Ropes & Gray
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ropes & Gray | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Limited Liability Partnership |
| Founded | 1865 |
| Headquarters |  Boston, MA |
| Key people | John Montgomery, Managing Partner |
| Industry | Law |
| Products | Legal services |
| Revenue | NA |
| Employees | NA |
| Website | www.ropesgray.com |
Ropes & Gray LLP is a national law firm with offices located in Boston, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Hong Kong and Tokyo; and conference centers in London and Providence, Rhode Island. The firm has over 850 lawyers worldwide and its clients include corporations and financial institutions, government agencies, universities, and health care organizations. It was founded in 1865 by John Codman Ropes and John Chipman Gray.
The firm's major practice areas include general corporate law, litigation, antitrust, bankruptcy and business restructuring, international, labor and employment, tax and benefits and government relations. The firm is also a leader in intellectual property law as a result of its 2005 absorption of New York-based Fish & Neave, now called Ropes and Gray's Intellectual Property Group.[1] In 2003, the firm acquired New York City-based private equity law firm Reboul, MacMurray, Hewitt & Maynard.
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[edit] Rankings
Ropes & Gray is highly ranked in several publications, including Vault, Best Lawyers, Chambers, and The American Lawyer, among many others. Chambers recognizes Ropes & Gray in several practice areas, including Intellectual Property, Private Equity, Life Sciences and Tax. In 2007, the Chambers USA guide recognized 62 Ropes & Gray attorneys as leaders in their fields. In addition, the firm's Intellectual Property and Private Equity practice were finalists for a Chambers "Award for Excellence." [2] Also in 2008, Best Lawyers in America listed 107 Ropes & Gray attorneys.[3] Ropes & Gray is ranked at number 31 in the AmLaw 100, which ranks firms by gross revenue. The firm is currently ranked 30th in Vault's "prestige" ranking of America's top one hundred law firms including a #1 regional ranking in Boston.[4] For the third consecutive year, the firm has ranked first in Private Equity Analyst's list of the "Most Active Law Firms by Number of Funds."
[edit] Controversy
The firm came under fire in 2006 for representing Massachusetts Catholic Charities, which performs adoption services and has an open policy of preferring heterosexual couples. One study showed that out of 720 adoption placements, only 13 children went to same-sex couples.[5] Governor Mitt Romney supported Catholic charities, but many gay rights activists criticized Ropes & Gray for taking the case, citing the fact that unlike criminal law, there is no compulsion to represent a client in a civil matter. Eventually Ropes & Gray declined to assist further after the firm came under fire in the matter from Harvard Law students, who challenged the firm's representation on campus.[6]
[edit] Notable attorneys
- Mark Barnes (Counsel)
- Diane Bemus Patrick (Partner) First Lady of Massachusetts (2007-present)
- Yochai Benkler (Associate, 1994-1995) Jack N. and Lillian R. Berkman Professor for Entrepreneurial Legal Studies, Harvard Law School.
- Robert C. Clark (Associate, 1972-1974) Former Dean of the Faculty of Law (1989-2003), and Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor (2003-present), Harvard University
- Elliot Richardson (Associate, 1949-1953, 1955-1957; Partner, 1961-1965), Former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare (1970-1973); Secretary of Defense (1973); Attorney General (1973); Ambassador to the Court of St. James (1975-1976) and Secretary of Commerce (1976-1977).
- James Vorenberg (Associate, 1954-1960; Partner, 1960-1962) Former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Harvard University (1981-1989)
- Roger A. Moore (Associate, 1956-1964, Partner, 1964-1990), Chairman of the Board, National Review (1960-1990), Chief Legal Advisor, Presidential Campaign of Barry Goldwater (1964), General Counsel of the Republican National Committee (1981-1989)
[edit] References
- ^ "Ropes & Gray's New York IP Practice Ranked #1 by Chambers USA", Business Wire, May 25, 2005
- ^ www.chambersandpartners.com
- ^ bestlawyers.com
- ^ www.vault.com
- ^ Bishops to oppose adoption by gays, Patricia Wen and Frank Phillips, Boston Globe, February 12, 2006.
- ^ Harvard Law group hits Ropes & Gray, Sacha Pfeiffer, Boston Globe, March 15, 2006
[edit] External links
