About

It’s not just the office and courtroom that he knows – it’s the docks, the decks, and the dangers of maritime work that he has witnessed first-hand and fully understands.

 

“One of the most challenging aspects of working on vessels was the extended time away from friends and family. Being isolated at sea for months at a time, often in harsh conditions, made it difficult to stay connected with loved ones. The demanding nature of life aboard these large vessels—long hours, physically demanding tasks, and the unpredictability of the open ocean—added to the difficulty. Missing important events at home and being far from a support network made the experience even harder. 

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However, the support of fellow crew members was crucial during these times. We depended on each other to handle both the professional and personal challenges of life at sea. It’s something that every mariner can relate to.  It taught me resilience and the importance of maintaining strong connections, both at sea and back home.

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I understand the unique challenges and risks that come with life on the water, especially when an injury strikes and leaves a mariner navigating uncharted waters in their career and personal life. This experience allows me to empathize with my clients and offer legal guidance that’s grounded in a deep understanding of the stormy seas they face.”

 

As a mariner himself, it is Ryan’s passion and goal that through his work at the Adam Davis Law Firm, others like him obtain the justice they deserve.

Ryan Vechan has been charting a novel path through the maritime industry that today enables him to apply an unmatched degree of experience to get his clients the best possible outcome.  He is one of only a few attorneys in the country who has obtained a USCG unlimited tonnage Masters License. Having worked aboard chemical and clean product tankers for years as a Jones Act seaman himself. Ryan’s background, training, and qualifications set him far and apart from other attorneys. 

 

Over the course of his career, Ryan has worked not only as a maritime attorney but also as a Merchant Mariner and as a port captain for a Fortune 500 company. Additionally, Ryan was a Navy Reserve Strategic Sealift Officer (obtaining the rank of Lieutenant and his honorable discharge in 2016).  

 

Most recently, he has served as a professor and interim department head in the Maritime Transportation program at Texas A&M University at Galveston, where he trains the next generation of Jones Act seamen and spends summers working aboard the school’s training ship coaching students on the practical realities of life and work at sea. He has taught classes on marine insurance, dry cargo operations, liquid cargo operations, maritime security, and electronic navigation. 

 

Ryan is constantly keeping a close eye on industry-specific developments, including but not limited to the Jones Act (both as it relates to cabotage and as well as to personal injury litigation), the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, mariners’ rights, pilotage, and the COLREGS/Rules of the Road.

 

Ryan obtained his Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center in 2014. While in law school, he served as the Head Senior Articles Editor for the Houston Journal of International Law, clerked for several maritime firms in the Houston area, and interned for the Honorable Judge Ron Clark for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. 

 

After graduating, he was hired by a New York City-based maritime litigation firm to counsel clients on a variety of matters, including personal injury claims, port regulations, maritime operations, cargo claims, and charter party disputes. He then joined the Adam Davis Law Firm in 2023 and is currently managing the firm’s Texas office, which is based in Houston. 

 

“I aim to be a steady anchor for my clients, providing the support and direction they need when the waters get rough. This connection helps build trust and ensures I can advocate for their rights with both the knowledge and compassion they deserve.”

In his spare time, Ryan enjoys watching soccer and spending time with his daughter, Sephina, and dog, Dama.