Clients

The legacy of Danforth Pewter began in 1755 when Thomas Danforth opened his pewter shop along the banks of the Connecticut River in Middletown, CT. The Danforth pewter business flourished until the late 1800s, when affordable glass and ceramic rendered pewter mugs and bowls obsolete. Almost two hundred years later, Fred Danforth met his future wife, Judy, at Middlebury College, and the two applied their love of craftsmanship to reviving the history of Danforth pewter. Now a thriving business known nation-wide for beautiful and high quality goods, Danforth Pewterers still handcraft all their fine pewter in a Middlebury, Vermont Workshop and has approximately eight stores across the greater New England area, including Burlington’s very own.

M&M is proud to have worked with Danforth Pewter for over 20 years to successfully grow their business while maintaining their ties to the New England manufacturing tradition.

Fiddlehead Brewing Company, located minutes from the shores of Lake Champlain in Shelburne, VT, is renowned for their eponymous IPA, but has expanded beyond that draft since opening in 2011. Ten years later, Fiddlehead purchased a 60 barrel brewhouse, increased fermentation space and a state-of-the-art canning line. Now, Fiddlehead is the best-selling craft beer in the state of Vermont and is nearing double barrel production, targeting 73,000 barrels since 2021. Since 2012, M&M has assisted Fiddlehead with a variety of Trademark work.

“Fiddlehead Brewing Company is a brewer owned business. Crafting approachable, multidimensional beers, while growing responsibly with a focus on the arts and positively impacting those in our communities – one beer at a time.” – Matt “Matty” O Cohen, Founder of Fiddlehead Brewing Company

Formerly Peck Electric Company, iSun, Inc. is “more than just a solar company.” For over 50 years, iSun advanced the adoption of new technology and has made solar innovation more commonplace. Their feats range from the clean rooms that enabled silicone chip production all the way to the telecommunication installation services that connected industries and consumers to the internet. iSun even acquired Vermont’s very own SunCommon in 2021, and has since been named a 2023 Top Solar Contractor. For iSun, a vision of clean energy is at their heart and the company is now of the largest, most trusted solar entities in the US.

The SustainVC Impact Fund is the breath of fresh air that innovative entrepreneurs need to get a head start on their business journey. SustainVC works with entrepreneurs to live and share the vision of a sustainable, more equitable, and healthier world by enabling renewable energy sources and energy efficient transportation, advancing digital and financial inclusion, and increasing access and outcomes in healthcare and education.

Luce Farm Wellness was born in 2016 by CoFounders and partners Rebecca & Joe Pimental. With hemp grown on certified organic Vermont farmland, Luce Farm creates a line of craft, full-spectrum cannabinoid products. Everything is harvested by hand, extracted by hand, and packaged by hand – which makes Luce Farm so well known for it dedication to sustainable, getting-your-hands-dirty agriculture and passions for holistic health.

Hill Farmstead Brewery is a small-scale brewery close to the Canadian border in Greensboro, Vermont, and we aren’t exaggerating when we say they are producing some of the best beer in the world! Named 2015 Best Brewery in Vermont, the United States, and the World by RateBeer (the world’s largest beer review and rating website), Founder and Brewmaster Shaun Hill works tirelessly to create top-notch, highly sought after craft beer, garnering attention from Vanity Fair and The New York Times. M&M has assisted the business with various matters including trademark protection, seed financing, and lending agreements.

“Work with what we have. Appreciate what we are given. Excel at everything we do.” – Shaun Hill, Founder and Brewmaster

In the beautiful state of New Hampshire, Terracea began their adventure with the vision of exceptional winter-gear for the slopes. Now, Terracea has maximized the comfort, stretch, utility, and functionality of the winter jacket. Instead of battling the elements, the company hopes to be the best in preparation for them, and in experiencing their glory throughout all seasons.

Not only does Terracea have fun with the elements, they take part in keeping them alive by prioritizing sustainable practices within their designs, profits, and in the reuse of discarded gear into underrepresented communities.

At Heritage Aviation, customer comfort and operation quality is just as important as their overall environmental impact. As an Employee-Owned, LEED Gold certified general aviation facility and Certified B Corporation, Heritage has been providing top-notch aviation services from Burlington International Airport for over 30 years. Operations span across a 24/7 ground handling, fueling, deicing, and other related avionics support.

Hubbardton Forge designs and manufactures innovative hand-forged lighting and home furnishing accessories in Castleton, Vermont. Beginning in 1974 in an old Vermont barn with two designers turned entrepreneurs, Hubbardton Forge is now the oldest and largest commercial forge in the United States, with approximately 240 employees! M&M has provided trademark, copyright, vendor and distribution advice to the company for over 20 years, and successfully settled numerous disputes with infringers, including infringements of design patents. Hubbardton Forge was acquired by Bunker Hill Capital, a leading Boston-based private equity investor in 2013.

