Firm to Host Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz

Thomas R. Burton, III to Speak on Panel on Clean Technology Start-Ups

Washington, D.C. – Mintz, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.  is pleased to be a sponsor of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) third annual National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition. 

For the third consecutive year, Mintz will be hosting the first day of the two day competition at its Washington, D.C. office on June 11 and will welcome Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, who will be delivering the keynote address. The firm will also host a reception for sponsors and participants that evening.

On June 12, Thomas R. Burton, III, Chair of Mintz’s Energy Technology Practice will participate in a panel discussion entitled, “The Role of Customers and Building Your Business.” The panel will explore different approaches to prospecting first customers and its importance on market adoption of clean energy technologies.

“We are delighted to welcome Secretary Moniz and this talented group of entrepreneurs to Mintz,” said Susan W. Berson, Managing Member of the firm’s Washington, D.C office. “Programs like the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition that encourage young people to develop creative solutions to the world’s energy challenges will help the U.S. to remain a leader in developing clean energy technologies.”

The DOE’s National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition (NCEBPC) is a unique national business plan competition, designed to build a network of student-focused business creation contests across the country. Launched in 2011, the NCEBPC is part of the Obama Administration's Startup America Initiative, the White House campaign to inspire and promote entrepreneurship. Student-led teams participate in six DOE-sponsored regional competitions by submitting business plans supporting innovative technologies in the area of clean energy. The regional winners will compete for the Grand Prize at the DOE National Competition held on June 12.

Since January 2006, Mintz attorneys have closed 300 transactions in the energy and clean technology sector including: venture capital transactions (representing companies and investors), initial public offerings and follow-on offerings, private placements, M&A deals, technology licensing and joint venture transactions, totaling over $7 billion in transaction value. In addition, the group handles the development, financing, and construction of hundreds of megawatts of energy generating facilities.

The Energy Technology Practice has been ranked #2 nationally among top Clean Technology law firms, according to Watershed Capital Group, and the practice was listed as a "Best Law Firm" by U.S. News & World Report, both in Boston and nationally. The practice was also ranked among the 2012 “40 Hottest Partners in Bioenergy and Bio-based Materials” by Biofuels Digest. Recently, the practice has been selected as one of the “Top 10 Clean Technology Firms” by LMG Clean Technology and Renewable Energy and Thomas R. Burton, III, and Sahir Surmeli, Co-chairs of the firm’s Energy Technology Practice were named to the “Clean Tech 100”.