Ryan C. Brauer

Practical. Efficient. Responsive. Ryan knows that understanding your business is the best way he can help you achieve your objectives. Ryan combines nearly two decades of experience with deep and broad knowledge of corporate transactions and the securities laws to help his clients complete a wide range of corporate finance transactions.

Ryan is Co-Chair of our Mergers & Acquisitions Department, which was recently ranked in the Top 15 among US law firms in Pitchbook’s 2020 Annual Global League Tables, based on 2020 deal volume. Ryan has a diverse M&A practice that spans private equity, strategic buy-side and sell-side deals, and he also leads our ESOP M&A team. Ryan also frequently represents emerging companies on growth equity financings, serving as outside general corporate counsel to many of his clients. Ryan previously Co-Chaired our Corporate and Securities Department and continues to represent publicly-traded companies and their boards on SEC reporting and compliance, corporate governance, strategic transactions and financings.

Ryan also represents underwriters and placement agents in equity and debt financings, as well as on FINRA compliance matters.

The majority of Ryan’s clients are in the life sciences/healthcare industries, and he also has significant experience representing clients in the energy, software/technology (including artificial intelligence and virtual reality applications), cryptocurrency, media, digital marketing and advertising, industrial manufacturing and restaurant/hospitality industries.

• Represented Celcuity Inc. (NASDAQ: CELC) on its initial public offering (IPO)
• Represented Craig-Hallum Capital Group, LLC as underwriter on the IPO of Miromatrix Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIRO)
• Represents publicly-traded corporations on SEC compliance and corporate governance matters
• Represented AGA Medical Holdings, Inc. in its sale to St. Jude Medical, Inc.
• Represented Dougherty & Company LLC as underwriter on follow-on common stock offering by Diversified Restaurant Holdings, Inc.
• Represented Craig-Hallum Capital Group, LLC as underwriter on follow-on common stock offering by Datalink
• Represented Titan Machinery Inc. in its initial public offering and two follow-on offerings
• Represented a publicly-traded data storage value-added reseller in a 144A convertible debt offering, a $110 million convertible subordinated notes exchange offer and a $50 million acquisition of privately-held target
• Represented local assisted-living facility in $5 million private placement of LLC interests
• Represented durable medical products manufacturer in its initial public offering
• Represented local software-as-a-service company in $90 million sale transaction
• Represented local filtration device manufacturer in $225 million sale transaction
• Represented publicly-traded wind energy components manufacturer in numerous acquisitions and securities financing transactions
• Represented local medical device manufacturer in a $3 million convertible debt offering
• Represented local software company in $3 million venture capital preferred equity investment
• Represented local software company in $15 million minority investment in preferred equity
• Represented a leading boutique investment bank in its sale to BMO Capital Markets
• Represented Incisive Surgical, Inc. in its sale to Cooper Surgical, Inc.
• Represented more than 100 sellers with transaction sizes from $5 million to $1.3 billion, in a wide variety of industries, and with the buyers being leading strategic and financial buyers for mid-market and lower mid-market companies

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 2003, cum laude
• University of Nebraska, B.J., News-Editorial, 1999, cum laude

Admissions

• Minnesota, 2003

• Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law, 2021-2025; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2022-2025
• Minnesota Lawyer POWER 30 Top M&A Attorney, 2023-2024
• Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Minnesota - Capital Markets: Debt & Equity, 2022-2024
• Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Minnesota - Corporate/M&A, 2020-2024
• Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Minnesota - Corporate/M&A, Up and Coming, 2019
• North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2012-2014
• Minnesota Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2009-2010
• Nebraska Cornhuskers National Championship football team, Linebacker, 1995

Professional Activities 

• Minnesota Law Review, Managing Editor, 2002-2003; Staff Member, 2001-2002