Thomas R. Burton, III
Member / Chair, Energy & Sustainability Practice
+1.617.348.3097
Tom Burton’s zeal for innovation and passion for clean energy and sustainability have shaped the clean energy industry. He pioneered, and currently chairs, one of the nation’s first clean energy, climate, and sustainability legal practices at the turn of the century. He deploys full scope integrated legal services for emerging companies with the project development and finance services required to scale innovative technologies and, as a result, Mintz routinely participates in “first of its kind” transactions. Clients ranging from investors like venture capital and private equity funds to entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 companies rely on him and his team for creative and strategic legal solutions. He has led hundreds of financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and capital market transactions. 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. He and his practice are Chambers ranked, with Tom being recognized as an industry leading practitioner by Chambers USA 2023. Tom is recognized by Legal 500 as “rising to the fore” in energy technology for Venture Capital and Emerging Companies. Tom and his team are also ranked in the Top Ten of the 100 largest law firms listed in the Law Firm Climate Change Scorecard researched by the Law Students for Climate Accountability.
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 clean energy and sustainability have shaped the clean energy industry. He pioneered, and currently chairs, one of the nation’s first clean energy, climate, and sustainability legal practices at the turn of the century. He deploys full scope integrated legal services for emerging companies with the project development and finance services required to scale innovative technologies and, as a result, Mintz routinely participates in “first of its kind” transactions. Clients ranging from investors like venture capital and private equity funds to entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 companies rely on him and his team for creative and strategic legal solutions. He has led hundreds of financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and capital market transactions. 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. He and his practice are Chambers ranked, with Tom being recognized as an industry leading practitioner by Chambers USA 2023. Tom is recognized by Legal 500 as “rising to the fore” in energy technology for Venture Capital and Emerging Companies. Tom and his team are also ranked in the Top Ten of the 100 largest law firms listed in the Law Firm Climate Change Scorecard researched by the Law Students for Climate Accountability.
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.
Case Studies
Case Study
Case Study
viewpoints
The ‘Third Inning’ of the Energy Transition
December 6, 2024 | Podcast
This podcast delves into the most pressing challenges facing clean energy today. The guests share valuable insights into the industry's evolution, focusing on three critical phases: innovation, growth, and scaling.
Energy & Sustainability Connections Newsletter — December 2024
December 2, 2024 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli, Lyndon Plothow
Energy & Sustainability Connections brings the latest developments in energy investing, legal insights, company activity, and industry events.
Energy & Sustainability Event Highlights — December 2024
December 2, 2024 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
View the list of latest Energy & Sustainability events for December 2024.
Energy & Sustainability Client Feature — Sora Fuel
December 2, 2024 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Mintz client Sora Fuel closed a $6 million seed round to expand their Boston-based team, develop commercialization partnerships, and further advance the company’s novel technology.
Energy & Sustainability M&A Activity — December 2024
December 2, 2024 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Read about the latest Energy & Sustainability M&A activity for December 2024.
Mintz on Air - Predictions and Practical Policies
November 25, 2024 | Podcast | By Jennifer Rubin, Thomas Burton, Jacob Hupart, Jeff Porter , Steven Shparber
ESG Co-chair Jen Rubin moderates a forward-looking discussion on what businesses can expect for ESG, clean tech, and energy regulation under the second Trump administration.
The Mintz 2024 Energy Transition Summit – Catalyzing the Energy Transition Through Financing
November 1, 2024 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Read about Mintz’s 2024 Energy Transition Summit, which focused on the pivotal role of financing and brought together some 200 attendees, including speakers from the policy, financing, and technology sectors, to share insights and collaboratively address some of the climate industry's most pressing challenges.
Energy & Sustainability Connections Newsletter — November 2024
November 1, 2024 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli, Omar Bustami
This issue of Energy & Sustainability Connections includes a feature on how Project 2025 could upend federal ESG policies, the Mintz 2024 Energy Transition Summit, FERC’s landmark interconnection and transmission reforms, and Corporate Transparency Act compliance, plus energy policy news from Washington, litigation, a roundup of recent M&A activity, and information on upcoming industry events.
Energy & Sustainability Event Highlights — November 2024
November 1, 2024 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Learn about upcoming energy industry events, including the Local Energy Solutions Conference, New Hampshire’s premier energy event, and the AEG/ACT Northeast Clean Transportation Summit, which will focus on fleet electrification.
Energy & Sustainability M&A Activity – November 2024
November 1, 2024 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Read about recent M&A activity in the energy and sustainability space, including JBB Advanced Technologies’ acquisition of Proteus Power, which constructs solar projects and has a platform to identify factors that increase the potential and value of project investments.
News & Press
Mintz represented the US Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office in its conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $1.44 billion to Montana Renewables, LLC. Montana Renewables is an unrestricted subsidiary of Calumet (NASDAQ: CLMT). The deal team was led by Project Development & Finance Chair Ayaz Shaikh, Paul Dickerson, Kris Kirkwood, and Lyndon Plothow.
