Ryon L. Little Attorney At Law

Seasoned maritime attorney with strong command of vessel operations and the regulatory environment. Distinguished Coast Guard service, informing a practical approach to complex maritime disputes and regulatory matters.

Ryon Little focuses on admiralty and maritime law. He represents vessel owners, operators, insurers, protection and indemnity (P&I) clubs, licensed mariners, and other maritime interests in litigation and regulatory matters involving commercial, private, and luxury vessels. His practice encompasses maritime casualty investigations, marine environmental matters, maritime pollution response, vessel collisions and groundings, personal injury and wrongful death claims, crew and longshore claims, cargo and hull claims, products liability, wreck removal, salvage disputes, and marine contracts.

Ryon also provides counsel on maritime regulatory compliance and represents clients in investigations involving federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard. He conducts internal investigations and advises vessel owners and licensed mariners on navigating complex regulatory requirements. Drawing on a distinguished career of military service with the U.S. Coast Guard, Ryon provides clients with firsthand knowledge of vessel operations, maritime safety, navigation, law enforcement, and the regulatory environment.

Over the course of his Coast Guard service, Ryon accumulated more than four years of sea duty as a deck watch officer and law enforcement boarding officer and served as executive officer of a Coast Guard cutter. He also instructed cadets in navigation, seamanship, leadership, and the Navigation Rules. Ryon later served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves and was mobilized for active duty on four occasions, including service in Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and participation in Hurricane Katrina relief, search, and rescue operations in New Orleans.
 

• Notable Work
  • Secured defense verdict at trial in United States of America v. Stephen R. Barlow, et al., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102228 (S.D. Fla. 2008) against environmental and maritime claims involving more than $600,000.
• Recognition
  • Cuban American Bar Association, Pro Bono Excellence in Justice Award, 2024
  • Florida Super Lawyers
    • Transportation and Maritime Law, 2023-2024
  • U.S. Navy and Marine Corps
    • Achievement Medal, 2004
    • Commendation Medal, 2004
• Insights
  • “Management of Personal Injury, Property Damage and Environmental Claims,” Panelist, Disaster in Paradise – When Good Times Go Bad!, Federal Bar Association Admiralty Law Section and South Florida Chapter, September 14, 2023
  • International Law Quarterly - Focus on International Aspects of Maritime, Admiralty, and Transportation Law, Special Edition Co-Editor, The Florida Bar International Law Section, Winter 2018
  • “Cybersecurity: A Sea Change in Maritime Commerce,” International Law Quarterly, The Florida Bar International Law Section, Spring 2017
• Media
  • "After Closing Firm, Miami 3-Lawyer Maritime Team Opts for GrayRobinson," Daily Business Review, September 1, 2026
  • "GrayRobinson Grows Maritime Group With Veteran Attys," Law360, September 1, 2026
• Affiliations
  • The Florida Bar
    • Young Lawyers Division
    • Admiralty Law Committee
      • Chair, 2021-2022
      • Vice-Chair, 2019-2021
  • Maritime Law Association of the United States, Proctor
  • Miami-Dade County Veterans Treatment Court, Volunteer Veteran Mentor, 2020
• Credentials
  • J.D., University of Florida College of Law, 2006
  • B.S., U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 1996, cum laude
• Admissions
  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces