Kingsley Taft > Goodwin > Boston, United States > Lawyer Profile

Standing out for its expertise in negotiating and executing complex transactions, Goodwin is a top destination for blue chip clients in the technology and life sciences industry. The firm is renowned for its vast experience enabling firms in the procurement and enforcement of patent rights and often receives high-profile licensing and collaboration mandates from both domestic and international clients. The practice is co-led by Boston’s Catherine McCarty who has specialist knowledge of pharmaceutical and chemical products, and James Riley, who leads the team from Silicon Valley with a unique understanding of technology acquisition and licensing. The team benefits from Steve Charkoudian’s extensive technology expertise and Kingsley Taft  deep knowledge of the domestic biotechnology market, both of whom are based in Boston. Noelle Dubiansky, who is based in the firm’s Washington DC office, is another name to note.

Goodwin has a top tier venture capital practice, noted for its ‘very professional, knowledgeable and responsive’ teams of lawyers who are ‘real partners in growing the business‘. The ‘very business oriented, extremely practical‘ group offers ‘expert legal advice‘ to investors and startups, and stands out for its market-leading life sciences group, primarily based in the firm’s Boston office and co-chaired by Mitchell Bloom  and Kingsley Taft. The firm’s ability to guide clients from early financing rounds through to later stage M&A, can be seen through its advice to Navitor Pharmaceuticals on the sale of Anakuria Therapeutics to Janssen Pharmaceuticals – a deal led by Danielle Lauzon, co-chair of the firm’s PropSci practice. The firm’s technology group, jointly led by Kenneth Gordon  and Silicon Valley’s Anthony McCusker, has also played a key role on investments into digital health, fintech, mobility tech and blockchain. Other lead partners include Bill Schnoor on the technology side and William Collins  in life sciences. All partners based in Boston unless otherwise stated.

Goodwin’s life sciences team assist a diverse roster of pharmaceutical companies – both public and private – and life science venture capital firms. Mitchell Bloom and Kingsley Taft  jointly lead the team; Taft primarily advises life sciences companies throughout their life cycles on formation, venture financings, and IPOs, while Bloom is active in the biotechnology and medical IT spaces. Boston-based Robert Puopolo maintains a transactions focused practice, handling joint ventures and life sciences M&A. In San Francisco, Alexander Varond takes the lead on litigious matters concerning biosimilars and the Hatch-Waxman Act. Stuart Cable is particularly adept at advising on corporate governance and venture sourced investment, while Danielle Lauzon assists boards and management teams of therapeutics and bioscience companies. A large team including Philadelphia-based Rachael Bushey, who specializes in transactional and governance work in the pharma and biotech space, joined the firm from Troutman Pepper in January 2023. All named practitioners are based in Boston unless specified otherwise.