Mintz is pleased to announce that 31 attorneys have been named Massachusetts Super Lawyers and 35 attorneys have been named Massachusetts Rising Stars for 2024.
Mintz Partners with The Engine for Tough Tech Week ’24
September 24, 2024
Mintz is pleased to be the exclusive legal partner of The Engine’s 2024 “Tough Tech Week” summit taking place October 7-11 in Boston. The Engine is an accelerator program started by MIT that works together with Engine Ventures, a premier VC investor, to address the planet’s most challenging problems through coordinated innovation.
The Best Lawyers in America 2025 Recognizes 184 Mintz Attorneys across 56 Practice Areas
August 15, 2024
187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
68th US Secretary of State John F. Kerry to Keynote at Mintz’s 2024 Energy Transition Summit
July 29, 2024
John F. Kerry, 68th U.S. Secretary of State, will deliver the opening keynote address at Mintz’s 2024 Energy Transition Summit in Boston on September 30. The third annual event will bring together over 150 leaders from across the energy and sustainability ecosystem for a day of discussion and networking.
Mintz announced today that 42 of its practices and 83 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms. Of those included in the guide, 18 attorneys and seven practice areas were awarded Chambers’ highest ranking, Band 1. The firm obtained new listings in three practice areas and 10 of its lawyers were recognized for the first time.
Closing 80+ Deals in 2023 Totaling $4B - Mintz Continues Commitment to Energy Transition
February 12, 2024
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.
Mintz Advises Cultivo in $14M Series A Funding
January 31, 2024
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.
AI’s Magnified Risks, Payoffs in Energy Industry Demand Vigilance
November 29, 2023
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.
Fifty-Nine Attorneys Recognized as 2023 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
October 12, 2023
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.
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©.
In Tribute To A Man Of Generous Spirit
July 7, 2023
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.
Mintz Counsels NET Power On Completed SPAC Business Combination With Rice Acquisition Corp. II
June 09, 2023
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.
NPM Interconnections - Episode 69: Tom Burton
June 6, 2023
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.
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.
BOSTON– Mintz represented Gradiant Corporation, a global end-to-end solutions provider of advanced water and wastewater treatment, in its Series D financing.
Mintz’s Commitment to Energy Transition Underscored by Roles on $4.6 Billion in Deals
March 22, 2023
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.
Mintz Represents NET Power on $1.459 Billion Business Combination with Rice Acquisition Corp. II
December 14, 2022
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).
ESG Foes In States, Congress Ready Attacks on 'Woke' ESG Investing
November 21, 2022
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.
35 Mintz attorneys have been named Massachusetts Super Lawyers and 25 Mintz attorneys have been named Massachusetts Rising Stars for 2022.
Best Lawyers® recognized 108 firm attorneys in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, two Mintz attorneys – Poonam Patidar and Scott M. Stanton – received 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 28 firm attorneys were included in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
Mintz Continues Dedication to U.S. Startup Market Through Innovative Partnership With Venture Capital Firm Antler
August 01, 2022
Antler Innovation U.S. LLC has selected Mintz as its law firm partner of choice to support its portfolio companies in the U.S. as it expands its presence and foothold in America’s emerging growth ecosystem. With more than 500 portfolio companies globally valued at $2 billion, Antler is helping to professionalize early-stage investing by bringing new capital, a large global community of co-founders, and a broad set of industry expertise to support fast-growing companies from the earliest stages.
Green Deals Tripled Last Year Amid Emissions Crunch
March 21, 2022
'Public Benefit' Corporate Model Is Making Inroads
May 17, 2021
Has the SPAC Spigot Finally Run Dry?
April 30, 2021
Mintz Publishes In-Depth Report Breaking Down the SPAC Surge
March 19, 2021
Mintz Represents Boston Metal in $50 Million Series B Financing
January 13, 2021
Mintz Advises XCM Solutions in its Sale to Wolters Kluwer
September 22, 2020
This Time, Cleantech is Ready for Venture Capital
July 10, 2020
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.
