Ryshard Vale
Ryshard Vale is a silver fox and the defense attorney for the Lynxley family in We Can Fix Pawbert. Polished, aggressive, and ruthless in the courtroom, Vale represents the family's last line of defense during their trial. He frames Pawbert as the sole perpetrator and attacks his credibility with devastating effectiveness---until the exposure of prosecutor Louis Grazella's corruption unravels the defense's advantages.
"Pawbert Lynxley is a violent criminal who committed heinous acts---and now he's trying to trade his testimony for a lighter sentence." --- Ryshard Vale, opening statement (S01E21)
Personality
Vale is calculating, composed, and theatrically effective. His immaculate suit and practiced smile project confidence and control. He is skilled at manipulating jury perception, framing complex situations through the lens most favorable to his clients. He represents the Lynxley family's ethos in legal form: polished surface, ruthless substance.
Series History
Season 1
S01E21 "Counsel"
Vale delivers a devastating opening statement, framing Pawbert as a violent criminal seeking leniency through cooperation---not a victim, but the sole perpetrator attempting to trade testimony for a lighter sentence. His opening is effective because it contains a kernel of truth: Pawbert did commit acts of violence, and he is cooperating in exchange for reduced charges.
S01E22-E23 "Moot" through "The Trial"
Vale cross-examines Pawbert aggressively, pressing on his violent acts and his motivations for cooperating. His strategy relies on character assassination---if the jury cannot trust Pawbert, the prosecution's case weakens.
However, Vale is visibly rattled by the exposure of Grazella's corruption. The revelation that the Lynxley family bought the original prosecutor undermines the defense's credibility and suggests a pattern of institutional manipulation. After the guilty verdict, Vale states the defense has no further remarks---a tacit acknowledgment that the case is lost.
Key Relationships
Pawbert Pawthorne
Vale's cross-examination of Pawbert is the courtroom's central conflict. He attempts to reduce Pawbert to his worst acts---a strategy that works until Rosetta Jardine's closing redirects the jury to the physical evidence.
Louis Grazella
Vale's connection to Grazella is exposed during the trial. The revelation that the defense and prosecution were in contact "outside proper channels" through the Lynxley family's shell nonprofit destroys the pretense of a fair fight. Grazella's removal strips Vale of his compromised advantage.
Nikki Bramble
Bramble opposes Vale throughout the trial. Her determination to "beat him" reflects the David-and-Goliath dynamic: a public defender against a polished corporate defense attorney. With the PSL team's assistance, she rises to the challenge.
Key Quotes
| Quote | Context |
|---|---|
| "Pawbert Lynxley is a violent criminal who committed heinous acts---and now he's trying to trade his testimony for a lighter sentence." | Opening statement (S01E21) |
Trivia
- Vale's species---silver fox---mirrors Nick Wilde's red fox species, creating a visual contrast between the fox who fights for Pawbert and the fox who fights against him.
- His practiced smile and immaculate suit are noted as deliberate affectations designed to project control.
- After the guilty verdict, his statement that the defense has "no further remarks" is the only moment in the trial where Vale has nothing to say.