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Thomas R. Burton, III

Member / Chair, Energy & Sustainability Practice

[email protected]

+1.617.348.3097

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Tom Burton’s zeal for innovation and passion for energy and sustainability have shaped the clean energy industry. He pioneered one of the nation’s first clean energy, climate, and sustainability legal practices at the turn of the century that he currently chairs. He deploys integrated legal services for emerging companies with the project development and finance services required to scale the most innovative technologies and, as a result, Mintz routinely participates in “first of its kind” transactions. Clients ranging from investors to entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 companies rely on him for creative and strategic legal solutions, and he has completed hundreds of venture capital and private equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, and IPOs. He guides the industry’s next generation of leaders through active involvement with start-up organizations and accelerators. The Northeast Clean Energy Council recognized his pioneering role in the Northeast with a Decade of Influence award in 2017.

Tom’s global practice focuses on complex corporate finance matters including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, private equity, securities transactions, and special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). He represents high-growth and emerging businesses, including companies in the energy and clean technology, social media and software industries, as well as life science companies, from start-ups to public companies.

In 2004, Tom founded, and currently, chairs, the firm’s Energy & Sustainability Practice, which has completed more than 500 transactions across energy sectors totaling over $30 billion since 2006. Serving more than 250 clients, spanning the ecosystem from emerging companies to large corporations, venture capital and private equity funds, investment banks, project developers, and family offices, the firm is recognized nationally as a leading law firm in the space. Tom is ranked by Best Lawyers in America in the Corporate Law section, and he is recognized by The Legal 500 United States as “rising to the fore” in energy technology for Venture Capital and Emerging Companies.

On the corporate and securities side, Tom has served as counsel in the structuring and completion of over 400 venture capital and private equity financings, representing both the funds providing the capital and the emerging growth companies seeking funding. His work in this area has raised billions of dollars. He organizes venture capital funds and represents them in their portfolio investments. Tom is also a key contributor to MintzEdge, an online resource for entrepreneurs that includes useful tools and information for starting and growing a company. In addition, he devotes a portion of his practice to counseling social enterprise companies, impact investors, and nonprofit companies.

Tom routinely counsels businesses on their growth and development, advises their boards of directors on corporate governance matters, and participates in an array of transactions, from private and public offerings to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and technology transfer matters. Tom also has experience in advising investment banks in private placements and underwritten public offerings of equity securities, and in their role as financial advisor in mergers and acquisitions.

He applies his background in corporate finance to counsel energy and clean technology companies through all stages of formation, financing, and exits. His energy and clean technology clients span markets such as solar and wind, smart grid and energy efficiency, energy storage, water technologies, waste treatment, biofuels, electric vehicles, and green buildings.

Tom Burton’s zeal for innovation and passion for energy and sustainability have shaped the clean energy industry. He pioneered one of the nation’s first clean energy, climate, and sustainability legal practices at the turn of the century that he currently chairs. He deploys integrated legal services for emerging companies with the project development and finance services required to scale the most innovative technologies and, as a result, Mintz routinely participates in “first of its kind” transactions. Clients ranging from investors to entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 companies rely on him for creative and strategic legal solutions, and he has completed hundreds of venture capital and private equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, and IPOs. He guides the industry’s next generation of leaders through active involvement with start-up organizations and accelerators. The Northeast Clean Energy Council recognized his pioneering role in the Northeast with a Decade of Influence award in 2017.

