Ropes & Gray

Ropes & Gray has an established reputation in the life sciences industry for its strength in financial and corporate matters, and is recognized as this year’s Licensing and Collaboration Firm of the Year. In the M&A space, a peer calls Ropes & Gray a "high quality firm with excellent technical expertise." In addition to advising some of the largest companies in the industry, the firm also has represented a number of innovative startups.

David McIntosh is head of the firm’s IP transactions group and represents numerous companies in the life sciences industry, particularly in licensing agreements and collaborations. Among his recent clients, McIntosh served as lead partner representing Sarepta Therapeutics in licensing agreements with several entities, including Roche.

Working alongside McIntosh in Boston, Marc Rubenstein advises clients in a number of matters including public offerings, transactions, and licensing agreements. In the past year, he advised Allergan in its divesture of a clinical-stage gastrointestinal drug to AstraZeneca.

Christopher Comeau represents companies in mergers and acquisitions, and is highlighted by a peer for being a "terrific M&A lawyer with broad knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry." Comeau was active on the Sarepta licensing agreement with Roche.

Founder of the life sciences group and former chair Steven Wilcox is well regarded in the field for representing a variety of companies in complex deals, including corporate financings and mergers and acquisitions.

Headquartered in Boston with key offices in New York and Washington DC, Ropes & Gray is a firm of national repute for its litigation expertise. The firm earns top marks in the white-collar and government investigations area, as well as a recommended ranking for its work in antitrust matters. About the litigation group, a peer says Ropes & Gray offers an "excellent team."

Brien O'Connor is a leading practitioner for white-collar defense and government investigations, who a peer labels a "very thoughtful" and "strategic" lawyer. O'Connor specializes in False Claims Act cases, healthcare fraud disputes, internal investigations and compliance, among other areas. He is currently active for a pharmaceutical client in a nationwide dispute. Joshua Levy is co-chair of the firm's global litigation and enforcement group, with a practice focused on white-collar defense and civil litigation. He is currently representing a life sciences company and its Board of Directors in multiple matters. Additional standouts in the white-collar defense group are DC-based Colleen Conry and New York's Joan McPhee.

Head of the antitrust practice group is Mark Popofsky, who has significant experience representing clients in the technology sector, including pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies. He is currently defending a biotech client against claims of anticompetitive practices.

Headquartered in Boston with additional domestic and international offices, Ropes & Gray has a robust life sciences practice adept at handling a number of regulatory issues. The firm is particularly noted for its representation of pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients throughout product life cycles.

Gregory Levine is chair of the firm's regulatory practice group and is highly regarded for advising a variety of clients with FDA-related matters. One peer notes Levine has a “very strong medical device practice and is also strong on the pharma side.” Among his recent clients, Levine is currently part of the Ropes team representing Pfizer with a number of FDA regulatory matters.

Working alongside Levine is Albert Cacozza, who also handles a host of regulatory matters, with a particular emphasis on product compliance, advertising and promotion. Cacozza recently advised Blackstone Life Sciences on the regulatory considerations regarding its $2 billion collaboration agreement with Alnylam.

Kellie Combs is a new addition to this year’s list and was previously recognized as a rising star in the regulatory space by LMG Life Sciences. One peer notes Combs is “not just very good, she is excellent.” Combs is recognized for assisting a variety of pharmaceutical and medical device companies, with a particular expertise in the digital health arena, serving as co-chair of the firm’s Digital Health Initiative. Tom Bulleit is another addition to the stars list, who leads the regulatory matters for Pfizer related to state pricing policies.