William (Bill) Collins is a partner in Goodwin’s nationally recognized Life Sciences group, counseling clients in the industries of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Serving as his clients’ principal outside counsel, Bill provides strategic advice and corporate legal counseling to management teams and boards while structuring and leading significant transactions on his clients’ behalf. Focusing solely in the Life Sciences sector, he is recognized by his clients and colleagues for his extensive industry knowledge and deal experience, and for providing practical business-focused legal advice. Bill has also been recognized as one of Law360’s Rising Stars for 2022.
Bill has extensive experience with startup and formation matters, venture capital financings, initial public offerings, deSPAC transactions and equity/debt capital markets transactions, mergers and acquisitions, strategic collaborations, and spin-out transactions. He also represents a number of publicly traded biotechnology companies in ongoing SEC compliance, capital raising and corporate governance matters. Bill spends much of his time advising founders, executives and directors on business and legal matters alike.
Bill has advised many of his clients through their full corporate life cycle, starting with their initial founding and funding through IPO and beyond. Bill is considered an expert on complex corporate structures and transactions, including the “hub and spoke” model and asset-specific spin-outs. He also regularly represents leading venture capital firms focused on the life sciences industry in connection with their portfolio company investments, exits and secondary stock sale transactions.
Experience
Bill’s recent client representations include the following:
Representative Matters
Professional Activities
Bill is a member of the Boston and American Bar Associations.
Professional Experience
Prior to joining Goodwin, Bill was an Economic Justice Fellow at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, where he coordinated with community groups and local attorneys to bring pro bono business legal services to low-income and minority entrepreneurs in Eastern Massachusetts. Bill continues to be an active participant in Goodwin’s Neighborhood Business Initiative, which has for more than 15 years served the legal needs of low-income and minority entrepreneurs in the Greater Boston area.
Credentials
Education
JD2009
Boston University School of Law
(cum laude)
BS2006
The University of Texas at Dallas
(cum laude)
Admissions
Bars
- Massachusetts
Recognition & Awards
Bill is consistently recognized by Legal 500 US for his work as a leader in Life Sciences Venture Capital work. In 2024 he was named a Next Generation Partner by Legal 500 US, and 2025 he was named a Leading Partner. While attending law school, Bill was Editor-in-Chief of the Review of Banking and Financial Law.
