Ropes & Gray Names New Counsel

Global law firm Ropes & Gray announced today that 21 attorneys have been named counsel of the firm, effective November 1.

The new counsel are market-leading advisers to global clients across the firm’s industries of strength, including private equity, finance, M&A, capital markets, asset management, real estate, tax, litigation & enforcement, healthcare, life sciences, technology, and business restructuring.

“Our new counsel are business advisers first, who approach our clients’ matters with a practical understanding of their end result,” said Julie Jones, chair. “This is a moment to reflect on these talented lawyers’ accomplishments.” 

The new counsel embody the firm’s commitment to excellence and strong values, as exemplified by its recent #1 ranking on The American Lawyer’s annual A-List.

“With these promotions, we are investing in areas where we see strong client demand and growth opportunities,” said David Djaha, managing partner. “These lawyers have impressed discerning clients, and our own teams, with the quality of their counsel. They represent the diverse and global nature of our firm. We are thrilled to share in their success.”

Meet Ropes & Gray’s newest counsel:

Rachael Bacha – An IP litigator with trial experience in the federal district courts and before the ITC, Rachael advises clients on complex IP issues across numerous technology and science industries, including life sciences, medical devices and computer software. Rachael also is a damages specialist and advises clients in all stages of litigation, from pre-litigation and risk assessment through trial and appeal.

Ana Biloglav – A member of the firm’s market-leading finance practice, Ana represents private equity sponsors, lenders and borrowers in domestic and cross-border transactions in leveraged and acquisition financings, business restructurings and the financing of corporate and investment funds. She has a deep understanding of U.K., European and U.S. finance markets.

Sarah Blankstein – Sarah provides legal and strategic advice to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies on an array of FDA regulatory matters, including promotional compliance, product development, digital health issues, and Hatch-Waxman and other regulatory exclusivity matters. She also provides regulatory counsel for transactions and advises on internal investigations and government enforcement matters involving FDA regulatory issues.

Jimmy Chen – A member of the firm’s IP transactions practice, Jimmy advises clients on complex IP licensing and technology transfers, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions that involve the commercialization of intellectual property or technology. Jimmy has represented clients across technology industries and has unique experience involving transactions in China.

Michael Connolly – Michael advises pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and health care clients on the full spectrum of corporate matters, including M&A, corporate governance, financings, licensing and collaborations. Michael also represents private equity and institutional investors in their life sciences and healthcare investments.  

David Dowling – David advises clients on the full spectrum of corporate matters, from equity arrangements to complex M&A transactions. He has particular experience within the life sciences and healthcare industry, regularly guiding strategic investors through a range of deals. David also represents private equity and growth investors and their portfolio companies.

Tristan Evans-Wilent – Tristan’s tax practice is focused on advising private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies on complex tax matters, including acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, dispositions, go-privates, IPOs, and minority investments, both domestic and cross-border.

Effie George Floyd – A leading adviser to real estate clients, Effie guides complex commercial real estate transactions, including recapitalizations, acquisitions and dispositions, development deals, and mortgage and mezzanine financings. She has significant experience negotiating complex joint venture and preferred equity arrangements, representing real estate investors across industries.

Daniel Gwen – Dan possesses an exceptional combination of experience working on both creditor and company-side restructurings. He advises clients on all aspects of complex Chapter 11 and out-of-court restructurings. Dan has also expanded the scope of his practice to include cryptocurrency restructurings.

Laura Kayani – Laura is an experienced M&A attorney who advises private equity sponsors, strategic investors, management teams and portfolio companies on acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, co-investments and restructurings. Laura has extensive experience representing U.S. and European clients in complex cross-border transactions.

Cassandra Roth – Cassandra is an accomplished trial attorney who litigates intellectual property cases in federal courts and before the ITC and PTAB.  She advises clients in a wide array of industries, including high tech, life sciences, fashion and more.  Cassandra also counsels clients seeking solutions for licensing, litigation strategy and advertising practices.

Christa Sanchez – Christa advises companies, investors, fund sponsors, and executives on executive compensation and employee benefits matters. Christa focuses her practice on equity-based and other incentive arrangements, deferred compensation plans, severance plans, and the associated tax and securities laws implications, particularly regarding mergers and acquisitions.

Peter (Pete) Scherer – Pete is a versatile real estate attorney representing private equity clients, investors, hedge funds and other financial institutions in a variety of commercial real estate matters, including acquisitions and dispositions, financings, and the formation of joint ventures for real estate investments.

Matthew Shapiro – Matthew is an intellectual property trial lawyer with experience litigating patent disputes in federal courts, at the International Trade Commission, and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.  Matthew leverages his background in computer science and engineering to represent clients across a broad range of technologies.

Keun Shin – Keun advises private equity funds, private and public companies and financial investors on complex cross-border M&A, investments, joint ventures and other corporate transactions. Keun has worked both in the United States and Asia advising on mergers and acquisitions.

Emerson Siegle – Emerson counsels clients on regulations governing trade and foreign investment, with a focus on CFIUS, economic sanctions, export controls and other trade regulations. He has deep familiarity navigating the CFIUS review process, assessing CFIUS risk and its impact on investments, and in guiding clients through trade compliance regulatory issues and internal and government investigations.

Denise Sohn – Denise provides tax advice to private investment fund managers and investors on the formation and operation of private equity and hedge funds. She also advises fund sponsors and public and private companies on the tax aspects of mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, and initial public offerings and debt issuances.

Michael Spera – Michael represents public and privately held companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and healthcare industries in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and carve-outs, royalty monetization, and other complex strategic partnerships. He also counsels clients on a range of corporate governance and commercial matters.

Tom Spera – Tom advises on the U.S. federal income tax aspects of domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, including leveraged buyouts, financing transactions, joint ventures and restructurings. Tom’s experience also encompasses securities offerings, SPACs, and private equity and venture capital fund formations.

Jennifer Thompson – Jen advises hedge funds, investment advisers and mutual funds on derivatives and trading arrangements. She also guides clients on transactional and regulatory matters. Jen’s experience also includes representing sponsors in the formation of private investment funds, as well as institutional investors with their private fund-related investments.

Boxin Wang – Boxin represents preeminent private equity sponsors, asset managers and big tech companies active in Greater China and the Asia Pacific on an array of sophisticated private equity transactions. He advises on both buy-side and sell-side transactions of complex private equity and M&A deals, joint ventures, foreign direct investments, and Chinese outbound investment transactions. His regulatory counsel includes foreign investments into China and CFIUS-related matters.