Before joining Cabot in 1987, Burnes was a partner at the Hall & Stewart, where he specialized in corporate and business law for almost 20 years. He is a director of State Street Corporation, a member of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s board of trustees and a board member of New England Conservatory. He is also chairman of the board of trustees of the Schepens Eye Research Institute. He holds both an LL.B. and B.A. degree from the Harvard University.