Kingsley Taft, a partner in the firm's Business Law Department and member of its Life Science Practice, focuses his practice exclusively on the life sciences industry.

Work for Clients

Mr. Taft represents biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies in all aspects of their businesses and legal affairs, including VC financings, M&A, public offerings, strategic alliances and other business transactions. He works with clients ranging in size from start-ups to public companies. Mr. Taft also represents venture capital and private equity groups investing in life sciences companies.

Mr. Taft has extensive experience with corporate partnering in the life sciences field. He regularly assists life sciences companies with licenses, joint ventures, technology transfer arrangements, strategic alliances, R&D and commercialization collaborations and other transactions involving intellectual property rights.

Mr. Taft has a chemistry and biotechnology background directly relevant to the life sciences industry. Prior to attending Harvard Law School, he obtained a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Chemistry from Yale University.

Professional Activities

Mr. Taft has been recognized by numerous legal guides for his work in the life sciences field. Notably, he was selected for inclusion in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in two areas: Life Sciences - Commercial (national) and Corporate/M&A (Massachusetts). He was included in The Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of Biotechnology Law. Mr. Taft has been recognized for his life sciences expertise by The International Who’s Who of Life Sciences Lawyers, The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers and PLC Cross-border Life Sciences Handbook.

Publications/Presentations

Mr. Taft speaks and writes frequently on a variety of life sciences issues. Over the past few years, he has spoken on life science topics at events sponsored by numerous industry participants, including BioPartnering Europe, the American Conference Institute, BIO, the Cambridge Healthtech Institute, the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council and the Practising Law Institute.

While attending law school, Mr. Taft served as Editor and Executive Editor of the Harvard Law Review.

Professional Experience

Prior to joining Goodwin Procter in 2004, Mr. Taft was with Foley Hoag LLP. From 1997-1998, he served as a judicial clerk for The Honorable Raymond C. Clevenger, Judge of the Court of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Bar and Court Admissions

Mr. Taft is admitted to the bar of Massachusetts.

Education

J.D., Harvard Law School, 1997 (magna cum laude)
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1993
B.S., Yale University, 1989 (magna cum laude)