Ropes & Gray LLP > San Francisco, United States > Firm Profile

Ropes & Gray LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution > E-discovery Tier 1

Ropes & Gray LLP is known for its niche specialism in high-stakes litigation for clients from a range of industries, including pharma, financial and biotech industries. The team routinely undertakes data privacy compliance and e-discovery advisory work as a part of a broad practice that also encompasses investigation and class action suits. Boston-stationed litigator Shannon Capone Kirk heads the practice, representing multinational clients in commercial litigation and data breach-related matters. In New York, Emily Cobb provides experience in discovery-related disputes, while Xueguang Sun has a particular focus on enforcement aspects. Samuel Davenport is the other key contact in the New York office.

Finance > Commercial lending

Ropes & Gray LLP‘s practice spans the gamut of lender- and borrower-side commercial lending matters, with particular expertise in assisting private equity borrowers seeking to undertake leveraged buyouts and obtain asset-based loans. The borrower-side arm of the practice is spearheaded by New York’s Stefanie Birkmann, a specialist in syndicated finance structures, and Boston-based Michael Lee, who assists borrowers in arranging facilities ranging from mezzanine to bridge finance facilities. Also in Boston, Byung Choi is an expert in debt and asset financings, advising a number of private equity houses in this regard. On the lender side, the practice assists credit providers with the initial structuring of finance facilities, including hybrid debt and equity loans, and is noted for advising private credit providers. Taking the lead on lender-side matters are Jeffrey Katz, who splits their time between Boston and New York and advises on special situations investments, and Leonard Klingbaum, based in New York and adding expertise in the restructuring of credit facilities.

Finance > Financial services regulation Tier 1

Healthcare > Life sciences Tier 1

Ropes & Gray LLP is particularly well versed in handling complex cross-border licensing agreements, and is also a name to note for transactions in the life sciences space. Additionally, the practice offers extensive expertise across a wide range of litigation, representing clients facing IP disputes and product liability class action, and is able to support clients seeking FDA approval for their products. The practice is headed jointly by transactional specialists Marc Rubenstein and Michael Beauvais, both of whom are based in Boston and maintain a broad transaction practice encompassing IPOs, licensing agreements and M&As in the sector, and Washington DC’s Gregory Levine, who focuses predominantly on assisting pharmaceutical, biotech and medical devices clients in navigating the FDA’s regulatory regime. Kellie Combs, also operating out of the capital, is noted for her knowledge of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Service Act, FDA promotional rules and the regulation of digital health systems.

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 1

The diverse offering at Ropes & Gray LLP is well known for its extensive capabilities in healthcare data privacy, and administrative litigation relating to reimbursement and billing. In the Chicago office, practice co-head Deborah Gersh is known for her specialism in value-based care initiatives and data privacy under HIPAA, while Jennifer Romig primarily handles transactional and regulatory matters for healthcare and digital health clients. Boston’s Timothy McCrystal co-leads the team, with his recent areas of focus including the regulatory aspects of telehealth and access to care, and David Peloquin is noted for his knowledge of fraud and abuse laws on both a state and federal level. Working out of the Washington DC office, Stephanie Webster regularly acts for hospitals and academic medical centers in transactions. Stephen Warnke advises a range of government-funded managed care organisations and non-profit health systems in New York, while Sarah Blumenthal focuses on university-hospital relationships and third-party payment issues. In Los Angeles, Torrey McClary is particularly adept at handling joint ventures and acquisitions within the healthcare sector, and Ranee Adipat was promoted to partner in November 2023, having notable experience in corporate healthcare mandates. Thomas Bulleit retired in late 2022.

Investment fund formation and management > Alternative/hedge funds Tier 1

The highly experienced alternative and hedge funds team at Ropes & Gray LLP regularly handles the full range of hedge fund matters, jointly led by San Francisco's asset management specialist Melissa Bender, New York's Morri Weinberg, Boston's Leigh Fraser and Peter Laybourn. Bender's expertise includes leading the firm's crypto blockchain department, while Fraser specializes in representing hedge fund sponsors. The team services a roster of major clients including private credit sponsor CIFC asset management, MFN Partners, and Pacific Investment Management Company, on onshore and offshore private funds, structuring products, and the full range of regulatory matters. Head of the hedge fund team, New York-based Laurel FitzPatrick leads on advising on evergreen and open end credit funds, and assists with representing both registered and unregistered fund managers. Sarah Davidoff  is another key contact in the New York office, advising private fund sponsors and providing strategic counsel to national and international hedge funds.  

