Education

Suffolk University School of Law, Boston, MA, J.D., cum laude, 1976

Harvard College, Cambridge, MA, A.B., History & Government, cum laude, 1973

Admissions to Practice

Supreme Judicial Court of Commonwealth of Massachusetts

United States District Court, District of Massachusetts

United States Court of Appeals, First and Third Circuits

Professional Affiliations

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Boston Bar Association, Criminal Law Section 

Awards and Recognitions

Boston's Best Lawyers, Criminal Defense - White Collar and Non-White Collar (2011)

Recognized for Exceptional Standing in Legal Community for his White Collar Criminal Defense 2007-2011 (Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business)

Selected by Peers for Inclusion in Best Lawyers in America (2006-2011)

Named in Who’s Who Legal, International Who’s Who of Business Crime Lawyers (2006-2011)

New England Super Lawyer, Criminal Defense--White Collar (2005-2011)

"The Power List," Most Influential Attorneys of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (2010)           

Selected by Law Dragon as One of Top 500 Litigators in the Country (2005-2006)

Named One of the Top 10 Lawyers of the Year (Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 2004)

Continuing Education and Commitment to Excellence

Panelist, “White Collar Health Care Fraud,” American Bar Association conferences (multiple events)

Panelist, “White Collar Criminal Defense,” Boston Bar Association seminars (multiple events)

Publications and Press

Contributor, “Trying Drug Cases in Massachusetts,” Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education

Legal commentary and analysis on various cases cited in the Boston Globe, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and other regional press publications 

Pro Bono / Community Service

Board of Trustees, Worcester Academy

Death Penalty Representation Project, American Bar Association

William H. Kettlewell

617 371 1005

wkettlewell@collorallp.com

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Clients and Industries

During his career, Bill has represented many different companies, executives, and professionals. He has also served clients in a wide variety of industries, including the health care, pharmaceutical, medical devices, financial services, construction, industrial materials, environmental services, defense and commercial fishing industries.

Practice Areas and Experience

Bill is a partner at Collora LLP handling both white collar criminal defense matters and complex civil litigation. He has tried numerous civil and criminal matters in both state and federal courts, and he has assisted clients in responding to all types of government enforcement actions. He has also handled a number of sensitive internal corporate investigations.

Bill has successfully dealt with government investigations and enforcement actions arising out of alleged kickbacks, anti-trust violations, obstruction, overbilling, false claims and fraud. He has also dealt with complex environmental issues, proxy challenges and technical rules relating to pharmaceutical and medical practice marketing.

His civil litigation experience includes the defense of clients involved in multi-district, private anti-trust actions, ordinary commercial disputes, false advertising claims, qui tam and fraud actions.

Professional Experience Outside of Collora LLP

Bill served as a state and federal prosecutor for eleven years before joining Collora LLP in 1988.  As an Assistant US Attorney, he was Chief of the President’s Organized Crime and Drug Task Force for New England and later Chief of the Criminal Division.

Sample of Results in Practice *

• Secured a dismissal with prejudice after empanelment of a jury for a business executive charged with conspiracy to violate misbranding and controlled substance laws through his involvement with "so-called" internet pharmacies.  Dismissal was filed by the government after destruction of exculpatory evidence by government agents came to light during the third day of trial.
• Secured an acquittal in U.S. District Court in Boston of a pharmaceutical executive charged, along with 11 other defendants, with conspiracy to violate anti-kickback laws related to pharmaceutical marketing. Defense verdict was obtained despite a prior settlement between the company and the government, and despite negative publicity that included national television interviews with a company whistleblower.
• Obtained acquittal after mistrial, together with co-counsel O’Melveny & Myers, for an international manufacturer of technology products charged with criminal price-fixing.
• Obtained acquittal after jury trial for fishing industry fleet charged with criminal price-fixing.
• Acting as co-lead counsel in defense of medical device maker charged with defrauding the FDA, obtained reversal of a conviction by means of successful appeal to First Circuit.
• Successfully defended president of medical products division of a leading medical device company against multi-count felony indictment alleging healthcare fraud. Resolved the case through dismissal of all felony counts and a plea to a misdemeanor violation.
• Successfully extricated international, industrial materials producer from multi-district, multi-defendant, civil anti-trust litigation by negotiating a favorable settlement after successful pre-trial advocacy, avoiding hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

* This sampling of cases represents a selected, small portion of this lawyer’s total experience, and past performance is not intended to be a representation of likely future results, which must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Bill can provide a substantial list of citations to reported cases in which he was counsel of record upon request.

About Bill

In his spare time, Bill serves as a trustee for his high school alma mater Worcester Academy.  Closer to home, he is past president of the Concord Little League and spent many happy years coaching Little League baseball.  He also enjoys the quiet enjoyment of working in his yard where he can see the fruits of his labor come to life.  When not out in the yard, he can be found at Fenway Park following his beloved Boston Red Sox or at Soldier Field following the Chicago Bears.