Geoff Willard

Geoff Willard is a partner in Goodwin’s Technology group and serves as a strategic advisor to high growth companies and their investors, helping clients execute venture capital, growth equity and strategic financings, mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, joint ventures and partnerships, and capital markets transactions. In addition to his corporate transactional practice, he advises clients on their formation and structuring, corporate governance, general licensing and commercial contracting matters, employment and equity compensation matters, and a variety of governance and strategic matters. Mr. Willard also acts for venture capital and growth equity funds, corporate investors, and private equity sponsors in transactional matters, including SPAC transactions, acquisitions, as well as minority and control investments.

Mr. Willard’s experience in the technology space spans the software (including SaaS and AI/machine learning), telecoms, satellite, education and edtech, cybersecurity, PropTech, smart cities, energy, cleantech, fintech, digital assets and cryptocurrency (including tokens/NFTs), internet, digital media, ecommerce, consumer, retail, marketplace, government services, and manufacturing spaces in markets throughout the US and globally. In the healthcare arena, Mr. Willard has experience representing health monitoring, healthcare IT, medical device, life sciences/biotech, and healthcare and dental care technology and service providers. In the consumer space, he has advised companies in the cosmetics, personal care products, candle and fragrance, home goods and furnishing, and jewelry verticals, among others, as well as clients in the gym/recreation space and fast casual and high growth restaurant concept operators.

Prior to joining Goodwin, Mr. Willard has engaged in a similar practice for over 20 years. most recently as a partner in Orrick’s Technology Companies Group and immediately prior to that as a partner at Cooley in its Emerging Companies Group.

Mr. Willard has been active in numerous organizations serving the technology community, including the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association and the Northern Virginia Technology Council.

Mr. Willard has been recognized by Best Lawyers’ Best Lawyers in America each year since 2014 and previously was named a Rising Star in Virginia by Super Lawyers.

Mr. Willard has spoken to various groups regarding venture capital and start-up related topics, including the Smart City Works business actuator/accelerator, the MACH-37 cyber accelerator, and NYU’s Tandon Labs community.