Ropes & Gray Honored with Managing IP Americas Awards for IP Transactions Firm of the Year and Erica Han Named Practitioner of the Year — IP Transactions

At a ceremony on April 24, Ropes & Gray was honored with the Managing IP Americas Awards 2025 for “IP Transactions Firm of the Year” and partner Erica Han was named “Practitioner of the Year — IP Transactions.” The firm previously won the Managing IP Americas Awards “IP Transactions Firm of the Year” in 2023.

Erica serves as co-chair of the firm’s consumer & retail industry initiative. She advised The Hershey Company in its acquisition of Sour Strips, a fast-growing sour candy brand with a powerful social media presence. She represented Sodiaal, France’s leading dairy cooperative and owner of the Yoplait yogurt brand, as IP transactions counsel and US M&A counsel in an agreement to acquire General Mills’ Canadian yogurt business.

Erica notes that the firm’s team approach to client service has allowed the IP transactions team to build deep client relationships and lead IP transactions in a way that addresses all aspects of the clients’ businesses. “We think ahead not only to the success of the present transaction but to how our work will impact future operations, compliance, value, and deal-making across all areas,” said Erica.

The firm’s global IP work in industry sectors includes life sciences, technology and media, retail and consumer, private equity and financial services, and health care and education. In the highly competitive world of intellectual property, Ropes & Gray’s IP attorneys are regularly recognized for their legal acumen by Chambers, The Legal 500, U.S. News & World Report, Managing Intellectual Property, Intellectual Asset Management and other national and global publications.

The Managing IP Americas awards cover a broad range of IP practice areas and jurisdictions. The research was primarily conducted by the Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars research analysts who obtained information from thousands of firms, IP practitioners and their clients. Winners were selected based on work completed in the past year and matters of great significance to clients, IP law and the legal practice.