Ropes & Gray

Ropes & Gray holds Band 1 rankings in Chambers USA for Healthcare, Private Equity, Life Sciences, and White-Collar Crime. The firm's private equity practice represents major sponsors on fund formations, leveraged buyouts, and portfolio company matters, and its healthcare regulatory practice is the most recognized in the country. Ropes & Gray's life sciences group advises pharmaceutical and biotech companies on FDA regulatory matters, patent litigation, and licensing transactions. The white-collar defense practice handles major government investigations and enforcement actions across industries.

Ropes & Gray uses a free-market assignment system. Chambers Associate rates the firm as an Excellent Performer for Quality of Life and Pro Bono. Associates are expected to meet a 1,900-hour billable target, which they describe as achievable given that pro bono and firm development activities count toward the total. The firm is in-office four days per week (Monday through Thursday). Associates are paired with an attorney development partner for annual reviews and career guidance. The firm recently launched an AI training program for associates, including hands-on "tech jams" and legal AI platform training for all 170+ summer associates, a first in the industry. The summer class is approximately 179 associates.

Notable alumni include former U.S. Attorney General Elliot Richardson (famous for his role in the Saturday Night Massacre during Watergate) and former U.S. Solicitor General Archibald Cox. Ropes & Gray's combination of Boston heritage, PE strength, and life sciences depth gives it a differentiated identity among firms that compete primarily on financial metrics. The firm's early investment in AI and legal technology positions it as one of the more innovation-oriented firms in the market.