Experience

  • Represented Purpose Energy in a platform investment by Quinbrook Infrastructure committing $100M to finance its projects.
  • Represented NET Power in a business combination /de-SPAC to create a $1.5B company with the world’s first scalable clean, reliable, low cost natural gas-to-power solution with near zero-emissions.
  • Represented Source Global in its acquisition of Proud Source Water, Inc. by Source Global, PBC, pursuant to a two-step forward triangular merger in addition to its $130M Series D financing.
  • Represented ZwitterCo, Inc., a water treatment and separation solution company, in their $33.4M Series A Financing.
  • Represented Boston Metal, a green steel company backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures in all of its equity financings, including its most recent $120M Series C financing led by ArcelorMittal 
  • Represented Logical Buildings, a leading smart building software and solutions company, to close a $110M, “first of its kind” energy efficiency joint venture with Keyframe Capital.
  • Represented a leading clean power producer and energy storage company, in the formation of a joint venture to develop, build, own, and operate one of the first offshore wind projects in the NY Bight lease area.
  • Represented BlueWave, a solar and energy storage developer, in its sale to Axium Infrastructure, an infrastructure investment management firm with a deep North American renewables portfolio. 
  • Represented Bank of America as lead underwriter in a $140M public offering of Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE: AMRC).
  • Represented Greentech Capital Advisors Securities (now Nomura Greentech) as financial advisor to TerraForm Global with the acquisition by Brookfield Renewable Partners valued at $2.4B.
  • Represented enVerid Systems, Inc., an HVAC load reduction solutions company, in its $20M Series B funding with financing led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
  • Represented FloDesign Sonics, developer of a unique acoustic cell processing platform for the industrialization of cell and gene therapy manufacturing, in its sale to MilliporeSigma.
  • Represented Big Belly Solar, the global leader in waste solutions for public places, in their partnership with private equity firm McCarthy Capital.
  • Represented Spring Lane Capital in its investment in Aries Clean Energy.
  • Represented Boston Metal, a company that focuses on producing metal with no pollution, in its $20M Series A financing led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, The Engine, and Prelude Ventures.
  • Represented Greentech Media, Inc. in the sale of its business to Woods Mackenzie (Verisk Analytics, Inc.).
  • Represented Vionx Energy in licensing technology from United Technologies Corporation and subsequent equity financing.
  • Represented Titan Advanced Energy Solutions, a company that has produced cutting-edge technology to increase battery charge capacity and extend battery life, in a Series A financing deal led by both Schneider Electric Ventures (SEV) and Energy Innovation Capital (EIC).
  • Represented IRI Ventures US in committing to a large eight figure financing.
  • Represented Cambrian Innovation, Inc. in Series B preferred stock financing.              
  • Represented First Solar, Inc. in its acquisition of TetraSun.
  • Represented XL Hybrids, a hybrid vehicle company in its merger with SPAC, Pivotal Investment Corporation II (NYSE: PIC), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The combined company will be named XL Fleet and will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The merger values XL at $1 billion.
  • Represented XL, the leader in connected fleet electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets, in its acquisition of Quantum Fuel’s electrification division, as well as its $22M Series D financing and Series A, Series B, and Series C financings and in its Windsail Capital debt financing.
  • Represented NanoSteel in securing a $10M venture loan facility from Nasdaq-listed Horizon Technology Finance Management.
  • Represented Aspen Aerogels in its $82.5M Initial Public Offering.
  • Represented EnerNOC, Inc. in its acquisition of Pulse Energy.
  • Served as counsel to Canaccord Genuity in $32.5M and $37.4M follow-on public offerings for Rubicon Technology.
  • Represented True North Venture Holdings, a venture capital firm focused on early stage energy, water, agriculture, and waste investments, in a $20M Series B financing of an undisclosed company as well as on numerous equity investments.
  • Represented GreatPoint Energy in its $1.25B financing and joint venture with China-based Wanxiang Holdings; selected as Greentech Media’s Deal of the Year.
  • Represented EnerNOC, Inc., now Enel X, in its IPO and follow-on offerings ($97M, $108M, and $97M, respectively).
  • Represented Canaccord in Televent GIT, S.A. follow-on public offerings ($66M and $115M, respectively).
  • Formation of New England Energy Innovation Collaborative (now the Northeast Clean Energy Council).
  • Represented the sale of Beryllium, LLC to U.C.B.
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Case Studies

Breaking Down the SPAC Surge Report Cover Mintz Case Study
Mintz analyzed PitchBook data to produce an in-depth report on the record rise in special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) fundraising in the US since 2020 and the recent increase in SPAC merger activity. We also explore how SPACs could evolve and litigation challenges to SPAC IPOs and transactions.
NECEC Emissions Report 2019 Hero Case Study
Read about ideas for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the Northeast by 80% by 2050 and related challenges discussed at a summit co-hosted by Mintz, the Northeast Clean Energy Council, and The Brattle Group.
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viewpoints

Energy & Sustainability M&A Activity — August 2023

August 29, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli

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Energy & Sustainability Connections Newsletter — August 2023

August 29, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli

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Energy & Sustainability Event Highlights — August & September 2023

August 29, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli

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Energy & Sustainability Client Feature — August 2023

August 29, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli

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Energy & Sustainability Connections Newsletter — July 2023

July 25, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli

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Energy & Sustainability Event Highlights — July & August 2023

