Gregory D. Williams is a partner in the Intellectual Property Transactions and Rights Management Practice Group of Pepper Hamilton LLP, resident in the Boston office. Mr. Williams concentrates his practice in the life science sector on all aspects of intellectual property acquisition and management, including IP asset strategy, contracts, licensing portfolio development and management, patent, trademark, technology transfer and strategic alliance negotiation/restructuring. Mr. Williams has been involved in numerous intellectual property matters in his thirty-year career.
Prior to joining Pepper Hamilton, Mr. Williams was general counsel and a senior member of the Global Business Development team for New England Biolabs, Inc. He also served as chief IP counsel. While at New England Biolabs, he established and managed the licensing/legal department. He also was responsible for business development, organizational management, non-IP affairs oversight (employment, compliance, property, etc.) and strategic counseling. Prior to and during his tenure at New England Biolabs, Mr. Williams oversaw an IP portfolio of over 130 patents, drafted and/or negotiated several hundred agreements ranging from material transfer agreements, non-disclosure agreements, confidentiality agreements, joint ventures, research collaboration, supply and licensing agreements.
Having served as both outside counsel and general counsel for New England Biolabs, Mr. Williams brings a unique perspective to Pepper Hamilton’s life science practice which will benefit both existing and new clients in the life science arena. Having seen this industry’s needs from both sides of the table is an asset that bridges the legal/IP, business and technology aspects of the life science forum.
Before joining New England Biolabs, Mr. Williams was an attorney with Dike, Bronstein, Roberts & Cushman (now Edwards, Wildman & Palmer) in Boston. During his tenure there, he represented and worked on numerous matters for New England Biolabs, Takeda (including their relationship with Dr. Judah Folkman), Burroughs Wellcome (AZT patents), Genetics Institute, Dana Farber and many other emerging biotechnology/life science companies. Mr. Williams was a board member and former president of the Boston Patent Law Association, and was a member and former co-chair of the Biotechnology Section of the American Bar Association. He has lectured on biotechnology and patent law in numerous forums. Mr. Williams was a panelist at the MassMEDIC’s MedTech IGNITE program on December 6, 2011.
Mr. Williams is a member of the Massachusetts bar, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, as well as several federal district and circuit courts including the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
