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Charles BerquistCharles Berquist
Charles C. Berquist
Attorney
60 South Sixth Street
Suite 2700
Minneapolis, MN 55402
P 612.341.9726
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Charlie Berquist is a partner in the firm's Business Law practice area. His clients include individuals, for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations and public pension plans. He has represented clients in a wide variety of transactions and projects including start-ups, transition and succession planning, debt and equity financing, franchising, mergers and acquisitions, technology agreements and executive employment and separation agreements.

Charlie has extensive experience and expertise in executive compensation, including incentive and equity compensation plans, qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, and other compensation and benefit plans and agreements. He regularly advises employers and employees on executive compensation and benefit plan design and administration, including compliance with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, federal and state securities laws, and other applicable laws and regulations. Click here to read his most recent article.

Experience

Charlie also regularly advises buyers and sellers in connection with mergers and acquisitions. His recent projects in this area include the following:

  • In January 2023, represented a semiconductor equipment manufacturer now based in Malaysia in its sale to a strategic buyer for $28 million.  Charlie and the firm had represented the client since its IPO in the mid-1990s.
  • In November 2022, represented the owners of three medical product distributors in the sale of their companies to a buyer backed by private equity.  The transaction was structured as two stock sales and an asset sale, plus employment agreements for management.
  • During 2022, represented an Iowa company that sells industrial cleaning services and products in its purchase of two complementary companies in Texas and one in New Jersey.
  • In November 2021, represented the sole shareholder and President of a commercial HVAC contractor in the sale of his company to a public company, and the negotiation of a new employment agreement between him and the buyer.  The transaction had a total value of approximately $47 million.
  • In April 2021, represented the owners of a digital marketing company in their sale to a private equity buyer, in a transaction that utilized a tax-free F reorganization and partial equity rollover by the sellers.
  • In April, 2020, represented three family members in the sale of their industrial tank manufacturing business.  The sale involved the sale of an operating company and real estate holding company, and the negotiation of consulting agreements between the buyer and the three family members.
  • Represented a Minnesota company with an iconic brand of  luxury leather goods in its sale in November 2019 to a public company for a combination of cash and stock of the buyer.
  • In June 2019, represented a group of oral surgeons in the sale of their practice and negotiation of long-term employment and compensation agreements with a national practice management company.
  • In June 2018, represented the owners of a regional product distribution company in a sale to a strategic buyer for $43 million.
Related Practices
Business & Corporate Law
Emerging Companies
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Employment Law
Family & Closely-Held Business Planning
Mergers & Acquisitions
Securities Law
Education
Notre Dame University, J.D., magna cum laude
Macalester College, B.A.
Admissions
State of Minnesota
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
U.S. Claims Court
Language(s)
Firm News
Professional Associations
  • American Bar Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association (Business Law Section)
  • Hennepin County Bar Association
Awards & Recognition
  • Top Lawyers in Minnesota, Minnesota Monthly, 2022
    • Employee Benefits Law
  • Honoree, Minnesota Super Lawyers