Ropes & Gray is pushing on with its City build-out with McDermott Will & Emery data privacy co-chairs joining the firm’s privacy and data security practice in London and Boston.
Rohan Massey has joined Ropes’ as its first full-time City-based intellectual property (IP) partner, after nearly 15 years at McDermott having joined in October 2000. Massey most recently headed the IP, media and technology team at the firm as well as co-chairing its global data privacy group. His main focus is IP asset management, data privacy and commercial deals.
In his new role at Ropes, Massey will advise clients on EU and UK privacy and data protection as well as media, e-commerce, outsourcing, IT and IP, and co-lead the privacy and data security practice, alongside Heather Egan Sussman who joins the Boston-bred firm alongside him.
Boston-based Sussman previously co-chaired McDermott’s global privacy and data security and technology practice alongside Massey, and will focus on on privacy, information security and consumer protection. Doug Meal, a litigation partner in Ropes’ privacy and data security practice said: ‘They are both big-picture thinkers, with an impressive track record of helping clients innovate while simultaneously meeting compliance obligations and solidifying consumer trust. Our clients will immediately recognise and benefit from the energy and brilliance that Heather and Rohan bring to our growing, global privacy and data security and technology capabilities.’
The hires form part of the firm’s wider push to grow its London base after it launched a commercial litigation offering with K&L Gates disputes partner Thomas Ross in April and recruited Chadbourne & Parke structured finance specialist Partha Pal in May.
jaishree.kalia@legalease.co.uk
