Ryan Porte is an attorney with the Hatmaker Law Group. Ryan’s practice focuses on counseling and defending employers in class and representative actions as well as single-plaintiff employment disputes. He has extensive experience defending employers in wage and hour disputes, including those involving alleged violations of minimum wage, overtime, meal period and rest break, unreimbursed business expenses, and wage statement statutes. Ryan is also experienced in defending employers against harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, and serious and willful injury claims in state and federal court as well as at the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, the Department of Industrial Relations, and the Agricultural Labor Relations Board.
Ryan’s practice has involved all aspects of litigation, including mediation, class certification, administrative hearings, and trial. He has significant experience drafting dispositive motions, conducting depositions, counseling employers on labor law compliance, and conducting workplace investigations.
Prior to joining Hatmaker Law Group, Ryan was a shareholder at an Am Law top 100 firm in Fresno, where he represented employers in the agricultural, staffing, retail, construction, and transportation industries. While in law school, Ryan completed a prestigious externship with the Honorable Lawrence J. O’Neil, then Chief Justice of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
Before law school, Ryan served as an Officer in the United States Army. After completing Airborne and Ranger School, he deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where he earned the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service. Ryan then completed a successful command as a Company Commander and was Honorably discharged after nearly eight years of service.
Education
J.D., with honors, University of California, Hastings College of the Law
M.A., University of Oklahoma
B.A., University of California Santa Barbara
Bar & Court Admissions
All California State Courts
United States District Court, Northern District of California
United States District Court, Eastern District of California
United States District Court, Southern District of California
United States District Court, Central District of California
Professional Activities
- State Bar of California
- Fresno County Bar Association
- The American Society of Safety Professionals
Presentations
“Farm Labor Contractor Wage and Hour Law and Good Grower Relations” – June 2025
“Legal Liability and Risk Management for Safety Professionals” – May 2025
“Legal Liability for Safety Violations” – July 2024
“California Compliant Anti-Harassment Training for Employees and Supervisors” – February 2023
“Farm Labor Contractor Wage and Hour Law and Good Grower Relations” – June 2023
“Understanding and Mitigating Risk and Legal Liability from Disgruntled Employees” – April 2022
“Large Loss Preparedness for Business” – January 2022
“Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention” – November 2021
Email: ryan@hatmakerlaw.com