DEFYING GRAVITY
In a year when most firms trimmed lawyers, a few posted big gains. How did they manage to beat the odds?

ROPES & GRAY

Ropes & Gray posted the largest uptick in headcount in 2010 among NLJ 250 firms, increasing 21.6% to 1,062. While the increase comes in part because of associates returning from one-year fellowships with nonprofits and other legal service providers, the firm has also actively pursued laterals.