Chris Hofstad is the head of the firm's worldwide corporate group.  He practices in a variety of corporate and other business matters, including: mergers and acquisitions; corporate and business counseling; financing, securities, and private equity; joint ventures, outsourcing, and other complex commercial arrangements; and sports and entertainment.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Chris has extensive experience in M&A transactions, including mergers, stock and asset-based transactions, tender offers, and leveraged buyouts. He represents buyers, sellers, management, investors, lenders, and others in public and private transactions of all sizes. Transactions in which Chris was the lead attorney or in which he played a leading role include:

• Leveraged buyouts of Allen-Edmonds Shoe Corporation, Westlake Ace Hardware, and Vitality Foodservice by Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison
• Sale of National Football League's Minnesota Vikings
• Acquisition of American Hockey League's Houston Aeros and sale of National Lacrosse League's Minnesota Swarm by Minnesota Wild/Minnesota Sports & Entertainment
• Acquisitions and sales by Pella Corporation
• Acquisitions and sales by Guidant Corporation (Boston Scientific)
• Leveraged buyouts by Norwest Equity Partners
• Acquisition of Minneapolis Aquatennial by Minneapolis Downtown Council
• Acquisition of SierraCities.com Inc. by American Express
• Acquisition of Lyon Financial Services, Inc. by U.S. Bancorp
• Merger of Cowles Media (Star Tribune) and McClatchy Newspapers
• Sale of Funco, Inc. to Barnes & Noble
• Acquisitions and sales by The St. Paul Companies (The Travelers Companies)

General Corporate and Business Counseling

He advises and represents clients in a broad array of business matters, including commercial transactions and contract negotiations of all types, capitalization, executive compensation, reorganizations and restructurings, dissolutions, regulatory matters, and state law requirements. He advises directors, management, and shareholders and other equity holders in governance and fiduciary duties, voting trusts, buy-sell agreements, and other equity holder arrangements.

Financing, Securities, and Private Equity

Chris' experience involves a variety of financing transactions, including advising issuers and investors in securities laws; handling acquisition financings for lenders, borrowers, and investors in leveraged buyouts and other transactions; and representing clients in private placements of equity and debt.

Joint Ventures, Outsourcing, and Other Complex Commercial Arrangements

He has extensive experience in advising clients and negotiating complex transactions involving joint ventures and strategic partnerships, outsourcing, licensing, development and joint development, manufacturing, supply, distribution, and technology. His work in this area includes arrangements involving Target Corporation, Eastman Kodak Company, Cargill, Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, ValueVision International, U.S. Bank, and Life Time Fitness, Inc.

Closely Held Entities and Family-Owned Businesses

He has broad experience in the many unique aspects of closely held businesses, including those that are family-owned. His experience includes advising clients regarding ownership structures, succession planning, generational dynamics, transition arrangements, tax matters, liquidity arrangements, and exit strategies.

Sports and Entertainment

Chris represents professional and amateur sports organizations, venue owners and managers, and entertainment organizations in a wide variety of matters, including acquisitions and sales of teams, league issues, stadium and arena matters, event operations, restaurant and food and beverage operations, marketing, licensing, naming rights, intellectual property, brand management, services, and broadcasting.

In-House Experience

During his association with Faegre Baker Daniels, Chris served one of the firm's largest clients, on-site, in an in-house counsel role. He led several M&A transactions and advised on a broad range of business matters.

Prior Experience

Before joining the firm, Chris was a highly decorated U.S. Air Force officer. He flew as a fighter pilot and flew worldwide missions as a reconnaissance pilot. He held several management positions, including as executive officer of a commanding unit responsible for an 8,000-member organization and operations in five countries. He was a Distinguished Graduate at each of his six formal schools. He was the number one graduate in all three of his flight training schools and, in his last assignment, was rated as the top officer among his 980 contemporaries.