Ryan W. Anderson has focused practice in receiverships, liquor licensing, bankruptcy and commercial litigation.

In his liquor licensing practice, Ryan provides advice and counsel concerning a full range of issues related to the manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale of spirituous liquors within the state of Arizona. Ryan has represented all types of clients in all facets of issues relating to the regulation of spirituous liquors include producers, wholesalers/distributors, importers and retailers, including national chains and local grocery stores, convenience markets, drug stores, restaurants, bars, hotels, management companies, homeowner associations, golf courses, and fraternal organizations.

In his receivership and bankruptcy practice, Ryan is dedicated to providing practical advice to fiduciaries managing complex organizations in distressed financial situations. Ryan has extensive experience as legal counsel to Court appointed Receivers in the state and federal courts of Arizona including actions brought by the State of Arizona through the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the Arizona Corporation Commission, the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions and the Arizona Department of Insurance. Ryan also has extensive experience representing court appointed receivers in matters initiated by agencies of the United States government including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Attorney General’s Office, the Federal Trade Commission, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Comptroller of the Currency.

In his commercial litigation practice, Ryan has substantial experience in representing businesses, large and small, in complex business and commercial, transactional, real estate and litigation matters.

Practice Areas

  • Liquor Licensing
  • Bankruptcy Attorneys
  • Commercial Litigation Attorneys

Areas of Concentration

  • Liquor Licensing Services
  • Liquor Entitlements
  • Liquor Manufacturing
  • Liquor Distribution
  • Liquor Retail
  • Liquor License Regulatory Compliance
  • Alcohol and Liquor License Violation Hearings
  • Receiverships/Conservatorships

Representative Engagements

  • Represents a number of national and regional grocery store chains and addresses all issues with respect to Arizona liquor licenses and related issues.
  • Represents a number of national retail chains and assists with ongoing management of liquor licensing related issues. One client tasked the firm with obtaining multiple series of liquor licenses at over 35 commercial locations throughout Arizona in statewide expansion into alcohol sales.
  • Represents a national hospitality/concession company with its licenses in Arizona at hotels, professional sporting venues, including multiple MLB Spring Training stadiums, airports, and bars.
  • Represents a national convenience store chain regarding its franchisee and corporate liquor and accessory licenses in Arizona. 
  • Represents a national liquor store chain in all aspects of Arizona liquor licensing, including sampling, at its 13 Arizona locations.
  • Represents vintner, with multiple winery production facilities in Arizona and over sixteen individual liquor licenses. When client relocated some of its production operations to a new showcased destination facility, the firm ensured there was no licensing interruption for seamless and continued production while changing locations.
  • Represents a large national home builder with installation of liquor licenses at some of its premier properties, including bar or club liquor licenses, for community centers allowing its residential communities to sell alcoholic beverages.
  • Represents regional shopping centers in installation and management of liquor licenses which allow for alcohol consumption in pedestrian shopping malls.  
  • Represents out-of-state producers and wholesalers with obtaining and maintain necessary Arizona liquor licenses allowing it to launch and maintain Arizona-based operations.
  • Represents local and national alcohol distributors on all issues relating to Arizona-based operations.

Education

Ryan received his B.A. from the University of Arizona in 1998 with a double major in History and Political Science. He earned his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law in 2001.

Admitted In

  • State Bar of Arizona, 2001
  • State Bar of California, 2003
  • United States District Court for the District of Arizona, 2001
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California, 2003
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, 2005
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of California, 2005
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California, 2005
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2006

Reported Cases

  • Warfield vs. Alaniz, 569 F.3d 1015 (9th Cir. 2009)
  • Warfield vs. Alaniz, 453 F. Supp. 2d 1118 (D. Ariz. 2006)
  • Warfield vs. Gardner, 346 F. Supp. 2d 1033 (D. Ariz. 2004)