July 25, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli

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Energy & Sustainability Client Feature — July 2023

July 25, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli

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Energy & Sustainability M&A Activity — July 2023

July 25, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli

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Energy & Sustainability M&A Activity – June 2023

June 29, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli

Read about recent M&A activity in the energy and sustainability space, including Rice Acquisition Corp.’s acquisition of Net Power and OZZ Electric’s purchase of NW Wind and Solar.
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Energy & Sustainability Event Highlights — June & July 2023

June 29, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli

Learn about upcoming energy industry events, including the Northeast Hydrogen Infrastructure Summit.
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News & Press

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Mintz’s Energy & Sustainability practice continued its commitment to energy transition with more than 80 deal closings totaling $4 billion over the past 12 months, as global investment in energy transition showed continued strength in an overall down market.
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A Mintz team led by Tom Burton and Alex Civetta advised Cultivo Land PBC on its recent $14 million Series A funding round, bringing the company to over $20 million. This investment will be used to advance the growth of Cultivo’s AI platform for large scale nature regeneration projects, specifically focused on carbon removal, biodiversity enhancement, and improved water storage.
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In response to the Biden administration’s recent executive order for vigilant oversight of emerging artificial intelligence systems, Energy and Sustainability Practice Chair Thomas R. Burton, III, Projects and Infrastructure Practice Chair Ayaz Shaikh, and Law Clerk Manushi Desai have co-authored a comprehensive legal guide for energy companies. Featured in Bloomberg Law, this article provides valuable insights as companies transition toward the integration of artificial intelligence.
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Mintz is pleased to announce that 32 attorneys have been named Massachusetts Super Lawyers and 27 attorneys have been named Massachusetts Rising Stars for 2023.
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Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
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BC Law Magazine described Chairman, R. Robert Popeo as a "legendary lawyer", "a creative strategist", and a "tenacious force" in an article remembering his career and legacy. The article quoted firm Members and fellow BC Law alumni on the lasting impact Mr. Popeo had.
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BOSTON – Mintz advised NET Power, LLC, an energy company whose proprietary technology delivers clean, affordable, and reliable energy, in the completion of its previously announced business combination with Rice Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE: RONI), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company.
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Energy and Sustainability Chair Thomas R. Burton, III was a guest on NPM Interconnections podcast where he discussed the deal environment for both renewable developer platforms and projects and reviews the recent increase of foreign investment capital being routed into DG developers.
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BOSTON –Mintz announced today that 39 of its practices and 81 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms.
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BOSTON– Mintz represented Gradiant Corporation, a global end-to-end solutions provider of advanced water and wastewater treatment, in its Series D financing.
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Deal activity remains high for our Energy & Sustainability Practice, building on the momentum of last year’s record of 57 transactions with an aggregate deal value of $4.6 billion. Global investment into energy transition and climate technology drove our work for clients like NET Power, Nuvve Corporation, and Aspen Aerogels.
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BOSTON – Mintz advised NET Power, LLC, a clean energy technology company whose proprietary technology delivers clean, reliable and low-cost power from natural gas, in its planned business combination with Rice Acquisition Corp II (NYSE: RONI), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
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Energy and Sustainability Chair Thomas R. Burton, III spoke to Bloomberg Law about the potential hurdles that ESG investing could face at the government level.
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35 Mintz attorneys have been named Massachusetts Super Lawyers and 25 Mintz attorneys have been named Massachusetts Rising Stars for 2022.
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In an article published by Law360 Pulse, Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Energy & Sustainability Practice Tom Burton commented on market factors driving the recent slowdown in special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) deals.  
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Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Energy & Sustainability Practice Tom Burton was quoted in an article published by Law360 on the increasing number of businesses going public as “public benefit corporations,” which is a legal designation that signals a company's commitment to goals beyond maximizing profits. Mr. Burton said that “we’re in the early days of a real and substantial trend,” and called it a “critical and fundamental change" away from the idea of shareholder primacy.
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In an article published by The American Lawyer, Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Energy & Sustainability Practice Tom Burton was among corporate lawyers to comment on the sharp decline in the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) initial public offering market, which he said can be attributed to several business and accounting factors such as decreased appetite from private investment in public equity (PIPE) investors to support recent SPAC valuations, as well as the recent U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission decision to qualify warrants as a liability rather than equity on financial statements.
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In an article published in the July/August Issue of Venture Capital Journal, Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Energy & Sustainability Practice Tom Burton is quoted extensively on an increase in venture capital and other investing in the clean technology industry.
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An article published by Greentech Media included insights from Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Energy & Sustainability Practice Tom Burton and Member Eric Macaux on M&A activity in the U.S. solar industry during the first half of 2020.
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Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Energy & Sustainability Practice Tom Burton and Member Eric Macaux were quoted in an article published by Law360 on disputes related to the New England Clean Energy Connect project, an effort to build a $1 billion power line to ship Canadian hydroelectricity to Massachusetts.
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In an article published by Greentech Media, Mintz Member and Chair of the Energy & Sustainability Practice Tom Burton and Member and Chair of the Project Development & Finance Practice Audrey Louison were quoted discussing the economic impact of COVID-19 on new energy developments and solar companies.
A July 8 article published by The Boston Globe reported that the New England Aquarium is aiming to become a bold advocate on environmental matters, in conjunction with its plans for significant expansion.

