Women @ RopesTalk

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk hosted by health care and data partner Christine Moundas, IP transactions and licensing partner Megan Baca engages in a fascinating conversation with Laura Berner, COO of TRex Bio. Laura shares her unique journey from practicing law at Ropes & Gray to embracing roles in business development and operations within the biotech sector. She discusses her experiences at Genentech, Roche, and Myovant Sciences, shedding light on the transition from legal to business roles and the challenges of working in both large pharmaceutical companies and smaller biotech startups. Laura also offers her perspective on the importance of continuous learning and growth, her approach to decision-making, and her vision as a leader in a preclinical-stage company. 

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, litigation & enforcement partner Helen Gugel returns for another engaging conversation, this time with Neena Reddy, general counsel of Blue Owl Capital, an alternative asset manager with nearly $200 billion in assets under management. Neena shares her journey from private practice to in-house counsel, detailing the exponential growth of Blue Owl, the challenges and strategies of managing legal affairs for a global firm, and her role in fostering a culture of women supporting women. The conversation also delves into Neena's multifaceted role, her approach to leadership, and her personal insights on work-life balance and the importance of networking in the legal industry. 

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, IP transactions counsel Georgina Suzuki returns for another engaging conversation, this time with Svetlana Lucas, PhD, the chief business officer at Scribe Therapeutics, a biotech company that develops and engineers advanced CRISPR-based therapies for a wide range of diseases. Svetlana shares her journey in the biotech industry, the challenges and opportunities she has encountered, and her insights on the future of CRISPR technology. She also discusses the importance of relationships, diversity, and mentorship in the industry, and embracing the concept of “being comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, asset management partner Chelsea Childs interviews Jill Varner, the chief compliance officer at Versus Capital Advisors LLC, a Denver-based asset management firm. Jill shares insights into her role at Versus and the company's focus on real asset investing, primarily through interval funds. She also reflects on her experience as a woman in the male-dominated asset management industry and emphasizes the importance of mentorship and building relationships. The conversation touches on recent regulatory developments impacting the investment management industry and how Jill manages an extensive workload with a small but growing compliance team.

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk hosted by health care partner Christine Moundas, capital solutions & private credit partner Jennifer Harris interviews Morgan (Dean) O’Neill, a distinguished portfolio manager and managing director at Sound Point Capital Management. Morgan provides a glimpse into her remarkable journey, tracing her career trajectory from an investment banker at Bank of America Merrill Lynch to her current role overseeing the capital solutions group at Sound Point. The discussion delves into the challenges she has faced, such as unexpected shifts in leadership, and how those moments became pivotal opportunities for personal and professional growth. Throughout the conversation, Morgan emphasizes the importance of adaptability and networking, sharing practical advice on building and maintaining relationships in the finance industry.

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk hosted by health care partner Christine Moundas, capital solutions and private credit partner Alyson Gal interviews Jenny Walsh, a managing director who co-leads the consumer investing team at Sixth Street, a San Francisco-based global investment firm with over $75 billion in assets under management. Jenny talks about her experience building Sixth Street’s consumer investing business, and highlights the collaborative and flexible nature of Sixth Street’s investment approach. The firm’s diverse range of investments in the consumer space—from traditional brick-and-mortar stores to technology-enabled businesses—as well as in sports teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Bay FC, speak to how Sixth Street marries a solutions-oriented approach with bigger picture themes. Jenny discusses the value of mentorship and networking, and what she and Sixth Street are doing to support the next generation of women investors.

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, capital solutions and private credit partner Alyson Gal interviews Marjorie Goux, chief legal officer at Rodan & Fields. Marjorie shares what it’s like to be CLO at a skincare and haircare company, along with how she prepared to take on the role. She looks back on the “multiple stops” in her legal career, including practicing law at medium- and big-sized firms in London and the U.S. before going in-house to roles at Hewlett-Packard, Clorox and Glad Products. Marjorie describes herself as a “person who looks for opportunities.” Along those lines, she shares helpful networking strategies for lawyers at all stages of their careers.

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by health care partner Christine Moundas, health care counsel Leslie Thornton interviews Kelly Gold, chief financial officer of CAMP4 Therapeutics, a Boston-based biotechnology company. Kelly opens up about what keeps her up at night as CFO of an early-stage, venture-backed company on the path to drug development. She describes her career journey from one quantitative field to the next, starting as a mechanical engineer, then moving to Wall Street and health care finance. As someone who has never liked formal networking, Kelly shares her secret to building strong professional relationships. 

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by health care partner Christine Moundas, life sciences regulatory & compliance counsel Beth Weinman interviews Jennifer Zachary, executive vice president and general counsel of Merck. Jennifer describes her unique trajectory from science major in college to associate chief counsel at the FDA to law firm partner and finally to her role as the top lawyer at Merck. She breaks down the differences and similarities between private and public practice, noting that the desire to protect the public health is just as strong in both places, and shares important advice for early career attorneys: work hard, seek out interesting cases, surround yourself with lawyers you admire, and make sure you’re having fun. Jennifer also describes the invaluable roles that mentorship, sponsorship and diversity efforts played in her transition in-house, and talks about the needle-moving diversity initiative she oversees at Merck.

On this episode of Women @ RopesTalk, hosted by IP transactions partner Megan Baca, litigation & enforcement partner Amy Jane Longo interviews Jennifer Chun Barry, associate general counsel in special investigations at Meta. With experience as a federal prosecutor, an SEC trial attorney and an in-house lawyer at a global tech company, Jennifer has had a varied and interesting legal career, and she opens up about her different steps along the way. She shares what initially drew her to trial work and what she’s still learning about building professional relationships today at Meta. Jennifer also talks about how her parents’ journey as immigrants has shaped her approach to life and work.