Investment fund formation and management > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds Tier 1

Ropes & Gray LLP has extensive experience acting as regular counsel to its diverse and growing client base of leading asset and investment management firms and their independent directors and trustees. Their clients rely on the firms strong registered funds practice that advises on all manner of fund launches, including but not limited to registered open-end and closed-end funds, interval and tender offer funds, exchange traded funds and registered funds investing in alternative asset classes. Practice heads Bryan Chegwidden and Michael Doherty are based in New York, with James Thomas in Boston rounding up the registered funds leadership team. Chegwidden has extensive experience advising asset managers and large mutual fund families on alternative investment products, while Doherty additionally covers transactional matters and product development for asset managers. Thomas frequently assists exchange traded funds, registered investment companies and other private investment vehicles, as does Thomas Hiller. John Loder retired in December of 2023.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Ropes & Gray LLP has a team of highly experienced litigators and white-collar defense attorneys who regularly advise on matters relating to public corruption, antitrust laws, economic sanctions, and financial crimes. Chicago-based Laura Hoey as well as Boston-based John Bueker are both recommended for their expertise in handling false claim cases. The firm also has a strong team located in New York, which includes Gregg Weiner, Christopher Conniff, and Michael McGovern. Weiner has an expertise in federal securities laws, while McGovern is recommended for cases concerning tax offenses, financial fraud, and antitrust violations. Conniff frequently advises clients who are under investigation for money laundering and FCPA offences; he also assists corporates on compliance requirements and crisis management. Practicing out of the firm’s office in Washington DC, María González Calvet and Alexandre Rene are further standout lawyers, both of whom are noted for their experience handling cross-border investigations. Experienced trial lawyer Sarah Walters joined the Boston office in April 2024 from a previous position at McDermott Will & Emery LLP.

Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings

Ropes & Gray LLP has an experienced and established team, which has a strong record across both issuer and underwriter representation. In a slow market, the firm has continued to demonstrate its excellence in IPOs, follow-on offerings, SPAC IPOs and de-SPAC transactions, and at-the-market offerings. It stands out for its expertise in representing private equity firms and their portfolio companies, along with biotech and pharmaceutical companies. New York partners Rachel Phillips, Faiza Rahman, Christopher Capuzzi and Paul Tropp are key names, along with Craig Marcus in Boston.

Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings

Intellectual property > Patents: licensing Tier 2

Ropes & Gray LLP is noted for its ability to advise on IP transactions and licensing, structure the IP and technology aspects of major strategic and private equity-backed M&A, and handle strategic patent and trademark portfolio management. The team further stands out for its strength in handling the sale and financing of royalty interests and IP litigation. The intellectual property transactions practice is led by Melissa Rones in Boston and Megan Baca in Silicon Valley. Frequently advising various life science companies, David McIntosh and Marc Rubenstein are key names in Boston. Also based in Boston and advising clients across the life sciences and biotech sectors are Abigail Gregor, Hannah England, Amanda Austin, and Regina Sam Penti. New York’s Jordan Altman joined the team from Shearman & Sterling LLP in April 2023. In July 2023, Violetta Kokolus  left the team.

Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 2

Ropes & Gray LLP has a strong investor and sponsor side private funds practice that covers endowments, fund of funds and sovereign wealth funds across diverse asset classes, particularly buyout, venture capital, credit and real estate. Four practitioners oversee the team; In New York Morri Weinberg advises clients on primary, secondary and co-investment private funds, in San Francisco is Melissa Bender, who works with funds using novel hybrid structures, while in Boston jointly leading are Leigh Fraser and Peter Laybourn, with the latter advising on domestic and international fund formations, fundraising, and transactions. Marc Biamonte and John Ayer are further key points of contact, in New York and Boston respectively. The asset management group grew in 2023 with the additions of Warren Goodworth from Kirkland & Ellis LLP in May and Jonathan Rash from Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP in November, while in the same month Catherine Skulan was made partner.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 2

Ropes & Gray LLP is renowned for its strategic advice to public companies, private equity entities, and portfolio companies on executive compensation, benefits planning, and ERISA challenges. The firm counts leading asset managers as key clients, including Invesco, TPG Capital, and Bain Capital. Co-chair Renata Ferrari, operating from Boston, is distinguished for her expertise in the life sciences, healthcare, and TMT industries, and focuses on equity awards, retirement plans, and governance issues. Allie Alperovich, fellow practice co-head in New York, specializes in transitioning employee benefits arrangements, restructuring equity compensations, and benefits planning. Joshua Lichtenstein, also in New York, deals with ERISA fiduciary concerns. In Boston, Jennifer Rikoski provides multinational companies with counsel on M&A, covering executive compensation, corporate governance, and securities law, while Jennifer Cormier specializes in senior management negotiations and executive separations.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+) Tier 2

