
Thomas R. Burton, III
Member / Chair, Energy & Sustainability Practice
+1.617.348.3097
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.
Case Studies

viewpoints
Energy & Sustainability M&A Activity — August 2023
August 29, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Energy & Sustainability Connections Newsletter — August 2023
August 29, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Energy & Sustainability Event Highlights — August & September 2023
August 29, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Energy & Sustainability Client Feature — August 2023
August 29, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Energy & Sustainability Connections Newsletter — July 2023
July 25, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Energy & Sustainability Event Highlights — July & August 2023
July 25, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Energy & Sustainability Client Feature — July 2023
July 25, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Energy & Sustainability M&A Activity — July 2023
July 25, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Energy & Sustainability M&A Activity – June 2023
June 29, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
Energy & Sustainability Event Highlights — June & July 2023
June 29, 2023 | Article | By Thomas R. Burton, III, Sahir Surmeli
News & Press
In Tribute To A Man Of Generous Spirit
July 7, 2023
Mintz Counsels NET Power On Completed SPAC Business Combination With Rice Acquisition Corp. II
June 09, 2023
NPM Interconnections - Episode 69: Tom Burton
June 6, 2023
Mintz’s Commitment to Energy Transition Underscored by Roles on $4.6 Billion in Deals
March 22, 2023
Mintz Represents NET Power on $1.459 Billion Business Combination with Rice Acquisition Corp. II
December 14, 2022
ESG Foes In States, Congress Ready Attacks on 'Woke' ESG Investing
November 21, 2022
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
Mintz's Second Annual Energy Transition Summit
Catalyzing the Energy Transition Through Investment, Innovation, and Adoption
40th Floor Conference Center, Mintz

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 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 – 2022)
- 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
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)
