Ropes & Gray Opens New Office in Chicago

New partners spearhead Ropes & Gray's expansion into major Midwest market

CHICAGO, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Marking the latest step in its strategic
expansion into key legal markets, Ropes & Gray, a leading national law firm,
today announced the opening of a new office in Chicago. Joining the firm as
partners are James T. Lidbury, Jonathan M. Grandon and Deborah A. Monson, all
formerly partners at Mayer Brown in Chicago. Lidbury and Grandon's practices
focus on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and corporate
and securities matters. Monson's practice focuses on investment management,
including hedge funds and commodities matters.
"This is an exciting development for Ropes & Gray," said R. Bradford Malt,
chairman of Ropes & Gray. "We see in Chicago and the entire Midwest region a
significant opportunity to continue our strategic growth into attractive
markets. We expect that this office will grow rapidly in the near term. David
Chapin and John Ayer, two Boston-based private equity partners, will be
spending significant time in the Chicago office to facilitate integration and
practice development."
"Jim and Jon are widely recognized for the quality of their transaction
work, and they have an outstanding reputation for client service, advising an
array of clients on a broad range of M&A-related work, governance issues and
strategic initiatives," added Malt. "We are also delighted that Debbie will be
joining our preeminent investment management practice. They are all remarkably
talented lawyers who will contribute substantially to our new office. We look
forward to working with our new colleagues in this exciting new endeavor."
"Jon, Debbie and I welcome the opportunity to join Ropes & Gray, and we
look forward to capitalizing on the many opportunities to bring superior
service to clients here in Chicago and across the country," said Lidbury. "Our
initial focus will be on serving the needs of clients throughout the country
and on building a full-service team of outstanding lawyers in Chicago in
keeping with Ropes & Gray's culture of excellence, collegiality and unstinting
client service."
Before joining Mayer Brown in 1994, Lidbury was an attorney in the U.S.
Securities & Exchange Commission's Division of Corporate Finance. He was named
recently to the 2008 BTI Transactions "Super All-Star Team" as one of the top
three M&A lawyers in the United States. The 2007 edition of the respected
Chambers USA guide cited Jim's "fantastic disposition, intellect and
judgment," and said "his peers appreciate his 'reasonable and cooperative'
approach." He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Northwestern
University. He is admitted to practice in Illinois, New York and the District
of Columbia.
Grandon joined Mayer Brown in 2004. He earned his undergraduate degree
from Columbia University and his law degree from the University of Michigan
Law School. Before joining Mayer Brown, Grandon was an associate at Simpson
Thacher in New York. He is admitted to practice in Illinois and New York.
Monson joined Mayer Brown in 1994. She earned her undergraduate degree
from Princeton University and law degree from the University of Michigan.
Before joining Mayer Brown, Monson was an attorney at Schiff Hardin & Waite in
Chicago. She is admitted to practice in Illinois.
With the new Chicago office, Ropes & Gray now has seven locations in
preeminent centers of business and finance. In October 2007, Ropes & Gray
opened an office in Tokyo, Japan.
Ropes & Gray LLP provides comprehensive legal services to leading
businesses and individuals around the world. Clients benefit from expertise
combined with unwavering standards for integrity, service, and responsiveness.
With offices in preeminent centers of finance, technology and government,
Ropes & Gray is ideally positioned to address today's most pressing legal and
business issues. Capabilities include antitrust, bankruptcy and business
restructuring, corporate mergers and acquisitions, employee benefits,
environmental, health care, intellectual property and technology,
international, investment management, labor and employment, life sciences,
litigation, private equity and venture capital, private client services, real
estate and tax.
Contacts:

John D. Tuerck
Director of Communications
Ropes & Gray LLP
617.951.7817
john.tuerck@ropesgray.com

Chris Tofalli
Chris Tofalli Public Relations
914.834.4334
chris@tofallipr.com

SOURCE Ropes & Gray LLP

John D. Tuerck, Director of Communications of Ropes & Gray LLP,
+1-617-951-7817, john.tuerck@ropesgray.com, or Chris Tofalli of Chris Tofalli
Public Relations, +1-914-834-4334, chris@tofallipr.com