Ropes & Gray LLP handles a large volume of high-value PE-backed transactions in sectors such as tech and life sciences and benefits from a global network of practitioners that enables the team to regularly facilitate cross-border acquisitions. The team is adept at handling deals with unique financing, antitrust, and tax law considerations, and in addition to representing leading funds such as Warburg Pincus and TPG in connection with bulge-bracket platform deals, it also regularly acts on upper middle-market growth capital investments. The New York office is home to practice head David Blittner, who has vast experience advising funds on leveraged buyouts as well as on financing and restructuring matters, and Carolyn Vardi, who regularly leads on some of the firm’s most complex private equity M&A. Also in New York, Kate Withers is noted for her ability to handle transactions in regulated sectors such as healthcare tech, and Garrett Charon specialises in leveraged buyouts and take-privates. Chicago-based Neill Jakobe is a key contact for bulge-bracket buyouts, while San Francisco lawyers Jason Freedman and Minh-Chau Le advise on a diverse caseload of private equity-linked deals.

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 2

Combining expertise in regulatory investigations, disputes, privacy counselling and corporate data transactions, the data, privacy and cybersecurity team at Ropes & Gray LLP offers US experience with global reach. Clients in the healthcare sector particularly seek out the team, which has established knowledge regarding the handling of data breaches involving sensitive information. Team head Edward McNicholas, based in Washington DC, has a notable track record supporting clients through regulatory investigations and class action litigation in relation to cybersecurity incidents. Also in DC, Fran Faircloth’s practice includes internet governance matters, and compliance counselling on federal, state, and foreign privacy requirements. Boston-based counsel Kevin Angle advises clients on the data privacy implications of complex corporate transactions. Associates Matthew Cin in Chicago, and Briana Fasone in New York, are also recommended.

Tax > Not-for-profit (Fortune 1000 private foundations, national trade associations, and charities) Tier 2

Ropes & Gray LLP is a leading name in the education sector, advising numerous prominent clients on tax, employment, and governance matters, among other issues. Healthcare is also a key area of focus for the team, which is active on behalf of major hospitals and research organizations. Kendi Ozmon leads the team from Boston. Ozmon, who additionally co-heads the firm’s colleges & universities practice, is experienced in a broad array of tax and regulatory matters and also acts on a range of transactional work. Carolyn Ward, who is based in Washington DC, advises on matters of governance and tax planning, with further expertise in handling audits. Los Angeles partner Torrey McClary chiefly acts for clients in the healthcare sector and covers acquisitions, joint ventures, and restructurings, among other transactions. Working from Boston alongside Ozmon are Franziska Hertel, whose practice covers both contentious and non-contentious tax matters, and Ben Wilson, who specializes in financing transactions.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 2

Ropes & Gray LLP’s transactional tax team advises a wide range of clients, including public and private companies, private equity firms, tax-exempt organizations, and asset managers on the tax aspects of M&A, financings, restructurings, and spin-offs, among other issues. The team has a particularly strong reputation for its work in the biotech/ life sciences space, including in relation to licensing and collaboration agreements. Elaine Murphy, with considerable experience advising institutional and global investors, fund sponsors and advisers, and multinational companies on international and US tax matters, chairs the practice. James Brown in New York advises several leading private equity sponsors and investment advisors on a wide range of matters, including M&A, recapitalizations, joint ventures, and fund structuring. Pamela Glazier represents middle-market and premier private equity firms operating in the banking, tech, retail, and life sciences sectors, among others, as well as registered investment companies on transactional and mutual funds matters. Adam Greenwood in New York advises global asset managers and private equity sponsors, while David Saltzman concentrates on international tax matters, advising multinationals, financial institutions investment funds, and global investors. Amanda Holt focuses on transactional tax, including corporate and partnership taxation. Tristan Evans-Wilent, Samuel Duncan, Franziska Hertel, and Brandon Dunn were all promoted to partnership in November 2023. All lawyers mentioned are based in Boston, unless stated otherwise.

