Introduction
Todd is a nationally recognized lawyer for bioenergy, biofuels, biochemical and cleantech companies. Todd combines an approachable style with a deep understanding of the legal, technical and financial nature of his client’s business.
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
- Agribusiness & Cooperatives
- Algae
- Clean Technology
- Corporate
- Corporate Governance & Investigations
- Emerging Business
- Energy
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- Renewable Energy
- Securities
Representative Experience
Testimonials
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Todd is genuinely passionate about his clients business and, as many companies in his practice are strongly technology oriented, committed in understanding their technology and how it can be also used to define specific business solutions. As a technologist, I found his pragmatic approach to complex legal issues and his ability to explain them highlighting the key issues, decisions points and consequences refreshing and extremely effective - Luca Zullo, Ph.D., VerdeNero LLC
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Biofuels
- Betaseed - Fredrikson serves as energy project counsel and project manager for the largest U.S. energy beet seed company and its bioenergy related efforts.
- BioAlgene - Fredrikson has served as general and patent counsel to BioAlgene, including entity formation and reorganization issues, venture financing, project financing, patent strategy, joint technology development, offtake and strategic partnering agreements. BioAlgene is a technology integrator and project developer looking to produce algae on a large scale for biojet fuel development.
- Undisclosed mobile biofuel processing company - Still in “stealth” mode, Fredrikson has provided general and patent counsel advice since its formation, including venture and project financing, critical licensing negotiations and drafting, international contract negotiations, tax matters and trademarks. Todd currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of this company.
- Red Trail Energy - Fredrikson represented Red Trail as its general and securities counsel. Red Trail is a coal fired ethanol plant in Western North Dakota.
- DENCO and DENCO II - Fredrikson lawyers represented DENCO during its formation and capital raise to build the 20 MMGY ethanol plant in Western Minnesota. Fredrikson also represented DENCO in its sale on an Australian company, as well as the re-acquisition of DENCO by a group of local investors.
- Agassiz Energy - Fredrikson lawyers represented Agassiz in its development of an ethanol project slated for Northern Minnesota, including its multi-state SEC registered securities offering, SEC reporting, land acquisition, EPC contract negotiations, and project financing.
- Otter Tail Ag Enterprises - Fredrikson represented the 55 MMGY Otter Tail ethanol plant in its SEC registration and compliance, as well as with its reorganization financing.
- Gevo - Fredrikson works with Gevo on its legislative agenda in Minnesota, including policy recommendations and actions. Gevo is a publicly traded biobutanol company based in Colorado working with corn ethanol plants to convert them into biobutanol production for biochemicals, gasoline additive and biojet fuel production.
- New Generation Biofuels Holdings - Fredrikson represented NGBF on its general corporate, patent and securities matters, including multiple private and public offerings, corporate governance issues and creditor financing.
Biochemicals
- Algix - Fredrikson serves as general and intellectual property counsel to Algix, including venture and project financing, patent licensing, vendor and off take contract matters, as well as joint venture and international contract issues. Algix is an algae technology integrator focusing on algae derived biomaterials.
- Algaedyne - Fredrikson has served as general and patent counsel to Algaedyne, including financing, key contracts, licensing, patent prosecution, joint technology development and project financing. Algaedyne is developing patented algae bioreactors for use in agricultural settings for waste water treatment and algae as an animal feed.
- Undisclosed bioreactor company - Still in “stealth” mode, Fredrikson has provided critical legal advice on international licensing strategies and venture financing opportunities.
- Undisclosed green chemical company - Fredrikson provides regulatory and corporate legal counsel assistance to this innovative California-based company.
Cleantech
- 3F, LLC - a start-up University of Minnesota spin-out company exploring novel biological waste water remediation technologies primarily targeted at the oil and natural gas fracking industry. Fredrikson provides legal and financial strategy assistance related to commercialization and venture financing.
- Water Works, Inc. - a mobile waste water fracking clean up company that Fredrikson is advising related to patent, financing and commercialization efforts.
- Undisclosed C02 Capture company - Fredrikson has represented this company since its inception on its patent filings and strategy, integration contracts with large utilities, and financing options. This company has developed a proprietary technology to efficiently capture and clean flue gas CO2 from large power plants and other carbon emitters for use in algae growing systems.
Selected Publications & Presentations
- Speaker, "Understanding the Project Lifecycle Considerations of Successful Waste-to-Energy Opportunities," 2013 International Biomass Conference and Expo, April 8-10, 2013
- Presenter, “Of Angels, VCs, Private Equity and More- Financial Options,” Algae Biomass Summit, September 26, 2012
- Co-Chair, “From Start-Up to S1 Financing Strategies for Algae Companies,” 6th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, Denver, CO, September 24-27, 2012
- Moderator, “Aligning Management, the Board of Directors and Strategic Planning to Maximize Every Stakeholder’s Return on Investment,” International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, June 6, 2012
- Moderator, “Hot Partnerships and Joint Ventures,” Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, April 2012
- “Escaping the Credit Crunch: Using Government Incentives to Finance Biomass Production,” co-authored with Emily Chad, December 2011
- Moderator, “Hot Technologies, Advanced Biofuels Markets Conference, November 2011
- “Venture Capital Due Diligence in Algae Deals,” Biomass 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
Professional Activities
- Vice-Chairman, Board of Directors, University Enterprise Laboratories Inc.
- Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development – Green Jobs Innovation Task Force Member
- 2011, 2012, 2013 Algae Biomass Summit, co-chair
- Clean Economy Network – Minnesota Chapter, co-chair
- American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)
- Founder, Minnesota CleanTech Group
- Judge, 2010-2013 Minnesota Cup, Clean Technology & Renewable Energy Division
- Algae Biomass Organization, Board of Directors
Honors & Distinctions
- 200 Minnesotans You Should Know list, Twin Cities Business Magazine, 2011
- Named to “Top 100 People in Bioenergy” by BiofuelsDigest, 2010-2012