Michael S. Raum

Mike focuses his practice on corporate and business transactions, working with clients at key points in the lifecycle of their businesses. His services range from company formation, structuring and exempt securities offerings to helping founders exit through sales or other dispositions of their companies—as well as all the crucial stages in between. He frequently serves as outside general counsel for companies with ongoing legal needs, working to become as much a part of the in-house business teams as possible to help them deal with increasingly complex legal and regulatory issues.

Mike also represents taxpayers in disputes with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the State of North Dakota. These include audits as well as complex collection matters. He frequently works with individuals and businesses on complex administrative legal matters involving state or federal regulatory compliance.

Prior to joining the firm, Mike was general counsel at an investment management firm with interests in ethanol processing, hotel development and management, and real estate. He also worked as a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division.

• Assisted a local internet marketing firm in its sale to a public-traded buyer for $14 million.
• Represented a South Dakota ag products producer in its sale to a multinational acquirer for more than $60 million.
• Worked with a local medical facility in executing a strategic joint venture with a national industry integrator.
• Assisted a local wholesaling business in obtaining capital through a private-equity preferred stock transaction.
• Represented a debtor in years-long bankruptcy litigation resulting in recovery of over $10 million in illegally collected taxes.
• Worked with a regional charitable thrift store in an IRS audit challenging its tax exempt status.

Education

• University of North Dakota School of Law, J.D., 2000
• Concordia College, B.A., 1997, summa cum laude

Admissions

• Minnesota
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• U.S. Tax Court
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims

• Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law, 2021-2025; Tax Law, 2021-2025
• Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, North Dakota - Corporate/Commercial, 2015-2024
• Great Plains Super Lawyers Rising Star, Tax, 2014-2015

Professional Activities

• Business Law Section of the American Bar Association, North Dakota Liaison to the ABA Corporate Laws Committee
• Board Member, Sanford Health (Fargo)

Community

• Treasurer, Olivet Lutheran Church