Edward G. Black
Partner
Ed Black is co-head of Ropes & Gray's technology, media & telecommunications practice group and actively participates in the data, privacy & cybersecurity group. He is a corporate and intellectual property attorney who represents companies operating in the fields of technology, media, financial services, investment management, and consumer branded products in both the management of strategic intangible assets, and transactions related to intangible assets. These transactions include mergers, acquisitions, asset transactions, joint ventures and alliances, collaborations, licensing and other arrangements. Ed's clients include hedge funds, technology companies, branded product companies, health care management organizations, financial services companies, media organizations and private equity investors. Ed remains active with many trade and professional associations where he is a frequent speaker on intellectual property, media, technology, and the operation of businesses utilizing intangible assets and proprietary rights.
Publications
- Quoted, “Technology Group of the Year: Ropes & Gray,” Law360 (February 17, 2022)
- Quoted, “IP leaders weigh in on what makes or breaks a patent pool,” Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) (December 7, 2021)
- Profiled, “Edward Black: Global Leaders,” Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) (November 23, 2021)
- Quoted, “IP Financial Evolution Draws Private Debt Solution,” London Stock Exchange Group’s Gold Sheets Middle Market Review (September 9, 2021)
- Profiled, “IAM Global Leaders: Edward Black,” International Asset Management (November 19, 2020)
- Quoted, “Local finance firms, colleges join forces to tackle cybersecurity issue,” Boston Business Journal (May 11, 2018)
- Quoted, “Ready for Regtech,” Bank Director (April 17, 2018)
- Co-author, "hiQ Labs, Inc. v. LinkedIn Corp.: A Federal Court Weighs in on Web Scraping, Free Speech Rights, and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act," Ropes & Gray Alert (September 7, 2017)
- Co-author, “Managing Confidential Information in M&A and Commercial Transactions,” Bloomberg BNA’s World IP Report (March 1, 2017)
- Quoted, “How In-House Counsel Can Protect IP During M&A Talks,” Corporate Counsel (December 5, 2016)
- Quoted, “Artists and publishers seek reform of US music licensing,” Financial Times (Aug. 27, 2014)
- Quoted, “5 Firms Stand Out For Nonlitigation IP Work, Survey Says,” Law360 (July 6, 2014)
- James M. Wilton, Edward Black, Patrick Diaz and Stephen Moeller-Sally, "Tackling Rights Of Trademark Licensees In Bankruptcy," Law360 (September 20, 2012)
Presentations
- Speaker, “Protecting the Crown Jewels: IP Assets in Distressed Transactions,” CenterForce Boston IP Strategy Summit (November 15, 2017)
- Speaker, “IP Global Strategy,” Luxury Brand Partners (November 14, 2017)
- Speaker, “Outsider Trading: The Liability Risks of Scraping, Bots and Other Automated Research Tools,” Ropes & Gray Webinar (September 25, 2017)
- Speaker, “Strategizing IP Ownership for the C-Suite –Tax Speak for IP Professionals,” Association of Corporate Counsel – Bay Area Chapter (March 4-5, 2016)
- Moderator, “Assessing and Managing Trademark Value,” WTR Managing the Trademark Asset Lifecycle Conference (October 29, 2015)
- Panelist and Panel Moderator, “IP Securitization: Best Practices today” IP Finance 2015 Conference (May 14, 2015)
- Speaker, “Shared Patent Rights: Lessons From the Front Line – Innovative Ways for Companies to Defend or Support the Commercialization of Products Using Shared Patent Rights,” Association of Corporate Counsel – Bay Area Chapter (March 17-18, 2015)
Education
- JD, University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 1989
- BA, with Honors, Brown University, 1986
Admissions / Qualifications
Qualifications
- Massachusetts, 1997
- California, 1990
Awards
- IAM Patent 1000 – The World's Leading Patent Practitioners (2012-2016, 2022-2023)
- Managing IP Americas Awards “IP Transactions Firm of the Year” (2023)
- Managing Intellectual Property "Transactions Star" (2022)
- Best Lawyers in America (2013-2024)
- Legal 500 (2014-2023)
- IAM Global Leaders: The World’s Leading IP Strategists (2022)
- BTI Client Service All-Star (2022)
- LMG Life Sciences Licensing & Collaboration Firm of the Year (2020)
- National Law Journal's – “Intellectual Property Trailblazers” (2017)
- IAM Strategy 300 – The World’s Leading IP Strategists (2014-2019)
- World IP Review Leaders (2017)
- Managing IP – “IP Star” (2013-2014, 2018)
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2011-2017)
- Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2012-2021)
