In 2015, as Ropes & Gray’s 150th anniversary approached, several of Brad Malt’s colleagues were pushing for the firm to have a celebration worthy of the major milestone. But Malt, the firm’s chair since 2004, was determined not to let Ropes & Gray rest on its laurels, lest the competition catch up.

Finally, he relented. Ropes & Gray could have a small party in honor of the achievement, so long as it came with an explicitly forward-thinking motto: “Bright past, brilliant future.”