Walter A. Wright, III

Top rated Mergers & Acquisitions attorney in Needham, Massachusetts

Trinity Law Group LLC
Walter A. Wright, III
Trinity Law Group LLC

Practice Areas: Mergers & Acquisitions, Business & Corporate, Closely Held Business; view more

Licensed in Massachusetts since: 1983

Education: Boston College Law School

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2005 - 2024
Free Consultation

Trinity Law Group LLC

75 2nd Ave
Suite 605
Needham, MA 02494 Phone: 781-474-0054 Email: Walter A. Wright, III Visit website

Details

Walter Wright’s greater Boston firm Trinity Law Group, was designated a Top Law Firm in the National Business Edition of Super Lawyers and is a recipient of multiple ACQ5 Global M&A Awards. Martindale-Hubbell has selected Trinity Law Group as a “Preeminent Law Firm."
Walt Wright is one of the elite lawyers in Massachusetts, New England and nationally, according to Super Lawyers, the peer-based rating service of Thomson Reuters, in which he has been named for Business/Corporate law for the past 16 years, having been named to the Top 100 Super Lawyer list in Massachusetts. "Described in the press as “an entrepreneur’s best friend”, a business publisher characterizes him as “a seasoned veteran who has done countless deals and can help make sure you get the best terms possible.”
He is recognized by his clients and peers for his outstanding work in all aspects of corporate law and business law, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate organization, corporate financing, technology and software licensing, strategic alliances, venture capital, private equity and corporate governance. He has particular expertise in counseling high growth, emerging and start-up companies, entrepreneurs, venture capital investors and C level executives. He draws from the depth and breadth of his experience and competence to provide advice, representation and guidance superior to the counsel sought at much larger firms. He is proud to have nurtured leading companies from inception through exit and to provide invaluable counsel to extremely successful entrepreneurs and industry visionaries.
He holds a 10.0 Avvo Rating and a 5.0 AV Martindale Hubbell Rating, the highest given by each organization. Wright is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, limited to the top one percent of lawyers nationwide in recognition of outstanding dedication to the welfare of his community and to the highest principles of the legal profession. He was named Gamechanger of the Year (M&A) for Boston by AQ Global.CV Magazine recognized Wright with Corporate Excellence Awards as Best Legal & Strategic Business Counsel of the Year - Massachusetts, USA and Leading Expert in Venture Capital  – Boston. Acquisition International has recognized Wright as M&A & Securities Law Specialist of the Year. Corporate USA Today has also bestowed its Best Lawyer of the Year - Massachusetts, USA and Venture Capital Lawyer of the Year – USA recognitions on Wright. M&A Today has designated him Venture Capital Lawyer of the Year – USA. Lawyer International selected Wright as Best Lawyer of the Year - Massachusetts, USA and has named him to its Legal 100 in the same category. He is also listed in Stateside Monthly – Guide to America – 2018 with the same appellations. Corporate LiveWire also named Wright as its 2018 Business Lawyer of the Year. CEO Today Magazine has inducted Wright into its Hall of Fame as a business leader that has “had a positive disruptive influence on the wider business environment as well as making significant contributions to the economy and social development.” American Lawyer has selected Wright as a Top Rated Lawyer in Mergers & Acquisitions and Top Rated Lawyer in Securities Law. He served as a member of the Boston Business Journal Leadership Trust, an invite-only network of influential business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs in Boston.

Practice areas

Mergers & Acquisitions, Business/Corporate, Closely Held Business, Employment & Labor: Employer, Securities & Corporate Finance, Technology Transactions

