Company Overview Founded in 1975 under the name Ryan Carlisle Needham and Thomas, the founding partners John Ryan, Bob Carlisle, Gary Needham, and Orm Thomas had been active in representing unions and their members while at the firm Holding Ryan and Redlich .The new firm was a natural extension of the founders' commitment to social justice and the objectives of the organized labour movement.A close association with the union movement, industrial representation, and legal support for the victims of workplace injury were and remain at the heart of the firm.#J-18808-Ljbffr