Antitrust > Cartel Tier 3

With an experienced team that includes several former federal prosecutors and enforcement attorneys from different government agencies such as DOJ, FTC, and US Attorney’s Offices nationwide, Ropes & Gray LLP has a full-service cartel practice that offers vast experience in criminal and civil investigations and follow-up civil litigation, internal investigations, and merger clearance in the healthcare, pharmaceuticals and financial services segments. The team is jointly steered by New York’s Michael McGovern, a trial lawyer specializing in high-stakes criminal cases that threaten the survival of companies, and Mark Popofsky, who regularly defends clients in jury trials, class actions, arbitrations and appeals before federal and state courts. Popofsky splits his time between Washington DC and San Francisco, as does Chong Park, whose broad practice extends to acting as first chair in jury trials and federal and state courts, as well as advising on government enforcement actions.

Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense Tier 3

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 3

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 3

Ropes & Gray LLP have expanded their restructuring practice with the additions of New York-based Natasha Hwangpo and Chicago's Chris Dickerson over the past year, with the team active on borrower, lender and creditor based matters including in-court and out-of-court debt restructurings, corporate reorganizations and liability management transactions. Based in New York and Chicago, Ryan Preston Dahl co-heads the practice alongside Gregg Galardi and are both skilled in representing a variety of parties in restructurings, distressed acquisitions and in-court chapter 11 processes. Boston based Andrew Devore is focused on representing institutional investors and creditors committees in financial restructuring and insolvency-related litigations, while New York-situated Cristine Schwarzman represents debtors and distressed borrowers in restructuring proceedings and Chapter 11 cases.

Government > State attorneys general Tier 3

A seasoned team of litigators and enforcement attorneys form the backbone of Ropes & Gray LLP‘s state attorneys general offering, assisting clients with navigating the complexities of the regulatory and enforcement environment. In conjunction with corporate, litigation, and regulatory experts from across the firm’s antitrust, data privacy, cybersecurity, life sciences, and healthcare groups, the team regularly represents clients in single and multistate investigations, litigation, and enforcement actions. Leading the charge are Chicago-based former federal healthcare fraud prosecutor Laura Hoey, Boston’s healthcare and life sciences expert John Bueker, and financial services specialist Gregg Weiner in New York. In Boston, James Dowden fields extensive experience counseling clients in enforcement proceedings and bet-the-company investigations, Andrew O’Connor specializes in fraud and antitrust, and Amy Roy primarily services financial services firms, investment advisers and mutual funds. Chong Park, who focuses on antitrust, consumer protection, and data privacy, is based in Washington DC, while healthcare veteran Stephen Warnke, and business, class action, and antitrust litigator Jane Willis operate out of New York. Former Assistant US Attorney at the US Attorney’s office in Los Angeles Ryan Weinstein joined the group as counsel in June 2023 from Covington & Burling LLP, increasing its capacity in healthcare, tech, sports, and financial services.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (International Trade Commission) Tier 3

With a global reach and experience assisting clients in multi-forum proceedings, Ropes & Gray LLP has an expert group of intellectual property litigators who are seasoned in handling Section 337 investigations at the International Trade Commission. The group represents clients from a variety of industries, working with the likes of Roku, SharkNinja and Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals. Leading the firm’s Section 337 practice, Matthew Rizzolo in Washington DC is a highly competent trial lawyer who represents clients in matters relating to intellectual property rights and patents infringement claims and has experience handling cases related to smartphones, computer software and hardware, and telecoms, as well as matters in the life sciences space. Steven Pepe in New York, who chairs the firm’s intellectual property litigation practice, is also a key contact.

Labor and employment > Workplace and employment counseling Tier 3

The Ropes & Gray LLP tax, employment and employee benefits department has a strong presence in both Boston and New York. The practice primarily works on work arising from private equity and M&A matters, as well as sensitive workplace investigations and executive level dismissals. In Boston, Meg Bisk leads the practice. Bisk provides counsel for employers who are involved in M&A transactions, including the negotiation for reductions in force and conducting internal investigations for allegations of discrimination. Also based in the Boston office, Douglas Brayley leads the employment litigation practice. Outside representing clients in disputes, Brayley provides counsel for clients to mitigate litigation risks. In New York, Richard Kidd focuses on matters regarding executive compensation and employee benefits, including a wide range of cross-border and domestic corporate transactions.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+) Tier 3

