Introduction
Todd is the co-founder of Fredrikson & Byron’s Clean Technology Group and is also a member of the Renewable Energy practice area focusing on biomass, including biofuels, biochemicals and bioenergy. Todd leverages his legal and industry expertise to advise biofuels and biomass providers, investors, developers and researchers in connection with the development, financing, and acquisition of biofuels and biomass projects. Todd has worked with rural farmers, university researchers, and large regional and national companies in developing biofuels and biomass projects. Todd is also active with other clean technologies such as solar, wind, smart grid systems, water, and sustainable agriculture.
Todd works closely with his clients on a variety of legal and business needs, including public and private financing options, entity formation and seed capital, critical contract negotiations, mergers and acquisitions, licensing governance matters, and compliance with corporate and securities laws.
Todd is a member of Fredrikson & Byron’s Clean Technology, Energy, Securities, Corporate, and Emerging Business Groups.
Education
- William Mitchell College of Law, J.D.
- University of St. Thomas, B.A.
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1998
- North Dakota, 2007
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
Practice Areas
- Renewable Energy
- Emerging Business
- Securities
- Corporate
- Corporate Governance & Investigations
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Energy
- Clean Technology
- International
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- Agribusiness & Cooperatives
- Algae
Representative Experience
- Rational Energy (waste to fuel)
- Visiam LLC (biomass pre-treatment)
- Cyan Energy, LLC (algae wastewater treatment)
- $250M merger of public, national agricultural equipment corporation
- $5M in venture capital financing from Silicon Valley investor for a technology company
- JetE
Selected Publications & Presentations
- “Escaping the Credit Crunch: Using Government Incentives to Finance Biomass Production,” co-authored with Emily Chad, December 2011
- “Venture Capital Due Diligence in Algae Deals,” Biorefining Magazine, October 2011
- “Managing Risks in Cofiring Contracts,” Biomass Power and Thermal Magazine, August 2011
- “Process Technology? Check. Now, Profit,” Biodiesel Magazine, May 2011
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Moderator, International BIOMASS Conference & Expo, May 2-5, 2011
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Moderator, “Attacking a Growing Municipal Solid Waste Problem via Biorefining,” Pacific West Biomass Conference,
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Speaker, “Legal Challenges to Developing Renewable Energy: Financing a Clean Technology Business the
- Moderator, “Scaling Up and Delivering to the Market,” Advanced Biofuels Markets Conference, November 10, 2010
- “Making the Most of Biomass Cogeneration Opportunities,” Biomass Power & Thermal Magazine, October 2010
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Moderator, “From Carbon Dependence to a Sustainable Energy Future:
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Profiled in the Algal Biomass Organization’s Member Spotlight, September 2010
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Co-Chair, “Power Pitch” session, 4th Annual Algae Biomass Summit,
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Session Chair and Moderator, “The Legal Perspective of Bio- Based Chemicals;” “Global Investment Trends;” “Establishing Global Standards and Regulations for Bio-Based Chemical Industry;” and “Biofuels: Developments, Sustainability, and Commercialization,” The Future of Bio-Based Chemicals - Inception to Marketplace Conference, September 13-14, 2010
- Speaker, “Towards a Refinery Model in Advanced Biofuels: Technical, Regulatory and Financial Challenges,” The Future of Bio-Based Chemicals - Inception to Marketplace Conference, September 13-14, 2010
- Speaker, “Power Pitch 101,” Algal Biomass Organization Webinar, August 17, 2010
- “Understanding Algae, Energy and the Road to Commercialization,” ABO’s Finance for Algae Conference,
- Moderator, Biofuels and Green Chemistry Panel, The Intersection of Agriculture, Chemistry, Fuels & Materials, The Collaborative Convergence Series on Cleantech, May 6, 2010
- Moderator, MSW & Urban Wastes, Emerging Technologies Panel, 2010 International Biomass Conference & Expo, May 4-6, 2010
- Speaker,
