Ryan Guilds Recognized by Virginia Attorney General With 2025 ‘Unsung Hero Award’

Arnold & Porter counsel Ryan Guilds was selected as a recipient of the 8th annual “Unsung Hero Award” by the Office of the Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. The award, presented during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, recognizes individuals who provide exemplary service and support to victims of crime in Virginia.

In receiving the award, Guilds said: “I am deeply honored to be recognized along with other extraordinary people supporting victims of crime in Virginia. It was inspirational to hear the stories of so many fighting behind the scenes seeking survivor-defined justice.”

Guilds was recognized for his leadership in developing Arnold & Porter’s pro bono practice for crime victims, in which he focused on survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, particularly military-connected cases. Guilds has provided dedicated legal counsel in military courts-martial, advised nonprofits focused on military sexual assault, and trained attorneys offering pro bono support to crime victims. The Office of the Attorney General noted that Guilds’ “testimony before the Defense Advisory Committee on Military Sexual Assault (DAC-IPAD) has led to positive changes in military justice related to victims’ rights.”

In December 2024, Guilds led a team representing victims in connection with the landmark prosecution of a former Joint Base Lewis–McChord Army battalion commander. The case, featured in The New York Times article, “Colonel Found Guilty of Sexual Harassment in Trial Seen as a Milestone,” is one of the first brought under the recent overhaul of the military’s legal system, which made sexual harassment a criminal offense.