Dorsey & Whitney
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
Holland & Hart
With 13 offices spread through Alaska, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Utah, New Mexico and Washington DC, Holland & Hart is a highly regarded business firm.
The firm was founded in 1947 in Denver, which remains the firm’s largest office. It is the largest Colorado-based firm as well as the largest firm in Wyoming.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm does exceptional work in financial and corporate practice areas, as well as in project development.
The firm has experience in capital markets, representing issuers in bond issuances, equity funding and recapitalizations.
In the M&A practice, the firm represents strategic sellers and acquirers in company acquisitions, asset acquisitions and strategic partnerships.
The firm’s project development and finance practice largely work on project financing. It represents developers in power purchase agreements, project acquisitions, acquisition financing and project funding. It is well known within the energy industry.
within the corporate practice firm-wide, 50% of partners are women.
Key clients
Key clients for the firm include Roaring Fork Wind, Flying Cow Wind, MGM Resorts International, Duke Energy Renewables, Summit Turquoise, Webroot, DCP Midstream, Caliber Midstream Partners, Jalex Holdings and Bow River Capital.
Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)
During the research period the Colorado offices engaged in a couple of capital markets transactions, specifically bond issuances, Series D funding and recapitalizations.
The M&A team acted mostly on the sell side in acquisitions.
The projects teams represented developers mostly in power purchase agreements and project sales. Renewable energy was a big industry for the team, especially wind and solar energy.
In the M&A practice the Colorado office hired partners Chuck Cotter and Finity Jernigan from Polsinelli. The Utah office saw partner Kristy Kimball join from Kimball Law. The Idaho office saw the departure of partner Tom Chandler.
Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)
Carbonite $619 million acquisition of Webroot
DCP Midstream $600 million 5.125% bond issue
Duke Energy Renewables acquisition of 60MW Palmer solar project
