We know Idaho law, and we know how to solve problems. We are fluent in legalese, but we find straight talk more effective. We have the experience of a large law firm, without the overhead. We have world-class education and training, and we are General Counsel for one of Idaho’s largest companies. When you hire us, you don’t hire a team of associates, paralegals and staff with billable hour quotas – you hire us.
We pick up the phone when you call. We give you the advice you are looking for. And because we, like you, have more than enough to do, we don’t churn files, pad bills, or spend unnecessary time. We listen to you, diagnose the problem, and help you find the most efficient and most effective path to the solution you want. What matters to you matters to us, because, like you, We Are Idaho.
Ryan McFarland was born at St. Luke’s hospital in downtown Boise and attended Boise School District Schools from kindergarten until he graduated from Boise High School. He then graduated from Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) and Brigham Young University (B.A., Philosophy, magna cum laude), and attended law school at the University of Michigan. Immediately following his law school graduation he took a job as an associate with Idaho’s oldest and largest law firm. After nearly seven years with that Idaho firm, he was hired by one of his clients—one of Idaho’s fastest growing companies—to work in-house. Less than 18 months later, he was promoted to General Counsel.
Ryan’s passions are helping Idahoans build their businesses, plan their estates, and protect their families. He has successfully represented clients in state and federal courts throughout Idaho, the Idaho Court of Appeals, the Idaho Supreme Court, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
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Since graduating from Harvard Law School, Eric has worked at an Idaho company with annual revenue of more than 500 million, first as associate counsel, and now as general counsel. He has overseen the international expansion of the company in 8 international markets, and specializes in corporate formation, regulatory compliance, and entry into new markets. He has aggressively protected his client’s intellectual property portfolio domestically and internationally, and has handled employment law matters both large and small. He has also negotiated millions of dollars worth of debt, equity and real estate deals.
More recently, with McFarland Ritter, Eric has focused on helping startup companies navigate foundational issues in their formation, buy-outs and outside investments.
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Lori Hickman is a 1988 magna cum laude graduate of Brigham Young University (B.S. Business Management) and a 1991 cum laude graduate of the Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School where she served as the Note & Comment Editor for the Law Review. Lori began her career as an associate at Latham & Watkins’ office in New York City, where she primarily practiced complex business litigation. In 1995, Lori returned to the West and continued her litigation practice at Holme Roberts & Owen’s Salt Lake City office. One year later she was recruited to join the in-house legal team at Micron Technology in Boise, Idaho – a Fortune 500 company and global leader in the semiconductor industry. As Associate General Counsel from 1996-2002, Lori managed, negotiated, and structured a wide variety of Micron’s intellectual property transactions and related corporate matters.
After taking a break from her legal career to stay home with her three young children, Lori returned to the practice of law as a clerk for the United States District Court for the District of Idaho. Then in 2014, she began working for McFarland Ritter, and currently assists the firm in a variety of business, litigation, and intellectual property matters.
Lori also enjoys her pro bono work representing court-appointed guardian ad litems in child protection cases. She is licensed to practice in New York, Utah, and Idaho.
Outside of her legal practice, Lori remains active in her community having served on various committees and boards for her homeowners associations, childrens’ elementary school PTO, church, and Mormon Women for Ethical Government. She offsets her work and volunteer activities by relaxing at her cabin in McCall, practicing yoga on a mat, tossing endless chuck-it balls for their dog Scout, or trying a new recipe in her kitchen.
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Seth Hansen grew up in Boise. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and William & Mary Law School in Virginia. He attended William & Mary on a Graduate Research Fellowship and was a staff editor on the William & Mary Law Review. Following law school, he served for over a decade as Vice President and General Counsel for a mid-sized marketing and publishing company, where he regularly negotiated vendor, service, purchase and sale, employment, independent contractor, lease and other agreements ranging from thousands to millions of dollars.
Seth has helped many local business people set up companies and turn their dreams into realities. His business law practice includes mergers and acquisitions and contracts of all varieties, and he has experience in construction litigation and real estate law as well. Seth especially enjoys helping clients with their wills and estate planning.
When he’s not in the office, Seth enjoys serving in his church and the community, writing, plunking out songs on his piano, and listening to audiobooks as he works in his yard. He and his wife love to travel with their five kids, and they have a goal to visit every National Park.
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Maren Adams graduated cum laude from BYU Law School and promptly began a clerkship with Justice Daniel T. Eismann of the Idaho Supreme Court. After working for another law firm in Boise, Maren became law clerk to the Honorable Cynthia Yee-Wallace of the 4th Judicial District in Ada County before joining McFarland Ritter.
Maren has volunteered with the Women and Children’s Alliance of Boise and is passionate about helping those most in need of legal services. Maren is happy to be involved with McFarland Ritter. Her areas of focus include estate planning and civil litigation.
When Maren is not working with legal clients, she and her husband are usually trying to keep up with their four children. They love spending time along the Boise Greenbelt or camping in the beautiful Idaho mountains. In the rare moments she doesn’t have something scheduled, Maren loves working outside in the garden.
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Daniela (Dani) Grigg specializes in estate planning, civil litigation, and family law. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Idaho College of Law in Boise after winning various academic awards, including U of I’s Alumni Award for Excellence and the Best Brief Award from the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association. Dani is a lifetime member of the Idaho Law Review and a volunteer with the Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Brigham Young University and worked as a writer for years before turning to law.
Outside of the office, Dani loves viewing and attempting to create art. She loves the ocean, lakes, and pools. She loves novels and TV. Most of all, she loves her two sons, Jonah and Andy, and her husband, Seth. Her dog, Apollo, is okay too.
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