Ryan C. Gerads

Ryan Gerads is the Partner in Charge of Lathrop GPM's St. Cloud office and practices in the areas of corporate, business and tax law. His practice focuses on:

Mergers & Acquisitions

Ryan has extensive experience representing business owners, private companies, private investment and private equity firms in acquisitions and divestitures in a multitude of industries, including, manufacturing, medical device, food and agribusiness, software, distribution and professional services.  Ryan’s mergers and acquisitions experience includes acting as lead outside attorney on buy and sell side transactions ranging from $1 million to $200 million and beyond.  He has extensive experience advising clients in all aspects of the mergers and acquisitions process, including working with the client to develop budgets, managing a team of attorneys, investment bankers and clients to coordinate due diligence, negotiate definitive agreements, and successfully close matters.

Private and Closely Held Business

Ryan serves as outside general counsel for private and closely held businesses on corporate matters ranging from strategic transactions and investments to business succession. He offers unique, end-to-end solutions to meet objectives and help organizations grow by working with owners and senior management to design and implement executive benefit plans, and advise Boards of Directors on management succession plans and corporate governance. Ryan also counsels closely held business on succession planning assisting owners with identifying solutions to transition their business to its next phase, whether that is includes the next generation, a group of employees, or to prepare the business for sale.

Private Fund Advising

Ryan represents venture capital funds, private equity funds, and other private investors on tax, corporate governance, and general corporate matters related to fundraising, fund formation and capital structure.

Representative Experience

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Represented Granite Partners, a private investment and holding company, in platform investments in biomedical products and controls, heavy manufacturing, software, high tech circuit manufacturing, medical technology, and automation industries.
• Represented Massman Companies, Inc. in its acquisition of New England Machinery, Inc., EDL Packaging Engineers, Inc, Ideal-Pak Incorporated, DTM Packaging, LLC.
• Represented DeZURIK, Inc., a manufacturer of industrial and municipal valves, in its acquisition of Valve and Primer Corporation, Hilton Valve, Inc, and Red Valve.
• Represented Microbiologics, Inc. in its acquisition of Gibson Bioscience, Inc., Virapur, LLC, and Micromyx, Inc.
• Represented a regional feed products company in multiple acquisitions expanding their product line and customer base.
• Represented a private equity firm in its disposition of a manufacturer of commercial trailers to strategic buyer.
• Represented privately held trailer manufacturer in disposition to strategic buyer.
• Represented privately held trailer manufacturer in its acquisition to expand its product offering and geographic footprint.
• Represented privately held distributor of welding products and supplies in multiple acquisitions over 10 years to diversify its holdings, expand its geographic reach and broaden its product offerings.
• Represented privately held frozen food manufacturer in its acquisition of distribution business throughout the mid- and southwest.
• Represented private sellers of a paving and infrastructure company in their tax-free merger with a public company.
• Represented private equity owned internet and fiber infrastructure provider in its bid for to acquire assets and expand scope in a highly regulated environment.

Private and Closely Held Business

• Represented a portfolio of more than 20 closely held businesses with restructuring and transition to the next generation of leaders
• Represented family business with the transition to third generation of family ownership
• Represented portfolio of privately held businesses with the implementation of stock and non-stock incentive plans across multiple companies
• Represented management team on acquisition of manufacturing company from private equity owner

Private Fund Advising

• Advised multiple clients on the formation, private security offering, and operation of private equity investment funds.
• Advised clients on the formation and private security offering of real estate investment funds. 

• Co-presenter, “Environmental Considerations in M&A Transactions,” ACC MN 11^th Annual In-House Counsel Conference, June 16, 2022

• Stearns-Benton Bar Association

• Minnesota State Bar Association

• American Bar Association, Tax Section

• Saint John’s Preparatory School, Board of Regents, Chair, 2006-2017

• United Way of Central Minnesota, Chair, 2014-present

• United Cerebral Palsy of Central Minnesota, Board of Directors, 2006-2012

• Saint Cloud Granite Rotary, 2006-2014

• “5 Under 40,” St. Cloud Times, 2017