The Founder's Advocate

Dr. Thomas J Powell

Thomas J. Powell is an investor, entrepreneur, financier and scholar with more than three decades of experience in private equity, commercial banking, and securities law. His careful stewardship of capital and the communities it serves has made him a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs at organizations of all sizes. From raising capital for early-stage startups, to the financial structuring of large projects, to exit planning and family office management, Tom helps founders realize their plans as simply and durably as possible while safeguarding their personal and professional interests across industries, jurisdictions and generations.

In his role as Chairman at The Brehon Group, Tom combines his extensive banking experience with a thorough legal education to bring a unique perspective to each founder’s corner. His expertise in structuring deals, protecting assets, and advising entrepreneurs. Holding Irish and America citizenships, Tom advises clients with projects and portfolios on both sides of the Atlantic. With a doctorate in Law & Policy, Tom also focuses on a range of legal strategy, securities litigation, and settlement issues, helps his clients achieve their goals in a world of regulation governance issues, and litigation. Tom also founder The Founder’s Office to address the lack of support that leaves many founders feeling isolated and overwhelmed.

Tom was a lead petitioner in Powell v. SEC, litigation that led to the SEC’s recission of its “gag rule,” which silenced settling parties, preventing them from ever discussing the facts of their case or suggesting the SEC’s charges were unfounded. On May 18, 2026, while awaiting the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on whether to hear the case, the SEC rescinded the rule, which it had been enforcing for more than 50 years.

Tom’s interests extend far beyond the world of law and business. For more than four decades, he served as a national trustee with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He currently sits on the Boards for the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), Tahoe Housing Hub, and Friends and Family of Gamblers (FFOG).

Tom conducted his doctoral research at Northeastern University on the shortage of middle-income housing in rural resort communities and sits on the board of Tahoe Housing Hub. Since finishing his degree, Tom has joined Northeastern’s faculty, advising graduate theses for Doctor of Law and Policy students. Tom also earned a Master of Science in Law from Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law and completed the Advanced Management Development Program in Real Estate at Harvard University.

Tom is an avid skier and a fully certified ski instructor, serving as the Vice Chair of PSIA-AASI’s Western Division. Tom is Chairman of his home resort, Sky Tavern, where he is passionate about supporting lasting growth for the oldest non-profit ski and snowboard training facility in the country. The resilience he learned from skiing translates to every aspect of his life.

Testimonials

“As a young founder, my energy should go toward vision, strategy, and innovation. The legal, financial, and structural side of building a company can consume an enormous amount of headspace. Having a team that has done this before makes me feel safer, lets me move faster, and gives me confidence that I’m protecting both what I’ve already built and what I hope to build next.”

—Nate Herkelan, Founder of Uppit AI

“You can find business advice in any number of books. What you cannot easily find is someone who genuinely understands the isolation founders experience, sees the person behind the business, and makes it clear that someone has their back. That is what makes Tom, and the work of The Founder’s Office, so uniquely valuable.”

—Betsy Westhafer, Founder of The Revdura Institute and The Congruity Group

Publications

The Six Secrets of Raising Capital: An Insider's Guide for Entrepreneurs (2014)

Six Secrets is a concise, no-nonsense approach to raising startup capital. This guide to real-world capital raising was written not by academics, but by two well-seasoned, successful businessmen with rampant experience and a proven track record. Through detailed real-life examples, Six Secrets arms entrepreneurs with all of the necessary tools to successfully attract investor capital. Thomas J. Powell co-authored this book with his long-time business associate, Bill Fisher.

The Great Recession as Told Through Cartoons (Volume 2) (2009)

“The 2009 Recession as Told Through Cartoons” is a tongue-in-cheek look at the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. With over 50 political illustrations, “The 2009 Recession as Told Through Cartoons” makes a great gift for anyone’s coffee table, office or library.

Standing in the Rain: Understanding, surviving and thriving in the worst financial storm since the Great Depression (2009)

Standing in the Rain makes the complex crisis approachable and offers a well-rounded perspective from a seasoned financial authority. By providing a clear analysis of the situation, Thomas J. Powell pulls from his extensive background in banking, lending and investing to supply extraordinary insight into the current financial struggle. Throughout the book, Powell offers a variety of accurate information and aims to lend valuable advice for learning from the past, understanding the present and preparing for the future.