Demonstrating significant expertise in the biotech and pharma sectors, the Ropes & Gray LLP practice is highly regarded for representing clients in strategic combination agreements and complex take-private sales. The firm represents a diverse array of domestic and global corporations, including Pfizer, Blackstone, and Medtronic, with Boston-based practice head Christopher Comeau noted for his ability to counsel these clients on strategic acquisitions and minority investments. Also in Boston, Mike Beauvais is an expert on private securities offerings and financings and Zachary Blume focuses on corporate governance issues, while New York-based lawyer Jackie Cohen has experience handling joint ventures and spin-offs. Further key contacts in New York include Ariel Deckelbaum, who concentrates primarily on restructuring transactions, and Carl Marcellino, who routinely acts for private equity funds on investments and leveraged buyouts.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism Tier 3

Ropes & Gray LLP acts for a host of companies, investors and individual board members on shareholder activism issues. The team gives ongoing counsel on shareholder engagement, while also acting in proxy contests and pre-contest negotiations. The firm’s transactional department works closely with the shareholder activism practitioners to advise on issues relating to M&A. The Boston office is a key location for the practice group, housing department head Jeffrey Katz, who focuses on corporate governance and has a wealth of investment fund clients. Also in Boston, Paul Kinsella and Amy Roy are experienced lawyers to note, while more junior partner Tara Fisher is building shareholder activism experience in her transactional practice. Ariel Deckelbaum joined the firm’s New York office from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in March 2023, working alongside Martin Crisp and Jackie Cohen.

Real estate Tier 3

Ropes & Gray LLP is well-regarded for its advice to large REITs, global private equity firms, and sizeable funds throughout the real estate space. Transactions, structuring, and complex financing arrangements make up core specialisms, evidenced by the firm’s representation of Morgan Stanley bank in negotiating and structuring real estate loan back-leverage facilities, as well as through its assistance to Claros Mortgage Trust in its obtaining of credit facilities valued at $1bn. The investments and transactions group is led by John (Jack) Creedon in Boston and Dan Stanco in New York, both of whom have substantial experience acting on behalf of leading domestic and global institutional investors on joint ventures, debt purchases and debt restructurings, among areas like leasing, acquisitions and dispositions. New Yorkers David Kaye and Anthony Mongone are also highly active, with the former being particularly prominent on equity-side sponsor and capital partner work and the latter having expertise on debt and equity matters. Counsel Effie George Floyd is another name of note with experience on mortgage and mezzanine financings and recapitalizations.

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 4

The team at Ropes & Gray LLP combines a strong record in DOJ and FTC approval processes with capabilities in international reviews and investigations, with the team regularly collaborating with its European offices on a range of cross-border mandates. The practice excels particularly in the life sciences sector, where it adeptly handles HSR filings, investigations and regulatory actions. Leading the team is Mark Popofsky,who is recommended for his expertise in antitrust litigation, representing clients across the telecoms, semiconductor and healthcare sectors. Elsewhere in the team, Michael McFalls regularly represents clients before the FTC and DOJ, while Jonathan Klarfeld continues to advise clients on significant merger investigations and challenges. The team has been strengthened by the arrival of Jacqueline Grise , who joined from Cooley LLP in early 2024. Attorneys mentioned are based in Washington DC.

Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

Straddling both the IP litigation and the litigation and enforcement practices, Ropes & Gray LLP’s appellate offering has a focus on patent appeals and financial services. In terms of the latter area, the team utilizes the firm’s dominance in funds and regulatory matters to pack a punch in complex business cases, such as its representation of approximately thirty defendants, including major public and private pension plans, in $8bn worth of fraudulent conveyance litigation connected to a leveraged buyout of the Tribune Company. Washington DC-based department head Douglas Hallward-Driemeier maintains a broad appellate focus, which encompasses the full range of civil and criminal matters; he is leading the appellate side of the Tribune case. James Batchelder, who splits his time between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, is noted for IP appeals.

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings Tier 4

Ropes & Gray LLP has a burgeoning presence in DCM offerings, for both issuers and underwriters. This includes a mix of investment grade and high-yield debt offerings, and it is further noted for its expertise in convertible and exchangeable debt transactions. Clients range from private equity houses and their portfolio companies, major corporates and bulge-bracket underwriters. It has an established record in life sciences, energy, financial services and other sectors. Spread across the firm’s Boston and New York offices, the DCM team is led by New York’s Paul Tropp and Christopher Capuzzi. Thomas Fraser is another key partner in Boston.

