Ropes & Gray > London, England > Firm Profile

Ropes & Gray > The Legal 500 Rankings

Finance > High yield Tier 2

Ropes & Gray LLP is known for its ability to handle complex high yield financings for big repeat issuers, who frequently turn to the high yield market for debt financing, though it is also able to advise first-time issuers and underwriters. Michael Kazakevich, who is co-head of the firm’s global finance practice and advised on the largest high yield deal in the mining and minerals sector in the last decade, oversees a strong partner group that also handles work for initial purchasers and coordinators on repeat offerings. Robert Haak and London managing partner Jane Rogers lead the team in financings including the largest sustainability-linked bond to date in the digital infrastructure sector in Costa Rica.

Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions – high-value deals (£500m+) Tier 3

A firm with ‘great capabilities’ and the ability to be ‘hyperlocal in their knowledge of European transactions’, Ropes & Gray LLP handles sponsor-side M&A, carve-outs, demergers and sell-side transactions for a wide pool of clients, with a notable focus on the healthcare and education sectors. Angela Becker brings extensive transactional capabilities to the fore on a host of cross-border acquisitions and disposals, while the ‘outstanding’ Helen Croke is praised for having a ‘brilliant legal mind’ and for being ‘truly client-oriented’. Shona Ha and Victoria McGrath provide transactional and corporate law advice to a host of asset managers, financial sponsors and corporates, while John Newton is noted for his M&A and venture capital work in the healthcare, life sciences and TMT spaces. Dan Oates handles leveraged buyouts, public-to-privates and disposals across a swathe of sectors; IT and software are key focus areas in recent months. Elizabeth Todd is also recommended for both UK and cross-border transactions. Paul Armstrong joined the team from Permira in January 2024, bringing further M&A and IPO expertise to the practice.

Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare Tier 3

Lincoln Tsang heads up a team at Ropes & Gray LLP whose offering spans transactional, regulatory, litigation and enforcement matters and is praised for its ‘unsurpassed knowledge of the laws and regulations covering the pharma and biotech industries.’ Tsang frequently brings his regulatory expertise to bear on internal investigations and public policy matters concerning the life sciences industry. David Dowling is active across venture capital investments and private M&A. Hannah Kerr-Peterson further extends the regulatory expertise at the firm.

Investment fund formation and management > Private funds Tier 3

Ropes & Gray routinely advises on fund structuring, marketing, negotiating, and ongoing regulatory compliance issues. The team continues to advise on significant mandates spanning a broad range of asset classes and GP/LP-led work. Tom Alabaster is a recognised authority on the structuring, marketing, and operation of international investment funds and managers. Eve Ellis bolsters the team’s fund regulatory capabilities. Anna Lawry has deep specialist knowledge of derivatives across asset classes. Emily Brown left the firm to join White & Case LLP in November 2023.

Real estate > Commercial property: investment Tier 3

Well-versed in big ticket investment transactions, Ropes & Gray LLP specialises in supporting clients in their real estate joint ventures, especially through the creation of investment platforms. The firm is also experienced in distressed assets and handles a range of alternative asset classes, including data centres, PBSA, logistics, and light industrial sites. David Seymour, a joint venture veteran, and Will Bryant, an expert in the logistics and light industrial spaces, lead the team. Harriet Moseley is well-versed on PBSA, co-living and data centre projects. Joseph Patchitt specialises in private equity real estate.

Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax Tier 4

Ropes & Gray LLP‘s tax team is active in tax matters relating to real estate, private equity, and funds, and has key expertise in the life sciences sector, with prominent clients including Pfizer. Brenda Coleman leads the team, and the broader European tax practice, and advises on a range of complex international and cross-border transactions. Andrew Howard’s practice is focused on the tax aspects of financing transactions. Chris Agnoli has aptitude in a broad range of corporate tax matters, including financial transactions and real estate matters.

Finance > Acquisition finance Tier 4

Under the leadership of UK and New York law-qualified Michael Kazakevich, Ropes & Gray continues to generate much of its acquisition/leveraged finance mandates from its solid roster of borrower clients, among them a leading multinational telecoms behemoth. In addition, the firm remains active for a number of financial sponsors, working on its own as well as alongside international offices on sizeable new money deals and on refinancing matters for portfolio companies. Alex Robb is conversant across a broad array of financing structures including bank/bond, unitranche, first lien/second lien and holdco PIK structures, which he executes effectively on many sponsor-backed deals, while the return of Benoit Lavigne in January 2024 from King & Spalding LLP is a welcome boost to the firm on the creditor front in light of his strong private capital credentials.

Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans Tier 4

Finance > Derivatives and structured products Tier 4

Ropes & Gray acts as a key adviser to asset managers, alternative credit providers, hedge fund managers and private equity firms. In the asset management group, Anna Lawry handles all derivatives and structured finance matters, as well as advising on regulatory issues. Lawry's derivatives knowledge spans all major asset classes, both OTC or exchange-traded, as well as associated ISDA, collateral, brokerage, clearing and custody arrangements.

Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity Tier 4

Clients of Ropes & Gray LLP benefit from the London data, privacy and cybersecurity team’s close cross-Atlantic collaboration with colleagues in Washington DC. Compliance, advisory and enforcement matters relating to the collection, storage and processing of data all make up part of the regular practice, as, increasingly, does breach response work. ‘Great leader‘ Rohan Massey helms the UK offering, closely supported by the ‘engaging, knowledgeable and well respected‘ Edward Machin.

Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates) Tier 4

With notable strength in cross-border AML matters, Ropes & Gray handles compliance and due diligence matters as well as investigations for clients in the financial services, private equity, pharma, and tech sectors. Amanda Raad leads the team and is dual-qualified in the US and the UK; Raad has a broad practice encompassing internal investigations, criminal enforcement and regulatory matters, and compliance issues. The US-qualified Sean Seelinger is another key member of the team and takes point on cross-border anti-corruption and AML investigations. Paige Berges left the team in April 2024.

Corporate and commercial > EU and competition Tier 5

Offering extensive expertise across a range of competition matters, the team at Ropes & Gray LLP maintains an active practice, advising on merger control, FDI clearances, conduct, compliance, and antitrust counseling. The team is frequently engaged by blue-chip corporates, pharmaceutical companies, and private equity clients on complex, multijurisdictional merger control matters. Practice head Ruchit Patel is a key adviser to some of the world’s largest companies on matters before the CMA and the European Commission.

Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals) Tier 5

Real estate > Property finance Tier 5

Rated for its ‘great commercial knowledge’, Ropes & Gray's real estate finance team regularly collaborates with the firm’s restructuring and tax teams to advise a number of high-profile clients on an array of transactional matters. Noted for his capabilities in the financing aspects of joint ventures, practice head David Seymour is also highly experienced in the acquisition and financing of student housing assets.

Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory Tier 6

Ropes & Gray LLP provides ‘sound, commercially savvy and well-balanced regulatory advice’ to its client roster of global asset managers on matters concerning fund formation, risk retention and transactional work, in addition to ESG and securitisation regulation. Eve Ellis frequently advises asset managers on ESG mandates, and jointly leads the practice alongside Anna Lawry, who handles derivatives matters and structured financings. ‘Engaged and hardworking’ Dorota Maj is another key contact in the group.

United States > Labor and employment > Workplace and employment counseling

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.