Ropes & Gray is deeply saddened to announce that Scott Taylor, senior attorney in the firm’s IP litigation practice in Boston, died on June 11. He was 43.
Scott joined Ropes & Gray as an associate in 2014 and became a senior attorney in 2020.
In addition to his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, Scott held both a B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering from Tufts University. His work as a patent litigator involved a wide range of technologies, including recombinant microorganisms, digital rights management, and computer software. Clients and colleagues valued Scott’s ability to combine technical knowledge and the law to guide them in high-stakes matters.
“Scott was a highly regarded patent litigator and a beloved colleague,” said chair Julie Jones. “He was an outstanding lawyer with a generous spirit who made important contributions to the greater good through pro bono litigation.”
Among his career accomplishments, Scott helped to lead a team, working alongside Lawyers for Civil Rights, in litigating Huot v. City of Lowell, a landmark 2017 federal voting rights lawsuit that challenged how city elections in Lowell, Massachusetts were conducted. Lowell’s elections had, for almost seven decades, tipped the balance in favor of white candidates. After a settlement was reached, the city’s voters elected the first-ever Cambodian-American mayor. The settlement resulted in a fairer and more equitable voting process in Lowell and ushered in a dramatic shift in the power structure of the city. Speaking to the Boston Globe, Scott observed that “without the lawsuit, it’s fair to say that that shift would not have happened, or at least anytime soon.”
Scott is survived by his wife, Katie, and their two children, Luke and Lilah.
A memorial page has been set up here with information about his life.Experience
- Defended biofuel company in patent litigation case involving genetically engineered microorganisms.
- Represented various companies in patent litigation cases involving various computer-related technologies, including digital rights management, search engine technology, and human resource applications.
- Advised educational non-profit on copyright protection for STEM curriculum for middle school students.