Ropes & Gray Expands Thriving M&A Practice in New York with Addition of Leading Corporate Partner John E. Sorkin

Global law firm Ropes & Gray announced today that John E. Sorkin has joined its mergers & acquisitions and private equity practices as a partner in the firm’s burgeoning New York office.

A seasoned corporate transactions attorney, Mr. Sorkin brings with him more than 20 years of experience practicing in New York. He regularly advises a variety of clients on U.S. and cross-border M&A transactions, including strategic and private equity acquisitions and dispositions, leveraged buyouts and other transactional and corporate governance matters. He also counsels investment banks on financial advisory matters in connection with a wide variety of complex transactions.

Prior to joining Ropes & Gray, Mr. Sorkin was a partner at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP in New York.

“John is an extremely accomplished and respected M&A attorney,” said Carl Marcellino, partner at Ropes & Gray in New York and co-head of the firm’s M&A practice. “His experience will serve to strengthen our M&A capabilities as we continue to expand our practice in New York and to provide the best legal advice to our clients here and in other leading financial centers. We are excited to welcome John to the firm.”

A leader in the field, Ropes & Gray’s M&A practice group possesses both extensive transaction experience and deep industry knowledge. Since 2013, the firm has advised companies in M&A transactions worth more than $150 billion, including representing Pfizer in its $17 billion acquisition of Hospira; representing Berkshire Partners and Lightower Fiber Networks in the latter’s $1.9 billion merger with Fibertech Networks; representing adidas in the sale of its Rockport shoe business; and representing United Surgical Partners in its $2.6 billion combination with affiliates of Tenet Healthcare Corporation.

Mr. Sorkin received his B.A. from Yale University and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. He has previously served as an adjunct professor of private equity transactions at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York. He is ranked in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in Corporate/M&A, and in The Legal 500 in M&A/Corporate and Commercial: M&A - Large Deals ($1bn+). Chambers & Partners has described Mr. Sorkin as “an extremely skilful practitioner with a good reputation for work in leveraged buyouts.”

“I am excited to join the team of talented lawyers in Ropes & Gray’s thriving national and international M&A practice,” said Mr. Sorkin. “I look forward to working with the M&A, private equity, health care, technology and other practice groups across the country and around the globe to offer the best possible solutions to our clients’ legal needs. I cannot imagine a better platform for my practice.”

With more than 300 lawyers in New York, Ropes & Gray is now one of the 20 largest law firms in the city.