- “Great Green Hope: The Corporate Love Affair With Algae,” Biomass Magazine, April 2010
- “The Day after
- Moderator, “What are the biggest bottlenecks to the deployment of solar energy systems in the
- Moderator, “Commercialization of Microalgae Production for Biofuels,” and Presenter, “Business Aspects of Algae Commercialization,” 2009 Pacific Rim
- “Raising Capital Through Online Social Networking – A Violation of Securities Laws?,” FredNEWS: Business, October 2009
- Panelist, "Key Legal Issues for Algae Start-ups," Algal Biomass Organization’s 3rd Annual Algae Biomass Summit,
- “Doing Right When Things Go Wrong: Directors’ Duties in the Zone of Insolvency,” FredNEWS: Business – Corporate Governance Edition, September 2009
- “Big Oil and Biofuels: Bitter Rivals or Best Friends?,” co-authored with Zach Olson, FredNEWS: Energy, September 2009
- Quoted in “Algae and Ethanol Partnerships Grow,” by Hope Deutscher, Ethanol Producer Magazine, September 2009
- Conference Chairperson and Panelist, “Creating a Financially Viable Algae Company,”
- Quoted in “Alternative energy offers plenty of opportunities,” Business Journal, August 14, 2009
- Quoted in “Pond scum finally gets some respect - as oil resource,” by Neal St. Anthony, Star Tribune, July 17, 2009
- Speaker, "Big Oil and Biofuels: How Biofuels and Conventional Fuels are Converging and What it Means for the Future," June 28-30, 2009
- Panelist, “Beating the Odds: Biomass Project Finance in a Tough Economy,” 2nd annual International BIOMASS Conference & Expo, April 28-30, 2009
- “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Provides Billions for Biomass,” co-authored with Scott Dorfman, FredALERT: Renewable Energy, March 20, 2009
- “Congress and the President Betting Big on Biofuels,” co-authored with Scott Dorfman, FredALERT: Renewable Energy, March 20, 2009
- “Don’t Give Away the Farm: Key steps to protect and profit from your IP,” co-authored with Adonis Neblett, FredNEWS: Energy, February 2009
- “Algae Bloom at the Patent Office,” co-authored with Phil Goldman, Biomass Magazine, February 2009
- Presenter, “Grant Funding Opportunities for Renewable Energies,” January 28, 2009
- Quoted in the Ethanol Producer magazine article, “Ethanol plants look to get back on track,” by Bryan Sims, January 2009
- Speaker, “Protecting Shareholder Value Through the Strategic Use of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy,” January 8, 2009
- “Tighter Markets Provide Opportunities, Challenges,” Ethanol Producer Magazine, November 2008
- “Algae to Biofuels - The next big development in renewable fuels?,” Midwest’s Premier Energy, Economic and Environmental Conference, November 18, 2008
- “Minnesota Governor Pawlenty Unveils ‘Green Jobs Investment Initiative,’” FredNEWS: Energy, November 13, 2008
- “New Energy for America Plan – Biofuels Policy Alert,” FredNEWS: Energy, November 7, 2008
- Panelist, “Business Considerations,” Advanced Biofuels Workshop & Trade Show, Minneapolis, September 28-30, 2008
- “Going Private: Suspending SEC Reporting Requirements Webinar,” September 17, 2008
- “Applying Patents in the Developing Biomass Industry,” co-authored with Adonis Neblett, Biomass Magazine, September 2008
- “Federal Government Betting Big on Cellulosic Biofuels,” co-authored with Scott Dorfman, FredNEWS: Energy, July 2008
- “Biomass Financing,” International Biomass ’08 Conference & Trade Show, April 15-17, 2008
- “Managing Through the Tough Times in Ethanol Production” co-authored with Ryan Murphy, Ethanol Producer Magazine, March 2008
- “Lending to Troubled Ethanol Plants,” co-authored with Ryan Murphy, FredNEWS: Bank & Finance, March 2008
- Quoted in “Cargill Puts Off Plans for New Ethanol Plant,” by Matt McKinney, Star Tribune, February 2008
- “Energy Bill Finally Signed Into Law: Biofuels Win Big, but Some Other Renewables Don’t Fare As Well,” FredNEWS: Energy, January 2008
Professional Activities
- Renewable Fuels Association
- Algal Biomass Organization
- American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)
- National Biodiesel Board
- Minnesota Coalition for Ethanol
- Minnesota Corn Growers Association
- Founder, Minnesota CleanTech Group
- Founder,
- Founder,
- Board of Directors, University Enterprise Laboratories Inc.
- Judge, 2011 Minnesota Cup, Clean Technology & Renewable Energy Division
Honors & Distinctions
- 200 Minnesotans You Should Know list, Twin Cities Business Magazine, 2011
- Named to “Top 100 People in Bioenergy” by BiofuelsDigest, 2010 and 2011