Mintz Member and Chair of the Energy & Sustainability practice Tom Burton, Chair-Elect of the New England Aquarium Board of Trustees, recently led the search committee for the aquarium’s chief executive, Vikki Spruill, a longtime advocate for marine conservation. “Board members believe the nonprofit needs to forcefully advocate for conservation measures, and educate the public about what they can do,” Mr. Burton said.

The article also noted that ML Strategies is registered to represent the aquarium with respect to waterfront development on and around Central Wharf.
This Boston Globe column takes a closer look at Vikki Spruill, the New England Aquarium’s new chief executive. Tom Burton, a Member in the firm’s Boston office and leader of the Energy & Sustainability practice, is quoted in the piece. Tom sits on the board of the New England Aquarium and chaired the search committee.
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This column notes that as a society, we are increasingly insisting that corporations generate and measure social impact alongside profit. In this piece, Member Tom Burton and Associate Ben Stone discuss both the opportunities and challenges presented to boards of directors. Tom founded, and currently chairs, the firm’s Energy & Sustainability Practice and Ben previously served in-house in social impact roles.
Mintz is proud to be recognized by JD Supra in its 2018 Reader’s Choice awards. The annual program highlights the most widely read authors and articles throughout the past year. Five Mintz attorneys were named JD Supra Top Authors in four different industries.
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Mintz is pleased to announce that Member Tom Burton, founder of its Energy & Sustainability Practice, is among the recipients of the Northeast Clean Energy Council’s “Decade of Influence Award.”
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Best Lawyers named 85 Mintz attorneys to its 2018 list of The Best Lawyers in America. In addition, Mintz attorneys Matthew J. Gardella and Samuel M. Tony Starr were named “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas.
Mintz Member and Chair of the Energy & Sustainability practice Tom Burton led a panel, “Building a Larger Tent to Mobilize Capital & Exert Influence,” at Big Path Capital’s annual Impact Capitalism Summit.
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JD Supra has recognized Mintz in its 2017 Reader’s Choice awards, highlighting the most widely read authors and articles over the past year. Eleven Mintz attorneys were named JD Supra Top Authors in four industries and Mintz was recognized as the Top Firm with readers in the Energy Industry.

An Energy Law Pioneer

February 6, 2017

This article profiles Tom Burton, founder and chair of Mintz’s Energy Technology Practice, which focuses on advising clients on building businesses in the clean energy sector.
This Q&A is conducted with Mintz Member Tom Burton who is founder and Chair of the firm’s Energy Technology Practice. The interview is conducted by Marcus McInnis, Director of Operations for Lockheed Martin’s Cybersecurity Innovation Center. 
Fifty-three Mintz attorneys have been named Massachusetts Super Lawyers for 2016 and thirty-one have been named Massachusetts Rising Stars. The findings will be published in the November 2016 issue of Boston Magazine and in a stand-alone magazine, New England Super Lawyers. 
Thomas R. Burton III and Sahir Surmeli, Co-Chairs of the Energy Technology Practice at Mintz, will serve on a panel of judges at the 2016 Cleantech Open Northeast Regional Finals. Mr. Burton and Mr. Surmeli will join a panel of six judges.
Best Lawyers named 73 Mintz attorneys to its 2017 list of The Best Lawyers in America. Mintz attorneys selected for inclusion in this year’s list span 44 practice areas. 
Mintz attorneys represented Greentech Media, Inc. in its sale to Verisk Analytics, Inc., a leading data analytics provider. Greentech Media is an industry-leading information services provider for the next-generation electricity and renewables sector.
Mintz Members Thomas Burton and Breton Leone-Quick helped author SEC Compliance Best Practices, 2016 ed., in which “expert lawyers offer guidance on the various regulations and latest trends” pertaining to the SEC and their impact on companies and their counsel.
Mintz Member Thomas Burton III and Paul Dickerson, former COO for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency, authored this Houston Chronicle article on the lasting and growing presence of renewable energy in the United States.
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Events & Speaking