First Admitted: 1983, Massachusetts

Professional Webpage: http://trinitylg.com/walter-a-wright/

Bar/Professional Activity:
  • Boston Business Journal Leadership Trust is an invite-only network of influential business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs in Boston. , 2019
  • American Bar Foundation Fellow, an honorary organization of practicing attorneys, judges, and law teachers "whose professional, public, and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities and to the highest principles of the legal profession." Fellows of The American Bar Foundation are peer-selected and limited to only the top one percent in the legal profession.
  • American Bar Association, Committees on Business Law, Technology, Law Practice Management and Subcomittee on Corporate Governance and Compliance
  • ABA Private Equity and Venture Capital Committee - Expert Panel Startup Law Meets
  • Tufts University Entrepreneurship Program Business Plan Competition Judge
  • Moderated "Getting A Venture Capital Deal Done Effectively And Ethically" at Venture Capital Financing Conference of CLE International
  • Moderated The Entrepreneurship Institute
  • Moderated Outsourcing Panel at The Entrepreneurship Institute's President Forum
  • Moderated "Nanotechnology - An evening with Tim Harper"
  • Newton - Needham Chamber of Commerce champions our communities’ economic and cultural vitality through advocacy, education and networking including the N2 Innovation District
  • National Association of Corporate Directors
  • Boston College Carroll School of Management, Business Plan Competition Judge
  • Mass Telecommunications Council
  • Moderated "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow - Bet Your Bottom Dollar?" at Capital Venue
  • Working Group Member, The In-House Counsel's Essential Tool Kit, Volume 4, Intellectual Property (ABA Section of Business Law 2007)., 2007
  • Future Forward & Nantucket Conference- invitation only conferences on Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  • Presented "Venture Capitally Incorrect - The Future of Venture Capital Financing" at Venture Capital Financing Conference of CLE International
  • Presented: "Venture Capital - The Growing Capital Gap" at Capital Venue
  • Boston College Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Club
  • MIT Enterprise Forum
  • EO Boston Featured Speaker "Breakfast with the 'Entrepreneur’s Best Friend' --- A Lawyer?"The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) - for entrepreneurs only - is a dynamic, global network of more than 7,000 business owners in 38 countries. Founded in 1987 by a group of young entrepreneurs, EO is the catalyst that enables entrepreneurs to learn and grow from each other, leading to greater business success and an enriched personal life., 2010
  • Presented The Spectrum of Financing Options at Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council Seminar
  • Senior Contributing Editor to the VC Encyclopedia and VCExperts.com
  • Moderated "Venture Capital - Outlook" at Capital Venue
  • Presented "Bank Financing and CERCLA Liability" at EDR Environmental Symposium
  • Trident Capital CEO Conference
  • Massachusetts Bar Association
  • Presented: "Power Partnerships - Successful Strategic Alliances" at TiECon East - TiE Boston
  • Moderated "How To Build A Business During A Workout" at Venture Capital Financing Conference of CLE International
  • Boston College Club - Founding Member
  • Presented "Current Developments in the Law for In-house Counsel - Executive Compensation Issues" Massachusetts Bar Association
  • Co-Chair of the Venture Capital Financing Conference of CLE International
  • Bay Angels
  • Association for Corporate Growth
  • Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
  • The Indus Entrepreneurs
  • Lectured Tufts University, Wheelock College and Needham High School
Videos:
  • Negotiating With VCs on the Ten Most Important Deal Points in Venture Capital Financings Features 90 minutes of live video with Walter A. Wright III of Trinity Law Group LLC sharing his best practices on structuring and negotiating the ten most important deal points in venture capital financings - from a seasoned veteran who has done countless deals and can help make sure you get the best terms possible. The Video Leadership SeminarTM provides essential information for negotiation strategies with venture capitalists, including the 10 specific areas you need to pay the closest attention to and how to structure them to best fit your needs. This video is guaranteed to improve the terms of your deal and is a must see before finalizing any deal with investors., Negotiating With VCs on the Ten Most Important Deal Points in Venture Capital Financings, Venture Capital, Start-ups, Seed Rounds, Private Equity, Entrepreneurship, Emerging Companies, Corporate Finance, Angel Financing
Transactions:
