CHICAGO – Ropes & Gray LLP announced Wednesday 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.
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 provides comprehensive legal services to leading businesses and individuals around the world. 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.