Oct
17
2023

Mintz’s Second Annual Energy Transition Summit

40th Floor Conference Center, Mintz

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Dec
7
2022

2023 Looking Ahead: Investing Trends in Cleantech

2023 Looking Ahead: Investing Trends in Cleantech

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Speaker
Oct
31
2022
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Oct
6
2022

Mintz’s First Annual Energy Transition Summit

40th Floor Conference Center, Mintz

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Speaker
Speaker
Jan
8
2020

Cleantech San Diego Roundtable Lunch with Mintz Energy & Sustainability Practice Members

Cleantech San Diego

Mintz - 3580 Carmel Mountain Road San Diego, CA 92130

Speaker
Aug
21
2019

Tell Your Story Day

Cleantech Open Northeast

Mintz, One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111

Speaker
Jul
17
2019

2019 Impact Capitalism Summit

Big Path Capital

The Nantucket Hotel & Resort, 77 Easton St., Nantucket, MA

Panelist
Jun
11
2019

The Collaborative Conference

Classy Inc.

The Warehouse at Flynn Cruiseport Boston, 1 Black Falcon Avenue, Boston, MA 02210

Speaker
May
21
2019

Technology for Better Water

Gradiant Corporation

Mandarin Oriental, 5 Raffles Ave Marina Square, Singapore

Speaker
Apr
3
2019

2019 MO Summit

Big Path Capital

Cambria Hotel, 15 Page Ave., Asheville, NC

Speaker
Dec
5
2018
Speaker
Nov
30
2018

2018 Boston Navigate Investor Corporate Customer Connect

NECEC

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 600 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 02210

Speaker
Oct
10
2018

Horizon18

Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., Boston, MA

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Panelist
Jul
18
2018

Impact Capitalism Summit Nantucket

Big Path Capital

Nantucket

Moderator
Jul
18
2018

Impact Capitalism Summit Nantucket

The Nantucket Hotel & Resort

Panelist
Moderator
Jul
19
2017

Nantucket Impact Capitalism Summit

Big Path Capital

Nantucket Hotel & Resort 77 Easton Street Nantucket, MA

Speaker
Moderator
Mar
2
2016

Sustainable Investments in 2016 and Beyond

Citi

Citi Executive Conference Center, 153 E 53rd Street, 14th fl., New York, NY

Moderator
Nov
19
2015

Boston Cleanweb Tech Night

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC)

63 Franklin Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA

Moderator
Oct
21
2015

Cleantech Global Showcase: GloSho’15

Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)

JW Marriot, LA Live in Downtown LA, Los Angeles, CA

Speaker
Aug
9
2015

12th Annual AREDAY Summit

The American Renewable Energy Institute

Snowmass Village, CO

Speaker
Moderator
Jul
16
2015

Impact Capitalism Summit 2015 New England

Big Path Capital

Nantucket, MA

Speaker
May
26
2015

Energy Tech 10 Year Anniversary Celebration

Mintz Levin

The Lounge at District Hall 75 Northern Avenue Boston, MA

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Tom Burton’s zeal for innovation and passion for energy and sustainability have shaped the clean energy industry. He pioneered one of the nation’s first clean energy, climate, and sustainability legal practices at the turn of the century that he currently chairs. He deploys integrated legal services for emerging companies with the project development and finance services required to scale the most innovative technologies and, as a result, Mintz routinely participates in “first of its kind” transactions. Clients ranging from investors to entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 companies rely on him for creative and strategic legal solutions, and he has completed hundreds of venture capital and private equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, and IPOs. He guides the industry’s next generation of leaders through active involvement with start-up organizations and accelerators. The Northeast Clean Energy Council recognized his pioneering role in the Northeast with a Decade of Influence award in 2017.