  • Served as lead counsel and legal strategist in numerous M&A and related transactions, including those described below.Seller Side M&A - 46 business asset sales and 12 stock purchases, as well as the redemption, disposition and refinancing of virtual tax partnership involving 15 cross-controlled entities, long-term licensing of personality-based and software intellectual property and 10 commercial real estate long-term real estate leases, two subleases and three use licenses. Acquirers include five publicly traded entities and 10 private equity backed acquirers. Total dollar value approximately $1 billion.Buyer Side M&A - acquisition of energy consulting firm by venture backed energy software management company in a reorganization, implementation inventory software joint venture and financing and reorganization of subsidiary controlled by Trustee of bankrupt partial parent (publicly traded telecommunications conglomerate) on behalf of minority managers and technologists to preserve technology and related re-licensing of patent stack from public defense contractor, acquisition of 13 insurance brokerage firms.Seller Side Private Equity – sale of 20% of international business software and service company in a cash for preferred stock transaction with a private equity investor with related partial exit for existing shareholders and follow-on financing.Seller Side Issuers –venture, institutional and angel financings for 11 clients including conversion of debt to equity of four emerging businesses.Buyer Side Investments – venture capital investments in 17 emerging companies including acquisition of legal document automation division from venture backed company.
Special Licenses/Certifications:
  • Admitted to the  Federal Court of Appeals - First Circuit, 1984
  • Admitted to the Federal District Court - Massachusetts, 1984
  • Admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1983
Pro bono/Community Service:
  • National School Boards - Federal Relations Network
  • State Advisory Commission on Special Education, Secretary
  • Needham School Committee
  • Needham Democratic Town Committee, Life Member
  • Needham Town Meeting
  • Sponsor CEO, Tech Night at the Pops, BSO Fundraiser
  • Tufts Alumni Council, Vice Chair Nominating Committee
  • St. Bartholomew's Parish Council
  • Chairman, St. Bartholomew's Catholic Appeal
  • Needham Fastpitch, Inc. Co-Founder, Chair, Head Coach, Training Director
  • Director of Training and Safety, Needham Little League
  • Founder, Needham Rookie and Farm Leagues
  • Coach Needham Little League & Babe Ruth Baseball
  • Founder, Needham Fall-Stars Baseball
  • Coach, Needham Softball
  • Coach, Newton Shockers
Honors/Awards:
  • AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings reflect a combination of achieving a Very High General Ethical Standards rating and a Legal Ability numerical rating. Legal Ability ratings are based on performance in five key areas, rated on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest). These areas are: Legal Knowledge - Lawyer's familiarity with the laws governing his/her specific area of practice(s) Analytical Capabilities - Lawyer's creativity in analyzing legal issues and applying technical knowledge Judgment - Lawyer's demonstration of the salient factors that drive the outcome of a given case or issue. Communication Ability - Lawyer's capability to communicate persuasively and credibly Legal Experience - Lawyer's degree of experience in his/her specific area of practice(s), AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell, 2024
  •  AVVO Rating of 10.0/10.0 “Superb” which is the highest rating. Avvo is a national organization that rates attorneys throughout the country.AVVO rates and profiles over 90% of licensed attorneys in the U.S. The rating is calculated using a mathematical model, and all lawyers are evaluated on the same set of standards. , AVVO Highest Rating of 10.0/10.0 “Superb”, AVVO, 2024
  • During the judging process a number of factors are considered. The voting readers are asked to identify those firms and individuals that are noted for having a high degree of ability in complex situations, those that continually innovate, level of service is of great importance as is overall value for money, in what is a tough global economy. The Legal 100 – 2020 - Awards exist to showcase those firms and individuals that continually provide the client with an outstanding level of service, demonstrating an incredibly high degree of ability, whilst delivering the outstanding results that are synonymous with firms and individuals of this calibre., Legal 100 Best Lawyer of the Year; Best Legal & Strategic Business Counsel of the Year - Massachusetts, Lawyer International – Legal 100, 2024
  • ACQ5 LAW AWARDS have been celebrating and identifying sparkling talent and success in entrepreneurship, market development, business management and best practice in the modern legal services arena. These exclusive awards reflect the ever-increasing reorganisation, new legal entities and business dynamism of legal service providers, ACQ5 Law Awards, ACQ5, 2020
  • The M&A Today – Global Rankings – 2019 ‘Top Tier’ program provides a benchmark of the very best of the best industry leaders, exemplary teams and distinguished organizations based on the simple principles of veracity, accuracy and insight. , Top Tier Venture Capital Lawyer;Best Legal & Strategic Business Counsel, M&A Today – Global Rankings, 2019
  • Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations., Top Attorneys in Corporate and Securities Law - United States, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2023
  • Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations., Top 100 Lawyers - Massachusetts, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2008
