Why did you decide to start your legal career at Ropes & Gray?

I was looking to be a life sciences deal lawyer when I was in law school. There is no better place to be a life sciences deal lawyer, and no better place to begin a career in this field than Ropes & Gray.

How has Ropes & Gray helped you build a career as a lawyer?

I was a summer associate in 2013, and I started as an associate the following year. Since then, I have been working with biotech start-ups, large pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions and investors on licenses, collaborations and equity investments. The firm is known for its in-house training, but I have also come to appreciate how generous my practice group is when it comes to providing opportunity to new associates, and how generous my colleagues are with their time.

Tell us about a memorable matter you’ve worked on.

I have had the opportunity to work on some of the most significant deals relating to CRISPR and similar gene-editing technologies. CRISPR is one of those rare life sciences innovations that is both scientifically exciting and has captured the popular imagination—to learn more about it, you could skim through a research paper in Nature, read an article in The New York Times, or watch “Rampage,” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson!

As an associate on these licensing and collaboration deals, I help our clients align their business and strategic goals with the deal agreements, and help negotiate the deal agreements with counterparties.

It is exciting to help clients pursue and invest in cutting-edge medical research that could meaningfully transform peoples’ lives for the better. And it is fulfilling to have the opportunity to do this every workday. This is why I joined Ropes & Gray after law school.

Tell us about a pro bono matter you’ve worked on.

I work with the board of the Homeless Empowerment Project, the publishers of the Boston street newspaper, Spare Change News, on corporate governance matters. It is inspiring to support HEP because of their mission and the energy with which they pursue it.

How would you describe the firm’s culture?

Collaborative and collegial, and without the starched-collar stuffiness that law school students have learned to associate with white-shoe firms.

What tips would you offer to a potential applicant?

Be true to yourself throughout the hiring process. The best firm for you will be the one whose culture, values and goals resonate most with you.