Finance > Fintech Tier 4

With in-depth blockchain and cryptocurrency expertise spanning digital assets, ETFs, and NFTs, Ropes & Gray LLP is has a strong record in regulatory fintech mandates, marketplace lending, and mobile platforms. On the contentious side, the practice is also highly experienced in intellectual property litigation before various courts, including The Patent Trial and Appeal Board. In San Francisco, Melissa Bender advises institutional investors, non-profit organizations, and public companies on digital asset custody. Working out of New York, Helen Gugel is often engaged in government enforcement and regulatory matters pertaining to market misconduct, as well as potential violations of federal securities and commodities laws. Sarah Young is experienced in stock and asset acquisitions, while Silicon Valley-based Andrew Thomases specializes in patent and trade secret cases litigation. Operating out of Boston, Mark Cianci is also noted.

Finance > Structured finance: derivatives and structured products Tier 4

Ropes & Gray LLP’s client base is broad, including mutual funds, banks, insurance companies, sovereign wealth fuds and corporations. Its team includes practitioners experienced in swaps, options, forwards, structured notes and market-access transactions. Leigh Fraser leads the firm out of Boston with great experience in advising buy-side clients on regulatory matters under the Dodd-Frank Act and in negotiation of ISDA master agreements. Chicago-based Jeremy Liabo supports major asset managers in the commodities space and is well-versed in CFTC and NFA regulations. Molly Moore is a noted counsel working for the team out of Washington DC, experienced in matters regarding cleared and uncleared derivatives.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 4

The intellectual property group at Ropes & Gray LLP represents a broad range of domestic and cross-border clients in all major patent litigation forums, with particular expertise in proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board as well as the International Trade Commission. Steven Pepe in New York chairs the firm’s IP litigation practice group and is highly experienced in multijurisdictional patent infringement litigation. In Silicon Valley, Jim Batchelder represents tech clients in a variety of IP disputes, David Chun has experience litigating in district and appellate courts, and Jim Davis and Andrew Radsch are experienced in patent disputes relating to a broad range of technical fields. The group also includes Washington DC lawyers Kevin Post, who handles patent disputes for high-tech and life sciences companies, and Matthew Rizzolo, who leads the firm’s group in Section 337 proceedings before the International Trade Commission.

Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) Tier 4

Ropes & Gray LLP‘s trade secrets practice has considerable experience handling the array of investigations and disputes at both state and Federal court level for its portfolio of clients. Team co-leads Steven Pepe and Peter Brody are based in New York and Washington DC respectively. Employment litigation specialist Douglas Brayley who is based at the firm’s Boston hub is a name to note, as is David Chun who splits his time between Silicon Valley and Seoul and has notable experience dealing with misappropriation disputes and the array of IP matters. Scott McKeown departed to Wolf Greenfield & Sacks in July 2023 from the DC office.

Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions Tier 4

Operating out of New York, the practice at Ropes & Gray LLP is led by Andrew Thomases, Rohan Massey, and Sarah Young. The team offers an interdisciplinary service by liaising with its M&A, IP, and private equity divisions to comprehensively serve a roster of tech companies as well as domestic and global investors. The team has a particularly strong track record in handling the tech and fintech elements of M&A transactions. Jordan Altman is a practitioner to note and concentrates on business-critical deals that involve big data, telecoms, software, and AI.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 5

Ropes & Gray LLP fields a strong bench of ex-agency litigators and enforcers with strength across the full scope of contentious antitrust issues, including monopolization cases, information-sharing class actions, and litigated merger challenges. Mark Popofsky, in Washington DC, handles class actions and cartel cases before federal and state courts, with a particular sector focus on the tech and life sciences industries. Popofsky jointly leads the practice alongside Jane Willis, who divides her time between the firm’s Boston and New York offices and represents hospitals, healthcare providers, and healthcare systems in civil litigation and class actions alleging attempted monopolization and other anticompetitive behaviors.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Venture capital and emerging companies Tier 5

Ropes & Gray LLP is notably active in the life sciences sector, working with clients such as TRexBio, Abata Therapeutics, and Pfizer Ventures. The firm is experienced in guiding emerging companies and investors through the complexities of early, growth, and late-stage venture financings. The group is also able to support clients with complex regulatory and compliance challenges and advised IDRx on securing license agreements as part of a $122m Series A financing. The practice is co-led by Bradford Flint and Marc Rubenstein from Boston, who specialize in serving biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical device clients on formations, intellectual property licensings, and devising exit strategies. In San Francisco, Melissa Bender spearheads the firm’s crypto blockchain task force and offers her expertise to both US and international institutional investors.

Finance > Structured finance: securitization

International trade and national security > Customs, export controls and economic sanctions