  • The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation comprise a global honorary society of attorneys, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession and to the welfare of their communities. Membership in the Fellows is limited to one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction. Fellows are recommended by their peers and elected by the Board of the American Bar Foundation. The American Bar Foundation’s mission is to serve the legal profession, the public, and the academy through empirical research, publications, and programs that advance justice and the understanding of law and its impact on society. , American Bar Foundation Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2024
  • ACQ5 Global Awards honor the leading deal teams, firms and professionals whose activities set the standard for the markets., GAMECHANGER OF THE YEAR (M&A) - Boston, ACQ Global
  • Client Focused Law Firm of the Year - USA. Acquisition International Magazine 2014 "The Voice of Corporate Finance"Acquisition International Magazine’s annual awards have been celebrating excellence,innovation and performance across the business, legal, financial and investment communities. Each series is designed to reward those most deserving in this very global and very challenging environment. They give a comprehensive analysis of the industry and a complete run through of the best of the best in terms of industry experts.Acquisition International prides itself on the validity of its awards and its winners. They are given solely on merit and recognise leaders in their respective fields. , Client Focused Law Firm of the Year, Acquisition International Magazine, 2014
  • ACQ Global Award - Venture Capital Lawyer of the Year - Massachusetts. ACQ5 is a leading M&A magazine news site. Serving the finance sector since 2003, it provides its Global audience of over 111,000+ subscribers with the information behind the headlines. ACQ5, the English-language magazine news portal is read exclusively by senior executives holding power and authority at major organisations. Our readership are the people who will select and authorise the purchase of your products and services. The magazine is intended for CEO's & CFO's as well as other corporate finance and private equity executives from all corners of the globe., ACQ Global Award - Venture Capital Lawyer of the Year - Massachusetts., ACQ5, 2014
  • "for exceptional dedication to children with special needs", Certificate of Appreciation, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  •  "in grateful recognition for outstanding service to the school children of the nation", Certificate of Recognition, National Association of School Boards
  • for "dedicated service to the Citizens and School Children of Needham", Acknowledgement of Appreciation, Needham School Committee
  • "for dedication and commitment to the boys and girls of Needham Little League", Acknowledgement of Appreciation, Needham Litlle League
  • Who's Who in the World, Marquis
  • Who's Who in American Law, Marquis
  • Who's Who in America, Marquis
  • Who's Who in Finance and Industry, Marquis
  • Magna Cum Laude, Boston College Law School, 1983
  • Awarded to a BC Law Student, "committed to using their law education for the public good.", Adelman Scholar, Boston College Law School, 1980
  • Magna Cum Laude, Tufts University, 1979
  • for "exemplifying an unusual commitment to family, school and community and an outstanding example for the youth of today", New England Youth of the Year, Exchange Club, 1975
Educational Background:
  • Juris Doctor, Boston College Law School, Magna Cum Laude. Courses include  Corporate Law, Securities Law, Contracts, Commercial Law. Tax, Legal Drafting, Antitrust and Employment Law, 1983
  • MA Tufts University (American Government and Public Policy), 1980
  • BA Tufts University Magna Cum Laude (Political Science), 1979
Other Outstanding Achievements:
  • Trinity Strategy Group, Managing Member
  • Maplecrest Group, Inc., President
  • Co-Founder, Senior Strategic Advisor - Leaflet Corporation whose software automates the way law firms and corporate legal departments create, share, store, and retrieve legal documents.   Leaflet Corporation brings you the Leaflet® Platform™, the collaborative document and contract automation and management solution that changes the entire landscape of document drafting, collaboration, negotiation, workflow, signing and post execution management. We help make law firms and legalManagement." We designed the Leaflet Platform to work how lawyers do: it starts easily, scales readily, fits neatly within your firm or company’s existing systems, and works in your local MS Word and Excel desktops. If you request legal documents, draft legal documents, negotiate legal documents, or manage the completion of or compliance with legal documents, Leaflet can help.
Industry Groups:
  • Business Services
  • Energy
  • Environmental & Real Estate
  • Information Services
  • Insurance Brokerage Agencies
  • Investment
  • Media
  • Software
  • Technology
  • Telecommunications
  • Venture Capital

Office location for Walter A. Wright, III

75 2nd Ave
Suite 605
Needham, MA 02494

Selections

20 Years Super Lawyers
  • Super Lawyers: 2005 - 2024

Top Lists

Top 100: Massachusetts Super Lawyers: 2008

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