In Spruill, aquarium has right woman at right time
August 24, 2018
Stakeholders’ Desire for Sustainability Presents Opportunities and Challenges for Boards
August 9, 2018
Mintz Honored by JD Supra's 2018 Reader's Choice Awards
March 19, 2018
Mintz’s Tom Burton Honored with Northeast Clean Energy Council’s “Decade of Influence Award”
October 18, 2017
Mintz Named Top Firm in Energy and Eleven Attorneys Featured in JD Supra’s 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards
March 20, 2017
An Energy Law Pioneer
February 6, 2017
Interview the Expert: An Interview With Tom Burton
February 2, 2017
Eighty-Four Mintz Attorneys Named 2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
October 18, 2016
Mintz Members Thomas R. Burton III and Sahir Surmeli to Judge 2016 Cleantech Open Northeast Regional Finals
October 17, 2016
Mintz Advises on Top Greentech Deal of 2012
January 08, 2013
Events & Speaking
2023 Looking Ahead: Investing Trends in Cleantech
2023 Looking Ahead: Investing Trends in Cleantech
Decarbonisation regulation – an international overview
Webinar series | Decarbonisation Week
Boston CleanTech Investment Landscape: Perspectives From the Entrepreneur, Incubator, Investor and Lawyer
Young Professionals in Energy Boston (YPE Boston)
ESG 101: Social Impact Investing and Board and C-Suite Diversity & Inclusion as Value-Creation Vehicles
View the Webinar Recording
The Impact of ESG on Private Equity Deals: Where are We Now and Where Will we be in a Year?
Online Event
Impact Investment Strategies for Family Offices in a Post-COVID–19 World
View the Webinar Recording
Cleantech San Diego Roundtable Lunch with Mintz Energy & Sustainability Practice Members
Cleantech San Diego
Mintz - 3580 Carmel Mountain Road San Diego, CA 92130
2019 Impact Capitalism Summit
Big Path Capital
The Nantucket Hotel & Resort, 77 Easton St., Nantucket, MA
The Collaborative Conference
Classy Inc.
The Warehouse at Flynn Cruiseport Boston, 1 Black Falcon Avenue, Boston, MA 02210
Technology for Better Water
Gradiant Corporation
Mandarin Oriental, 5 Raffles Ave Marina Square, Singapore
Clearing the Path for an Electric, Autonomous and Shared Transportation Future - An Executive Forum
Advanced Energy Economy
Mintz, One Finanical Center, Boston, MA
2018 Boston Navigate Investor Corporate Customer Connect
NECEC
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 600 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 02210
Nantucket Impact Capitalism Summit
Big Path Capital
Nantucket Hotel & Resort 77 Easton Street Nantucket, MA
Sustainable Investments in 2016 and Beyond
Citi
Citi Executive Conference Center, 153 E 53rd Street, 14th fl., New York, NY
Boston Cleanweb Tech Night
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC)
63 Franklin Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA
Cleantech Global Showcase: GloSho’15
Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)
JW Marriot, LA Live in Downtown LA, Los Angeles, CA
Energy Tech 10 Year Anniversary Celebration
Mintz Levin
The Lounge at District Hall 75 Northern Avenue Boston, MA
Tom Burton’s zeal for innovation and passion for clean energy and sustainability have shaped the clean energy industry. He pioneered, and currently chairs, one of the nation’s first clean energy, climate, and sustainability legal practices at the turn of the century. He deploys full scope integrated legal services for emerging companies with the project development and finance services required to scale innovative technologies and, as a result, Mintz routinely participates in “first of its kind” transactions. Clients ranging from investors like venture capital and private equity funds to entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 companies rely on him and his team for creative and strategic legal solutions. He has led hundreds of financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and capital market transactions. 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. He and his practice are Chambers ranked, with Tom being recognized as an industry leading practitioner by Chambers USA 2023. Tom is recognized by Legal 500 as “rising to the fore” in energy technology for Venture Capital and Emerging Companies. Tom and his team are also ranked in the Top Ten of the 100 largest law firms listed in the Law Firm Climate Change Scorecard researched by the Law Students for Climate Accountability.
Recognition & Awards
Chambers USA: Massachusetts – Energy & Natural Resources (2021 – 2024)
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 - 2025); Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2021 - 2025); Energy Law (2015 - 2025)
Recommended by The Legal 500 United States for M&A: Middle-Market (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
Legal 500: Green Ambassador for the United States (2025)
Tom Burton’s zeal for innovation and passion for clean energy and sustainability have shaped the clean energy industry. He pioneered, and currently chairs, one of the nation’s first clean energy, climate, and sustainability legal practices at the turn of the century. He deploys full scope integrated legal services for emerging companies with the project development and finance services required to scale innovative technologies and, as a result, Mintz routinely participates in “first of its kind” transactions. Clients ranging from investors like venture capital and private equity funds to entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 companies rely on him and his team for creative and strategic legal solutions. He has led hundreds of financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and capital market transactions. 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. He and his practice are Chambers ranked, with Tom being recognized as an industry leading practitioner by Chambers USA 2023. Tom is recognized by Legal 500 as “rising to the fore” in energy technology for Venture Capital and Emerging Companies. Tom and his team are also ranked in the Top Ten of the 100 largest law firms listed in the Law Firm Climate Change Scorecard researched by the Law Students for Climate Accountability.
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
Recent Insights
The ‘Third Inning’ of the Energy Transition
December 6, 2024| Podcast|
Energy & Sustainability Client Feature — Sora Fuel
December 2, 2024| Article|
Energy & Sustainability M&A Activity — December 2024
December 2, 2024| Article|
