaintiff, on behalf of a class of 15,500 Indonesian seaweed farmers, was successful at trial in establishing that oil and gas company PTTEP Australasia (Ashmore Cartier)  was negligent in its operation of the Montara oil well which led to the worst oil spill in Australia’s offshore petroleum industry history, and the spread of oil into coastal waters in neighbouring Indonesia. 
• the RiverCity class action, which settled for $121 million in August 2016 – the highest ever settlement in a financial product class action in Australia
• the Amcor/Visy class action, which settled for $120 million in May 2011 – the highest ever settlement in a cartel class action in Australia
• the Radio Rentals class action, which settled for $29 million in December 2019 with compensation for almost 50,000 consumers, many of whom were vulnerable, in relation to Radio Rentals' controversial "Rent, Try, $1 Buy" program
• a class action regarding investments in a failed property trust which successfully settled in June 2009.

Richard is currently representing the plaintiffs and hundreds of thousands of group members in the Car loan flex commission class actions against Westpac, ANZ and Macquarie regarding their dealer originated car loan businesses in 2011 – 2018.

Richard has more than 30 years’ experience as a commercial and class action litigator working in Sydney, London and New Zealand for plaintiffs and defendants. Class action work for plaintiffs and group members has been the most rewarding work of his career.

“Acting for real people, taking on the big end of town for serious corporate misconduct through the use of the class action procedure, helps the law serve the community,” says Richard. “Our class actions give access to justice to everyday Australians who otherwise would not be able to afford to challenge the conduct of the most powerful and pervasive corporations in our society”.

Richard is experienced in alternative dispute resolution including mediation, arbitration (both international and domestic) and is a Law Society accredited specialist in dispute resolution. Since December 2015, he has been a member of the NSW Law Society Litigation Law and Practice Committee.

Memberships & accreditations

• NSW Law Society member
• NSW Law Society dispute resolution accredited specialist
• NSW Law Society Litigation Law and Practice Committee member