They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40 - Tara Fisher of Ropes & Gray

Please describe two of your most substantial, recent wins in practice.

Representing ImmunoGen in its sale to AbbVie, which closed earlier this year, was particularly meaningful to me because it means its flagship ovarian cancer drug Elahere has the opportunity to reach even more patients. I know how devastating a diagnosis that can be. I lost one of my oldest and closest friends to ovarian cancer late last year, just a few months shy of her own fortieth birthday. Being part of this transaction was personally meaningful, while also professionally rewarding, during that difficult time.

The sale of ImmunoGen occurred while it was in a position of strength in the marketplace, and experienced counsel can help maximize that opportunity. It was a phenomenal team on both sides of the deal, and we were pleased with the outcome.

This spring we represented Novavax in its co-exclusive licensing agreement to co-commercialize its Covid-19 vaccine and to develop other Covid-19 combination vaccines, including in combination with influenza. While my excellent licensing colleagues Hannah England and David McIntosh led the team on the licensing negotiations, Sanofi made a concurrent minority equity investment in Novavax that we worked with them side by side on. I’m glad Ropes & Gray was part of a transaction that provides an opportunity to bring combination vaccines to market.

What is the most important lesson you learned as a first-year attorney and how does it inform your practice today?

I learned that I couldn’t get too comfortable in my practice because the law is constantly changing. Everything is new in the first year, so early-career attorneys learn to stay on top of changes, but it’s easy to lose that habit as you gain experience. It’s an essential skill that I’ve sought to maintain through my years of experience.

Attorneys need to be reading the guidance the SEC publishes, particularly when they are in a period of significant rulemaking, and the relevant Delaware cases on M&A law, which should impact how you think about dealmaking. They should also never be afraid to ask questions—the senior attorneys on the deal team want you to have the context necessary to help the team.

How do you define success in your practice?

I’m proud of my work with clients who repeatedly turn us for advice. At Ropes & Gray, we keep the clients’ perspectives top of mind and work to nurture those relationships over time. We work to advise them on not just legal questions, but strategic business issues.

Those long-term relationships demonstrate that they see us as a trusted adviser and not just an outside legal voice. In turn, we’ve able to offer better advice because we know how they think and view success. The depth and breadth of our life sciences practice in particular positions us incredibly well to provide insightful advice that our clients cannot find anywhere else.

What are you most proud of as a lawyer?

I’m most proud of my work building an incredible strategic transactions team at Ropes & Gray. With our breadth and depth of lawyers and our collaborative teamwork mindset, we’re able to bring the best team to any client matter.

Our lawyers are always willing to share their knowledge and experience across the firm, including with more junior attorneys, and a commitment to training the next generation of lawyers is a widely held value at Ropes & Gray. As the chair of the corporate training committee, I’m proud of the time we spend in crafting trainings that keep our lawyers at the top of the game throughout their careers.

Who is your greatest mentor in the law and what have they taught you?

Paul Kinsella, a partner at Ropes & Gray advising on business combinations, securities offerings, and governance matters, taught me that good work rewards more good work and exemplified how to think proactively for clients.

He’s shown me how to deliver clear, concise advice in a way that is meaningful and actionable for clients. He has been a mentor to a number of partners and associates at Ropes & Gray, and he has been a force in the life sciences community. There is nothing more fun than watching his command of a boardroom.

Tell us your two favorite songs on your summer music playlist.

My summer music playlist includes some favorites I’m excited to see in concert this summer. “Down Bad” by Taylor Swift includes the line “I loved your hostile takeovers,” so it is of course close to my M&A-loving heart.

Sticking with that theme, a favorite Zach Bryan song “Greatest Day of My Life” unknowingly alludes to the satisfaction of closing a deal with the line, “And I’m just grateful to be here at closing time, I had the greatest day of my life.”

Tara Fisher of Ropes & Gray with her husband, John Oh, and children in Nantucket, Mass.

Credit: Tara Fisher and Jonathan Hurtarte/Bloomberg Law