Each year, the Outstanding New Lawyer of the Year Award Recognizes the exceptional achievements of one new lawyer. This year, we are proud to recognize Ryan C. McCarthy for his involvement with local bar organizations as well as his pro bono and community service work, his contributions to advancing diversity, and his professional achievements.
2023-2024 Award Recipient
Ryan C. McCarthy is the Associate Legal Director for the Cardiac Rhythm Management & Cardiac Diagnostic Solutions businesses at Boston Scientific. He is a distinguished attorney recognized for his extensive contributions to the legal community. He has shown outstanding dedication and service, particularly through his involvement with the Minnesota State Bar Association and various other legal organizations and non-profits.
Ryan served as Chair of the MSBA New Lawyers Section, during which he also sat on the MSBA Executive Council and Board. He has been an active member of the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association since law school and is also involved with the National Native American Bar Association. Ryan is a former Pathfinder for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity and Emerging Leader for Twin Cities Diversity in Practice. He also serves on the board for the Hennepin County Bar Foundation and the Hennepin County Bar Association. In 2023, Ryan was appointed to the Advisory Committee on the Rules of Lawyers Professional Responsibility by the Minnesota Supreme Court. In 2023, he was appointed by the ABA President to the Human Rights Advisory Council, and in 2024, he was appointed to the Death Penalty Representation Project committee. Ryan also serves as a contributing editor to the ABA Litigation Section’s publication, Litigation News.
In addition to his extensive service to local and national bar associations, Ryan is also active in his community. Ryan has served on multiple nonprofit boards, including the Minnesota Alliance for Youth and DARTS.
Ryan is committed to pro bono service, dedicating over 50 hours this past year and was recognized as a MSBA North Star Lawyer. His pro bono work includes asylum cases, representation through the Tubman Project, and advising voting advocacy groups.
Ryan was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America’s “Ones to Watch,” for Mass Tort Litigation and Product Liability Litigation in 2024 and was named as a “Rising Star” in Minnesota’s 2024 edition of Super Lawyers.
Award Recipients
2023-2024: Ryan C. McCarthy
2022-2023: Roxanne N. Thorelli
2021-2022: Abou B. Amara, Jr.
2020-2021: Nysha Operana & Inti Martínez-Alemán
2019-2020: Kyle Kroll
2018-2019: Sarah Soucie Eyberg
2017-2018: Erica Holzer
2016-2017: Landon Ascheman
2015-2016: m boulette
2014-2015: Irene Kao
2013-2014: Adine Momoh