Ryan Zehl is a nationally recognized personal injury attorney based in Houston, known for securing some of the largest verdicts and settlements in U.S. history on behalf of clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries, severe burns, or wrongful death. His record-breaking results span Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and jurisdictions across the country.
Ryan’s success in the courtroom has earned widespread national media attention and solidified his reputation as one of the country’s leading trial lawyers. He is a lifetime member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum—honors reserved for less than 1% of trial lawyers nationwide.
As the founder of Zehl & Associates, Ryan has led the firm to historic victories, including:
- #1 Largest Oilfield Accident Settlement in U.S. History
- #1 Largest Oilfield Burn Injury Settlement in U.S. History
- #1 Largest Truck Accident Settlement in Texas
- #1 Largest Accident Verdict in Texas
- #4 Largest Accident Verdict in Texas
- #1 Largest Verdict in Offshore Liftboat’s Corporate History
- #1 Largest Verdict in R&L Trucking Company’s Corporate History
- #1 Largest Accident Verdict in Greyhound Bus Lines’ Corporate History
Under his leadership, Zehl & Associates became the only law firm in the nation to be named “Personal Injury Law Firm of the Year” by Law.com and The National Law Journal for four consecutive years—2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Ryan has appeared on the cover of Texas Super Lawyers magazine and has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Personal Injury Lawyers in Texas* by the National Trial Lawyers Association. He has been consistently selected as both a Texas Super Lawyer and Rising Star every year since 2009.
Professional Background
After graduating in the top 5% of his law school class, Ryan served as a briefing attorney for Justice Scott Brister on the Texas Supreme Court. He then joined Gardere’s litigation and appellate group, quickly gaining a reputation for his skill in high-stakes personal injury and commercial cases.
Ryan’s legal expertise has been featured on CNN, Fox & Friends, Good Morning America, and major news outlets across the globe. His cases and commentary have appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Bloomberg, International Herald Tribune, Houston Chronicle, and Dallas Morning News.
Bar Admissions
- Texas
- Pennsylvania
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. District Court for the Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
