William E. Kelly

My focus

I began my career working with venture capitalists and venture-backed companies. That practice has evolved into the representation of a range of investment advisers, fund managers, and institutional investors. While my focus is now primarily on issues under the federal and state securities laws, I continue to devote a substantial part of my time to companies that are developing innovative technologies. Among my clients have been a number of genomics and drug discovery companies, an audio equipment manufacturer, enterprise software developers, alternative energy companies, and developers and manufacturers of medical devices.

I often work with clients that do not have in-house general counsel, so that I advise my clients’ senior management and boards of directors as well as coordinating a team of lawyers from Nixon Peabody serving all of their legal needs.

Through my service on a number of nonprofit boards (including the Institute of Contemporary Art, La Salle University, and the AIDS Action Committee) I have been able to apply my extensive experience in corporate governance to issues relating to the governance and oversight of charitable and nonprofit institutions.

Looking ahead

Increased regulation of the securities markets and more comprehensive disclosure requirements will place increasing burdens on issuers of securities and managers of collective investment vehicles. We are working on strategies to help clients manage their compliance and reporting obligations effectively.