Ben Wilson, Member of the Firm in the Health Care and Life Sciences practice, was featured in The American Lawyer, in “Epstein Becker Green Snags Ropes & Gray Public Finance Cochair,” by Jon Campisi. (Read the full version - subscription required.)
Following is an excerpt:
The former coleader of the public finance practice at Ropes & Gray in Boston jumped over to Epstein Becker Green on Thursday, as several firms look to reexamine their offerings in the practice area.
Benjamin Wilson’s move to Epstein Becker Green from Ropes & Gray represents a lateral move from a firm that recorded more than $3.42 billion in gross revenue in 2024 and nearly $5 million in profits per equity partner to one with 2024 revenues hovering around $265 million and profits-per-equity partner in the neighborhood of $1.25 million.
Wilson's arrival at Epstein Becker Green comes several weeks after Ballard Spahr lost the bulk of its public finance group as part of a planned move to Barnes & Thornburg. Barnes & Thornburg has yet to announce the new hires.
Public finance work is often partner-intensive, relationship-driven and more exposed to public and political scrutiny, which can create downward fee pressure and friction at some law firms, said Kent Zimmermann, a strategic law firm adviser at Zeughauser Group.
“Firms that are investing in public finance often view it less as a bond practice and more as a broader infrastructure and public-sector play—sometimes integrated with energy, transportation, P3s and regulatory work—where the value lies in anchoring long-term institutional relationships and generating other opportunities rather than maximizing standalone margins,” Zimmermann said.
Wilson's work at Ropes & Gray was tied to that firm’s health care efforts, as he served as a partner in the health care practice in addition to his leadership in the public finance group. He focuses much of his work on U.S. and international transactions, including acquisitions, joint ventures and affiliations, and has engaged in corporate finance work and regulatory counseling, according to his professional biography.
He joins Epstein as a member in the firm’s health care and life sciences group.
Wilson’s LinkedIn profile shows that he got his start as a summer associate at Ropes & Gray and briefly worked as a staff attorney at a nonprofit Massachusetts law firm advocating for health care access on behalf of low- and middle-income residents.
“I am incredibly grateful to have started my career and have spent the last 15 years at Ropes & Gray,” Wilson said in emailed comments. “What attracted me to Epstein Becker Green is that it truly has health care at the core of its foundation, and that it prioritizes serving health care organizations and academic institutions.”
Wilson went back to Ropes & Gray following his year with the nonprofit firm, and he went on to spend nearly a decade as an associate there before being made partner in November 2020.
“We thank Ben for his contribution to the firm and wish him well,” a Ropes & Gray spokesperson said.
The spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about the health of its public finance practice.
During his legal career, Wilson gained M&A experience and developed expertise in value-based care and managed care organizations. He also has extensive financing experience and specialized in representing health care providers in appeals and administrative proceedings relating to Medicare and Medicaid overpayments.
“Ben brings a dynamic combination of transactional strength and strategic vision that perfectly aligns with our clients’ evolving needs in health care finance and innovation,” Mark Lutes, chair of Epstein’s board of directors, said in a statement. “His proven track record in structuring complex health care transactions for academic medical centers, coupled with his forward-thinking approach to value-based care and emerging technologies, positions us to deliver exceptional value to our clients as they navigate an increasingly complex regulatory and business environment.”
The firm says that Wilson’s broad practice expertise and his deep understanding of market trends made him a standout choice for Epstein, given that Wilson has counseled many of the country’s leading academic institutions and health care enterprises. He has served as outside general counsel to prestigious health systems, childrens' hospitals and cancer centers, according to the firm.
Wilson also serves as borrower’s counsel to various higher education and health care institutions nationwide, and he acts as disclosure and underwriters’ counsel in taxable and tax-exempt financings.
Wilson said he was attracted to Epstein’s national footprint and its focus on health care related work.
“The primary attraction was EBG’s sharp focus on the health care and life sciences industries,” Wilson said. “This deep industry concentration, with expertise across nearly every facet of the sector, provides an exceptional platform for my practice and my clients.”
Wilson also praised Epstein’s “deeply collaborative and supportive culture,” and said the firm’s robust national health care presence, fueled by a strategic nationwide growth initiative, creates an “outstanding environment for serving clients facing complex challenges.”
In addition to his other roles, Wilson also serves as a health care strategist and futurist, whereby he collaborates with industry leaders to create innovative care delivery models and integrate technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
