Ralph Gordon was a graduate of Hobart College and Cornell Law School. He joined Howrey & Simon in early 1971 where he and Roger Simmons became close friends. There, he worked on a monopoly case for Litton Industries against AT&T which eventually led to a huge damage award against the telephone monopoly. Ralph left Howrey & Simon in 1984 to set up practice in Frederick, Maryland. He was a sole practitioner until June 1987 when Roger Simmons joined him. The two remained close friends and colleagues until Ralph's death in January 1999.