About Ryan L
Ryan L Jensen earned his law degree from Brigham Young University in 2001 after completing undergraduate studies at Utah State University, where he majored in political science and minored in Russian. The combination of a liberal arts background and a formal legal education shaped a career that spans both private practice and dispute resolution. He later added a certification as a mediator from the State of Utah.
He began his legal career in 2001 at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. That first position introduced him to a large-firm environment and the demands of complex transactions and litigation. In 2003 he moved to Durham Jones & Pinegar for a period, then returned to Kirkland & Ellis in 2004. By 2006 he was working at Sidley Austin LLP, continuing to gain experience inside national firms.
In 2010 Jensen left the large-firm track to open his own practice. He is the owner and managing lawyer of Pharos Law Group, PLLC. Building a firm required shifting from the internal structures of big firms to the responsibilities of running a business: managing client relationships, overseeing staff, and handling the administrative work that comes with leadership.
Jensen is licensed to practice in both Illinois and Utah. He has been a member of the Illinois State Bar since 2001. He also joined WealthCounsel in 2014 and remains a member of that organization, which connects lawyers who work on planning and estate-related matters. He holds the title of certified mediator in Utah, a credential that allows him to step into dispute-resolution roles outside of litigation.
His career shows movement between institutional and independent practice settings. That trajectory exposed him to broad legal work inside large firms and to more hands-on client work at his own firm. Colleagues and clients have encountered him in courtrooms, conference rooms, and mediation sessions. He has maintained professional memberships and continued to practice across state lines.
Jensen runs his practice from a Salt Lake office and balances casework with mediation work. He maintains an active private practice from Pharos Law Group’s Salt Lake office and serves as a certified mediator.
