Minnesota

Since its founding in 1919, Ballard Spahr has grown to 15 offices nationwide. The firm launched in Philadelphia and this remains its largest office, closely followed in scale by Baltimore and Washington DC.  In capital markets, the firm represents issuers in bond offerings, share offerings and IPOs. The banking team represents borrowers in credit facilities, loan agreements, project financing and acquisition financing. The project development team represents developers in in the transportation, infrastructure, energy and oil and gas industries. 

Since its founding in Minneapolis in 1912, Dorsey & Whitney has expanded to 19 locations across the United States, Canada, the UK and China. In the United States the firm has 13 offices spread throughout the country, including in Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, New York and Utah.

Focusses / specialisms

Though the firm is international, it has a stronghold on the Minnesota market with their top tier Minneapolis office. The office does market leading work in banking, capital markets and M&A.

The Minneapolis office’s M&A practice represents strategic acquirers and sellers in middle market transactions, where it maintains a stronghold.

The office also has a dedicated real estate practice, showing the firm’s expertise in the real estate industry. The team represents REITs, property owners, investors and developers in all aspects related to commercial, industrial and residential real estate. This includes acquisitions, development and financing. 

The New York M&A team is also known for its middle market transactions, as well as cross border transactions between the US and China. The office has a US-China practice group focusing on these transactions. The M&A team represents private equity and strategic acquirers and sellers in acquisition related matters. It also advises private equity firms on investments.

The Salt Lake City office is one of the largest corporate practices in Utah. The M&A team represents private equity and strategic clients on the buy and sell side in acquisitions and mergers. It also conducts banking and capital markets work, advising private equity firms on equity investments and issuers on public offerings.

Key clients

Key clients for the firm include UnitedHealth Group, Medtronic, US Bancorp, Land O’Lakes, United Properties Development, US Bank National Association, Fairview Health Services, Virtus Real Estate Capital, Dope Media, High Street Capital Partners, Airspan Networks, Verano Holdings, Tower Arch Capital, NaviMed Capital, Nu Skin Enterprises and Zions Bank. 

Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)

Within the research period, the Minneapolis M&A practice represented both strategic buyers and sellers in acquisitions. Most of its acquisitions were in the healthcare, agribusiness and consumer goods and services industry. The real estate practice represented REITs, property developers, owners and investors in mostly real estate development and financing projects. The New York M&A team represented a mix of strategic and private equity clients on both the buy and sell side of acquisitions. It worked on numerous deals in the cannabis, healthcare and technology industries. The Salt Lake City office represented companies in strategic acquisitions and sales, with many of the deals occurring in the healthcare industry. It also advised numerous private equity firms in acquisitions and equity investments. 

In terms of lateral movements, the real estate practice in Minneapolis added partners Michele Thurnblom, who moved from an in-house position at Honeywell International and Bradley Williams, who joined from Best & Flanagan. The New York corporate and M&A practice brought over partner Edward Davis from Brown Rudnick. 

Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)

Best Buy $125 million acquisition of Critical Signal Technologies

EDP $375 million acquisition of Eli Lilly and Company rights

Pentagan South mixed-use urban redevelopment

New Age Beverages $85 million acquisition of Morinda Holdings

Stinson is a full-service firm with a wide footprint across the Midwest United States. The firm has 13 offices across nine states and Washington D.C. and is known for its corporate work across the Midwest, particularly in M&A and capital markets. In capital markets, the team often represents issuers on both the debt and equity side, participating in bond and share offerings. The M&A team has broad experience with the ability to act on the buy and sell side in private acquisitions across a variety of industries.

Taft Stettinius & Hollister has over 100 years of experience, dating all the way back to 1885. The firm is headquartered in Cincinnati, but has 10 other offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Delaware (Ohio), Denver, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Northern Kentucky and Phoenix.  In the corporate and M&A practice the firm acts on the buy and sell side in strategic and private equity acquisitions, joint ventures and mergers. Many of the acquisitions are related to wider real estate transactions.   

Winthrop & Weinstine is a Minneapolis based firm founded in 1979.  It does highly regarded work in financial and corporate practices.

Focusses / specialisms

The firm has an outstanding banking, M&A and restructuring and insolvency practice.

In the banking practice, the team advises commercial lenders in project financing, construction financing and acquisition financing. 

In M&A the firm acts on the buy and sell side in strategic mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures. The restructuring and insolvency team represents financial lenders acting as receivers and creditors in bankruptcy matters.

Key clients

Key clients for the firm include US Bank, Fallbrook Loan Fund, Sunrise Banks, Enhanced Capital, TCF Bank, Wells Fargo, Schmuckal Oil Company, Hartley Company, Kirkwood Bancorporation, BlackRidge Financial, McLeod Bancshares, Associated Bank and Fifth Third Bank. 

Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)

Throughout the research period the banking practice represented commercial lenders in a large amount of real estate development financings. Many of the developments were either industrial or commercial properties in the Midwest.

In M&A, the team worked on the sell side in strategic acquisitions. It also worked on a couple of mergers. Oil and gas and banking and financial services were important industries for the team. The restructuring and insolvency practice acted on behalf of receivers and creditors in bankruptcy matters.

Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)

Gateway Tower construction financing

Westbrand acquisition of BlackRidge Financial