Recognition & Awards

  • Chambers USA: Massachusetts – Energy & Natural Resources (2021 – 2023)

  • JD Supra: Top Author, Readers' Choice Awards – M&A (2022) 

  • JD Supra: Top Author, Readers' Choice Awards – Energy (2017 - 2019)

  • Best Lawyers in America: Corporate Law (2015 - 2024); Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2021 - 2024); Energy Law (2015 - 2024)

  • Decade of Influence Award, Northeast Clean Energy Council (2017)

  • Wunder Capital: 100 People Shaping Cleantech on Twitter (2015)

  • Recognized by The Legal 500 United States as “rising to the fore” in energy technology for Venture Capital and Emerging Companies (2014)

  • Included on the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list: Securities & Corporate Finance (2004, 2010 – 2023)

  • Euromoney’s LMG Cleantech & Renewable Energy: Top 100 Lawyers in CleanTech (2013)

  • Euromoney’s LMG Cleantech & Renewable Energy: Top 10 Clean Technology and Renewables Law Firm

  • Watershed Capital Group: #2 US Clean Technology law firm

  • World Technology Award Finalist: Law (2010) (The World Technology Network awards are released in association with Time, Fortune, Technology Review, CNN, and Science)

  • Boston Business Journal: 40 Under 40 (2009)

  • Susan Grant Desmaris Award, Boston College Law School

  • Order of the Coif, Boston College Law School

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Tom Burton’s zeal for innovation and passion for energy and sustainability have shaped the clean energy industry. He pioneered one of the nation’s first clean energy, climate, and sustainability legal practices at the turn of the century that he currently chairs. He deploys integrated legal services for emerging companies with the project development and finance services required to scale the most innovative technologies and, as a result, Mintz routinely participates in “first of its kind” transactions. Clients ranging from investors to entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 companies rely on him for creative and strategic legal solutions, and he has completed hundreds of venture capital and private equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, and IPOs. He guides the industry’s next generation of leaders through active involvement with start-up organizations and accelerators. The Northeast Clean Energy Council recognized his pioneering role in the Northeast with a Decade of Influence award in 2017.

Involvement

  • Presenter, American Bar Association's Business Law Virtual Spring Meeting, "What You Need to Know About Environmental, Social, and Governance Criteria and Their Impact on Private Equity Deals" (2021)
  • Leadership Board, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (2020)
  • Advisory Council, SeaAhead, a bluetech startup platform (2019-2023)
  • Moderator, Virtual Momentum Summit, "Out of Crisis, Innovation is Born" (2020)
  • Presenter, Planning Your Next Round of Financing in light of COVID-19 (2020)
  • Presenter, A Practical Overview of the CARES Act and How It Can Help Your Construction Business (2020)
  • Panelist, The Impact Capital Summit (2017-2020)
  • Chair, New England Aquarium Board of Trustees (2020)
  • Judge, Cleantech Open Northeast Regional Finals (2012 – 2015, 2018)
  • Judge, MIT Clean Energy Prize; Grand Prize (2018), Track Final Round (2014), Grand Prize (2012), and Energy Efficiency and Infrastructure Finals (2011)
  • Board of Directors, Boston Golf Club (2013-2019)
  • Chair, Boston College Law Day (2017, 2018)
  • Selection Committee Member, Big Path Capital’s SmarterMoney+ Review (2016)
  • President, Boston College Law School Alumni Board of Directors (2016)
  • Judge, MIT $100K Pitch Competition (2015, 2016)
  • Presenter, Cleantech Open Northeast CleanWeb Prize by Mintz & EnerNOC, Inc. (2014, 2015)
  • Presenter, Department of Energy Clean Energy Business Plan Competition (2012 - 2014)
  • Board of Trustees, Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism (2008 - 2014)
  • Co-chair, Massachusetts Water Innovation Mission to Israel (2012)
  • Judge, Cleantech Open National Finals (2010, 2011)
  • Judge, MassChallenge Business Plan Competition (2010)
  • Advisory committee member, Flutie Spectrum Enterprises LLC
  • Advisory committee member, UMass Lowell Center for Sustainable Production Cleantech Project: An Agenda for a Healthy Economy
  • Advisory committee member, Dynamo Energy Hub
  • Founding Member, Board of Trustees, Massachusetts Housing & Climate Innovation Center (MassHCIC)
  • Advisory Council, Environmental League of Massachusetts
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Thomas R. Burton, III

Member / Chair, Energy & Sustainability Practice

Boston