“Hubbardton Forge has been working with Sharon Merritt of Merritt & Merritt to protect its intellectual property for over fifteen years. We are a design-driven company and Sharon knows us well; our culture, our products and our competition. In addition to providing us with trademark and copyright advice, Sharon has successfully defended our trademarks, copyrights and design patents against infringers in the US and abroad, negotiating infringing product destruction, compensatory damages and royalty payments to Hubbardton Forge without costly and time-consuming litigation. Having a partner like Sharon helps us stay ahead of the curve in an industry where most products are manufactured overseas and original designs are frequently knocked-off.” – Lyn Brown, former Product Manager of Hubbardton Forge

MamaSezz is making meal-time easy with whole-food staples, individualized and customizable shopping done for you, and delivery right to your door. By working with local farmers and suppliers committed to environmental sustainability and donating thousands of meals per month to shelters and food banks, MamaSezz is easy to trust.

InTrack Investment Management is a Vermont born and raised boutique investment advisory firm with a mission invested in people, not just securities. InTrack knows investments have a major impact on your future, and with an expertly tailored investment strategy and personalized advising approach, this firm sustains strong relationships with their clients for the present, and for the future.

The USA Ninja Challenge is a year-round obstacle training program for children age 4-17. From gymnastics to cross training, the “ninjas” comes out of this program feeling confident with a sense of accomplishment and a boosted self-esteem. There are over 20 Ninja training gyms across the United States, making this program well accessible to many children across the nation.

Keep Vermont Weird designs merchandise by celebrating the eclectic vibe and strong-sense of community that Vermonters are so proud of. From T-Shirts to Glassware, housed in one of the cutest shops on Church Street Marketplace, Keep Vermont Weird is keeping Vermont just the way it needs to be.

Freshceuticals is a line of luxury products that revolutionize skincare in connection with environmental sustainability. With a web-enabled handheld device and single-use pods, their products promote healthy skin, a consistent skincare regimen, and waste reduction.

Friends of Dog Mountain is a nonprofit organization brought about by the family of renowned late Vermont artists Stephen and Gwen Huneck. Together, they aim to restore and enhance Dog Mountain, an 150 acre private mountaintop and dog chapel in St. Johnsbury, as a public space that brings people, dogs, and art together as a place of healing, reflection, and celebration.

Impeller Studios creates “hardcore online multiplayer experiences for next-generation gaming and VR platforms” with a focus on combat and realism. The team has over 150 total years of game industry experience, led by Director Jack Mamais and Senior Producer David Wessmann.

SolarCommunities, Inc., DBA SunCommon is a Vermont Benefit Corporation & certified B Corp that provides residential and community solar installations, sporting the tagline ‘Save Money. Go Solar.’ M&M assisted the venture through various capital raises as it scaled exponentially from an idea by founders James Moore and Duane Peterson in 2012 (in collaboration with Vermont Public Interest Research Group) to now two net-POSITIVE headquarters in Waterbury, VT and Rhinebeck, NY. Since then, SunCommon was merged with Hudson Solar in New York and has now been owned by iSun, Inc. since 2021. 

“There’s a lot of moving parts to creating a new business. Our easiest decision was selecting the law firm to guide us. Ken Merritt’s deep experience in venture finance made him the obvious choice. We didn’t want cookie-cutter, and Ken’s knowledgeable creativity helped us fashion our structure and raises just our way. And his respected standing in the investor community gave comfort to our prospects that our offering was well-structured. Ken and his easy to work with team were invaluable in getting our business underway and guiding our steep growth phase since.” – Duane Peterson, former President of SunCommon

Voted ‘Best Coffee Roaster’ in Vermont by Seven Days in 2018, Vermont Coffee Company markets fair trade, organic coffee throughout New England. A community-based roaster, their motto is ‘Coffee Roasted for Friends’. Former Company Founder and President Paul Ralston started roasting in a garage in Bristol, Vermont. As the coffee is organically sourced and sustainably slow-roasted using 100% renewable energy, the company received the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in 2018. In 2021, Vermont Coffee Company was purchased and acquired by Stonewall Kitchen, a Maine-based specialty food producer.

“I have been a client of Merritt & Merritt since the late 1980s. Over the years, they have provided me and my companies with strategic counsel and legal services across all matters of business. We have worked together on contracts, intellectual property, key-people compensation, capital formation, and the sale of a business. They are problem solvers. In the one case we needed to go to court to prosecute a contract violation, they won big time. Merritt & Merritt is a hard-working firm that brings high-value, high-touch service to our growing companies. As an entrepreneur, I value their quick and nimble response to my legal needs. As a friend, I value their honest insight and unflinching advice. My relationship with their firm is one of the best things that has happened in my business life.” – Paul Ralston, former Founder/CEO of Vermont Coffee Company