Associate
800-951-4888 x7653
melissa.rones@ropesgray.com
I joined Ropes & Gray in May of 2001 as a technology specialist and patent agent in the Intellectual Property Practice Group. My practice focuses primarily on patent prosecution and opinion work, as well as general intellectual property counseling for a range of biology, biotechnology, and medical device clients. I graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1995 with a B.S. in biology and received a Ph.D. in cell and developmental biology from Harvard Medical School in 2001. I graduated from Boston University School of Law in the spring of 2006.
After ten years in academia, I was nervous about making the transition to the seemingly more conservative world of a large, corporate law firm. I wondered whether the firm environment could be both intellectually exhilarating, and supportive of personal growth and individual differences. Once I arrived, my initial concerns quickly dissipated. I was and continue to be impressed with the various ways in which the firm supports all of its professionals. One example that has played a significant role in my experience at Ropes & Gray is the Women’s Forum. Through a variety of activities and events, for which the firm provides extensive support and encouragement, the Women’s Forum provides an opportunity for both men and women to explore a range of issues affecting our professional and personal lives. The popularity of these events indicates to me that, as a community, my colleagues are genuinely concerned with making the legal profession and Ropes & Gray fulfilling pursuits. I am honored to be involved with the Women’s Forum. I greatly appreciate the hard work of the group’s members, as well as the support provided by the firm as a whole.