Ropes & Gray

Ropes & Gray has an established reputation in the life sciences industry for its strength in financial and corporate matters. One peer notes they are a "solid firm" in the life sciences space, while another lauds the number of "highly recommended lawyers" on their bench. 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 represents a number of innovative startups.

David McIntosh is head of the firms 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 its material licensing agreements with several entities.

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 represented LogicBio Therapeutics in its initial public offering as well as Vertex Pharmaceuticals in its expanded collaboration with CRISPR Therapeutics and acquisition of Exonics Therapeutics. A peer singles Rubenstein out for his "great technical skill in licensing and collaboration transactions."

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 recently served as lead partner representing Tesaro in its $5.1 billion sale to GlaxoSmithKline.

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 the entire product life cycle.

Gregory Levine is co-chair of the firm's life sciences practice group and is highly regarded for advising a variety of clients with FDA-related matters. Among his recent clients, Levine successfully negotiated a Consent Decree of Permanent Injunction on behalf of Aegerion Pharmaceuticals. In another matter, Levine is representing Vanda Pharmaceuticals in a lawsuit against the FDA. He was awarded Regulatory Attorney of the Year in Medical Devices by LMG Life Sciences.

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 Hugel, a Korean-based portfolio company controlled by Bain Capital, in all regulatory matters related to a joint venture agreement with Austrian company Croma-Pharma GmbH.