Ben Ryan – Torc Robotics

At the intersection of cutting-edge technology and legal ingenuity sits Ben Ryan, associate general counsel at Torc Robotics. With a deep-seated passion for invention and a sharp legal mind, Ryan leads the charge to expand the company’s patent portfolio while cultivating a high-performing legal team grounded in mentorship, collaboration, and strategic vision.

Ben Ryan | Torc Robotics | Associate General Counsel

Headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, Torc Robotics is a leader in autonomous vehicle technology, specializing in developing fully autonomous Class 8 semi-trucks. Since its majority acquisition by Daimler, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America, in 2019, Torc has been pioneering a safer, more efficient future for freight transport. The company offers complete autonomous software solutions, working with global industry leaders to transform how goods move across the country.

As the company works toward deploying this next-generation technology on the highways, Ryan ensures that Torc’s intellectual property stays ahead of the curve.

A legal mind built on curiosity & purpose

Ryan’s path to law was far from linear.

“I’ve always been a curious person,” he says.

That curiosity led him to earn an engineering degree from Harvey Mudd College before pivoting toward a legal career inspired by his family—he is the third generation of lawyers in his family. However, where engineering offered clear-cut answers, Ryan found law’s ambiguity and complexity even more compelling.

He began his legal career in private practice, spending nearly eight years as a patent attorney.

“One of the things I loved about being a law firm patent attorney was getting to peek under the hood,” Ryan explains. “You see things before the rest of the world—early schematics, conversations with inventors. It’s incredibly energizing.”

This passion for innovation ultimately brought him in-house, where he continued to hone his skills in patent law and evolved into a true generalist, expanding his expertise across a wide range of disciplines, including corporate, commercial, and policy work. When he joined Torc in April 2023, he saw an opportunity to build something extraordinary. And he did: within two years, Torc filed several hundred patent applications under Ryan’s leadership, many of which have already issued—a strong foundation for the company’s multi-year IP strategy.

“We’re in year three of that strategy now,” he says. “Our goal is to create an industry-leading patent portfolio supporting both our current product roadmap and more futuristic, moonshot ideas.”

The work is as strategic as it is technical.

“It’s a volume game,” Ryan adds. “But it’s also about encouraging inventors to think expansively—beyond what’s happening today. We protect near-term innovations but also try to imagine what might be coming five or ten years from now.”

Empowerment & trust

Alongside his technical acumen, Ryan brings a strong leadership philosophy shaped by his mentors and a commitment to servant leadership.

“The best managers I’ve had are the ones who took a genuine interest in what I was doing—not just the work I produced, but who I was becoming,” he says.

At Torc, he brings that same mindset to his role as co-leader of the legal team, working in close partnership with Chief Compliance Officer Laurie Kelly.

“We have complementary styles,” Ryan says. “I tend to be more outspoken; Laurie is more reflective. When she raises her hand in a meeting, you know whatever she’s about to say is worth listening to.”

Together, they lead a team of ten—including attorneys, compliance professionals, and legal support experts—and ensure that legal guidance is tightly aligned with the company’s strategic goals. Ryan’s side of the house includes IP, corporate, commercial, privacy, and employment law, while Kelly’s team handles compliance and regulatory affairs.

The duo’s success stems partly from their mutual respect and frequent communication. Though Kelly is based in Blacksburg and Ryan works remotely from Denver, they meet weekly—often more—to check in and set strategic direction.

“We’ve navigated the remote dynamic really well,” Ryan says. “It’s allowed us to identify our areas of expertise and divide responsibilities effectively.”

In addition to team meetings and strategic sessions, Ryan invests time in one-on-one connections.

“With my direct reports, I maintain a regular cadence of check-ins on the work,” he says. “But we also set aside an hour monthly to discuss their professional and personal development. That time is sacred. It would be easy to let it get consumed by work, but I make a point not to let that happen.”

Torc’s strong internal training programs have also helped him develop as a leader.

“The Leadership Pipeline Institute training came at the perfect time for me,” Ryan says. “As my team expanded, I had a whole new toolbox to draw from—and I reference that handbook almost daily.”

Protecting the future, one patent at a time

Though patent law may sound static to some, Ryan describes it as a dynamic blend of logic, problem-solving, and imagination.

“You’re predicting the future,” he explains. “But you’re also working with what’s right in front of you. It’s about balance—between protecting core innovations and investing in ideas that haven’t even been fully realized yet.”

The patent process itself is complex and time-consuming. There have been some increases in cycle time from filing to issuance, but that’s expected. It’s always a process measured in months and years, not days or weeks.

Despite those challenges, Ryan remains focused. His team, which includes IP operations manager Leanna Lusche, continues to push forward. Together, Ryan and Lusche collaborate closely with inventors across departments and encourage a mix of near-term development and long-term vision.

“Some of the most successful ideas start as blue-sky concepts,” he says. “If we can get those on paper and protected early, that gives us a major advantage.”

But Ryan’s role extends beyond patents. He’s also responsible for improving the overall function of the legal department—streamlining communication, removing bottlenecks, and ensuring Torc’s legal services are efficient and timely.

“Sometimes that means turning my curiosity inward,” he says. “How can we be better? How do we make information flow more easily across the organization?”

Building culture in a remote-first world

Building trust and alignment requires intention in a hybrid and remote environment, and Ryan approaches this challenge with the same curiosity and structure he brings to patents.

“When you’re remote, you miss out on those casual moments—conversations in the hallway, overhearing something that gives you insight into how a colleague works,” he says. “So, I’ve learned to be more structured about creating space for connection.”

That includes in-person team offsites—where Ryan maximizes every moment for relationship-building—regular virtual touchpoints, dedicated development check-ins, and open-door communication.

“We try to make it clear: we care about each other. That continues to happen organically when you prioritize it,” he says.

As Torc continues its mission to revolutionize freight through autonomous technology, Ryan is helping to ensure the company’s legal foundation is as forward-thinking as its engineering. With a deep respect for his colleagues, a clear strategic vision, and a lawyer’s love of nuance, Ryan is building more than a portfolio—he’s shaping the future of how law supports innovation.