Hanson Bridgett LLP Plants Flag in Fresno with Addition of Labor & Employment Partner Ryan Eddings

Hanson Bridgett LLP announced today that accomplished labor and employment attorney Ryan Eddings has joined the firm as a partner. He becomes Hanson Bridgett’s first attorney based in Fresno, California, where the firm plans to open an office in 2025. Eddings will lead the firm's expansion in the Central Valley.

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Hanson Bridgett LLP Plants Flag in Fresno with Addition of Labor & Employment Partner Ryan Eddings

“As California’s fifth-largest city and a major hub for agriculture, business, and innovation, Fresno has a dynamic economy and a vibrant future. The Central Valley region's significant growth in recent years merits expanded access to sophisticated legal services, and we’re excited to be part of that continued progress,” said Kristina Lawson, managing partner of Hanson Bridgett LLP. “The addition of Ryan, with his deep experience and strong labor and employment practice, is an important step in strengthening our presence in the Central Valley. Expanding in this region is central to our broader growth strategy and reflects our commitment to being California’s law firm — equipped to serve the complex legal needs of clients across the entire state.”

Eddings comes to Hanson Bridgett from the labor and employment firm Littler Mendelson P.C., where he has practiced for more than 15 years. He brings significant first-chair experience defending a range of employment disputes, including wage-and-hour class actions, cases brought under California’s Private Attorney General Act, and single-plaintiff discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful terminations. In addition, he advises management on all aspects of labor and employment law and the employment relationship, including hiring, termination, and other employment policies.

For the last three years, Eddings acted as Littler Mendelson’s managing shareholder in Fresno, a period in which the office nearly doubled in size.

“As a full-service firm, Hanson Bridgett provides a platform on which I can offer world-class counsel to employers in a range of disciplines, establishing a deeper connection with my clients,” said Eddings. “I am inspired by the firm’s strategic focus on California in general and Fresno in particular, and I look forward to leading its growth here.”

A native of Fresno, Eddings returned to the city early in his legal career and advises local and national clients in health care, agriculture, and a range of other industries. He now serves as a board member of the City of Fresno’s Historic Preservation Committee.

Eddings is the second significant lateral hire for Hanson Bridgett in recent weeks. Last month, the firm added Gregory Reed as a partner in the firm’s transportation and logistics practice group. Reed is based in Washington, D.C.

Eddings received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his J.D. from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

About Hanson Bridgett LLP

Hanson Bridgett LLP is a full-service AmLaw 200 law firm with more than 200 attorneys across California. Creating a diverse workforce by fostering an atmosphere of belonging and intentional support has been a priority at Hanson Bridgett since its founding in 1958. We are dedicated to creating an environment that provides opportunities for people with varied backgrounds, both for attorneys and administrative professionals. As the first law firm recognized as a certified B Corp, we are committed to the communities where our employees live and work and consider it part of our professional obligation to serve justice by encouraging and supporting pro bono and social impact work.

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