R. W. Eli Moulton, III

Managing Member

Practice Areas

  • Mergers & Business Acquisitions

  • Venture Capital & Other Financing Transactions

  • General Corporate Representation

  • IP Licensing & Trademark

Email: emoulton@moultonlg.com
Direct: 802.391.0301
Mobile: 802.318.3162
Fax: 802.391.0305


Current Practice

As the managing-member of the Moulton Law Group, Eli draws on over 25 years of corporate law experience. His practice spans the corporate spectrum, from start-up company matters to complex corporate transactions, and the wide range of business legal needs in between. Eli advises a diverse array of clients located across the country, including entrepreneurs, start-up companies, mature businesses and investors. A significant portion of Eli’s practice involves representing clients (both buyers and sellers), and working with investment bankers, brokers and/or private equity funds, on mergers and acquisitions. Using his finance and accounting background, Eli approaches every deal, from the complex multi-million-dollar private equity mergers, to small asset purchase transactions, from a practical business perspective to protect clients from real world risks. Eli’s deal-specific approach provides clients with efficient, professional and cost-effective representation.

Another significant portion of Eli’s practice involves financing transactions of every stage and type, including commercial and project debt financings, venture capital and venture debt, angel/early-stage equity or near equity transactions, crowd-funding and community supported enterprises. Locally within Vermont, Eli has represented some of the area’s most prominent investor groups, including FreshTracks Capital and The Fund at Hula. Outside Vermont, Eli has worked as Gaingels’ primary legal counsel since its inception, helping them to invest over $600,000,000 into a portfolio of over 1,000 companies since 2019. Eli has been prominent in the “Slow Money” and “invest local” movements as well, being referred to as the “go-to guy” for creative financing in Amy Cortese’s book “Localvesting.” Working with regulators at the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation, Eli has been instrumental in helping to update securities laws and regulations to facilitate raising capital, and was directly involved in advancements to the Vermont Small Business Offering exemption (VSBO) and SUN Exemption.

In addition to Eli’s busy transactional practice, Eli serves as external general counsel to many clients, providing general corporate representation across a wide range of industries, including technology, medical device, food and beverage, consumer product, renewables, restaurant and hospitality, and manufacturing. In this capacity, Eli advises on the diverse needs of these businesses, including negotiating and reviewing commercial contracts, and employment and intellectual property matters.

Prior Experience

Eli started his legal career in 1997 in Boston, MA at Goodwin Proctor LLP. He then returned to Vermont and joined a prominent corporate law firm in Burlington, where he was a partner. In 2016, Eli co-founded the Moulton Law Group with Liz Metayer.     

Education & Credentials

Eli graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from the University of Colorado and with a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. Throughout his career, Eli has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions relating to his practice in corporate law. Most recently, Eli was selected as a Super Lawyer, 2015-2022 for Business/Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities & Corporate Finance & Closely Held Business. Eli was also selected to Best Lawyers in America, 2023 by Best Lawyers®, Best Lawyers in America – Vermont, 2019-2022 by Best Lawyers® for the practice areas of Corporate Law & Business Organizations and Best Lawyers in New England, 2022 by The Wall Street Journal. In addition, Eli was given an AVVO rating of “Excellent” as a Featured Attorney, in the area of Securities Offerings. Eli is admitted to practice law in Vermont and Massachusetts.

Outside Interests

Eli grew up in Huntington, Vermont in the shadow of Camel’s Hump where his hippy parents – then in their early ‘20’s – built a stone house, by hand. As a child, Eli enjoyed growing up in the country, helping his dad finish their house, collecting fire wood every fall and maple sugaring every spring. After leaving Vermont for college, law school and a working stint in Boston, Eli returned to Vermont and followed in his parents’ footsteps – building his own house by hand, complete with a 40-foot stone chimney and fireplace with stone that Eli quarried from his property. Eli continues to live and work on his house with his wife and two daughters, their yellow lab and two Siamese cats. When Eli isn’t working, he enjoys skiing at Mad River Glen, golfing, boating, woodworking, traveling and enjoying time with his family.

Eli has participated on the Boards of several non-profit organizations, including the Intervale Center, the Sarah Holbrook Center, the Initiative for Local Capital, Inc. and the Mad River Glen Ski Club.