BOSTON — In a real estate market defined by complexity, scale, and innovation, Ropes & Gray LLP has emerged as the legal powerhouse behind many of Boston’s most transformative projects.
At the Boston Real Estate Times 2025 Excellence Awards Gala on September 11 at the Burlington Marriott, the firm will be honored as Law Firm of the Year — a recognition of its unmatched legal acumen, collaborative culture, and decades-long impact on the region’s built environment.
With more than 100 legal professionals — including over 60 attorneys dedicated to real estate — Ropes & Gray offers an integrated, cross-disciplinary approach that bridges real estate, tax, finance, ERISA, private equity, and environmental law. Their clients range from private equity firms and REITs to global investors, universities, healthcare institutions, and cultural nonprofits.
In just the last five years, the firm has handled over $50 billion in complex real estate transactions, supporting large-scale developments across sectors like life sciences, hospitality, higher education, health care, multifamily, and commercial office.
A Firm Behind Boston’s Defining Projects
From historic preservation battles to skyline-defining towers, Ropes & Gray has advised on the deals that continue to shape Boston’s future. Their recent highlights read like a blueprint of the city’s most ambitious projects:
- Successfully challenged the proposed landmark designation of the Citgo Sign, securing a mayoral veto and preserving critical development rights for the property owner.
- Represented MITIMCo in its joint venture with Biomed Realty to develop 75 Broadway, a key expansion for Biogen in Cambridge.
- Advised Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in its partnership with Beth Israel Lahey Health to develop a new independent inpatient hospital for adult cancer patients.
- Guided a private investor in the development of the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences at One Dalton, now a striking part of Boston’s Back Bay skyline.
- Represented State Street Corporation in the negotiation of its $690 million lease at One Congress, one of the largest commercial leases in city history.
- Advised on the development of the Raffles Boston at 40 Trinity Place — the first Raffles Hotel & Residences in North America, a 33-story mixed-use landmark.
- Handled the financing of The Quin, a luxury social club that has since opened and become a staple in Boston’s hospitality scene.
- Represented the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra in securing the ground lease for its new headquarters at 235 Huntington Avenue.
- Advised Emmanuel College in ground-leasing its Endowment Campus in the Longwood Medical Area to Merck and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
These projects reflect more than transactional expertise — they showcase a firm that understands the interconnected nature of law, policy, development, and community engagement.
A Culture of Leadership, Built Over Decades
The strength of Ropes & Gray’s real estate practice lies in its long-tenured leadership and commitment to developing next-generation talent. Several senior partners — including Jack Creedon, Dan Stanco, Rich Gordet, Walter McCabe, Sally Davis, Anthony Mongone, Peter Alpert, and David Kaye — have worked side-by-side for over 20 years.
This continuity has created a culture of trust, responsiveness, and depth, while mentoring newer attorneys ensures the team remains adaptive to changing markets and deal structures.
The result is a practice known for pragmatic, tailored guidance, even in the most high-stakes or politically sensitive real estate matters.
Growth, Innovation, and Responsibility
As Boston and its surrounding markets continue to evolve, Ropes & Gray is preparing to lead the next wave of legal innovation in real estate. According to a firm statement:
“Over the next three to five years, our real estate team will continue to support Boston’s most dynamic and transformative projects. With established strengths in real estate finance, leasing, and development, we plan to deepen our expertise to address increasingly complex capital structures and innovative deal models. As Boston evolves as a hub for life sciences, healthcare, mixed-use development, and institutional growth, we will strategically grow to meet the demands of clients across asset classes while maintaining a strong focus on collaboration and long-term client relationships.”
The firm also notes that developing the next generation of attorneys will remain a priority — with a particular focus on mentorship, diversity, and a culture of thoughtful, pragmatic service.
Deep Community Roots and Civic Engagement
What further distinguishes Ropes & Gray is its long-standing commitment to community service and civic partnership. Through pro bono work and nonprofit collaborations, the firm plays a quiet but significant role in strengthening Boston’s social fabric.
Organizations supported include: Project Citizenship; Casa Myrna Vazquez; Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra; Heading Home; Good Sports; Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute; Health Equity International; and Greater Boston Legal Services.
This alignment between professional excellence and civic purpose has made Ropes & Gray not just a law firm of choice, but a firm Boston can be proud of.
Why Law Firm of the Year?
The Boston Real Estate Times honors Ropes & Gray as Law Firm of the Year 2025 for three key reasons:
- Its central role in shaping Boston’s most complex and visible developments
- Its consistency of leadership and mentorship across generations
- Its commitment to community impact, diversity, and public service
With Boston on the cusp of its next transformation — from life sciences expansion to post-pandemic urban reinvention — Ropes & Gray remains not just a legal partner, but an essential city-builder.
