Ryan Gerads sees each deal as a pivotal moment that creates life-changing opportunities for buyers and sellers, fostering mutual success. His philosophy emphasizes empowering clients through thoughtful legal guidance while contributing to the broader economic landscape. One client said, “Ryan will be a good long-term partner. He has deep tax experience, and I appreciate his intellect, values and our annual conversations to optimize the business.”

Ryan Gerads is the Partner in Charge of Lathrop GPM’s St. Cloud office and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He practices corporate, business and tax law. His work centers on mergers and acquisitions, private and closely held businesses, and advising venture capital funds, private equity funds and other private investors. Ryan’s collaborative approach and comprehensive oversight in mergers and acquisitions, business transitions and private fund matters across various industries foster successful growth for companies and investors.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Ryan brings extensive experience representing business owners, private companies and private investment and equity firms in acquisitions and divestitures across industries, including:

  • Distribution
  • Food and agribusiness
  • Manufacturing
  • Medical devices
  • Professional services
  • Software

His work spans buy and sell-side transactions from $1 million to $200 million and beyond. Ryan advises clients on all aspects of the merger and acquisitions process, coordinating budgets, leading attorney and banker teams, managing due diligence and negotiating definitive agreements for successful closings.

Private and Closely Held Business

As outside counsel to private and closely held businesses, Ryan handles corporate matters from strategic transactions and investments to business succession. He collaborates with owners and senior management to implement executive benefit plans and advises Boards of Directors on succession planning and corporate governance. He also works closely with owners on succession strategies, including transitioning the business to the next generation, employee groups or preparing it for sale.

Private Fund Advising

Ryan represents venture capital funds, private equity funds and other private investors. He is committed to enriching local economies, as he collaborates with investment funds that nurture local businesses, understanding that this sustains jobs and creates a positive community impact. He counsels private funds on the following:

  • Capital structuring
  • Corporate governance
  • Fund formation
  • General corporate matters involving fundraising
  • Tax matters

When asked…

What do you do outside of work?

I’m active with my wife and three kids, all preteens and teens, attending sporting events and traveling together. My family and I also love watching the Minnesota Vikings. I enjoy ski trips with friends and clients and cherish sunny days outdoors with my family. Pheasant hunting and cooking are my passions—I have just as many cookbooks as legal resources!

Areas of Focus

Services

Experience

Mergers & Acquisitions

  • Advised a private equity-owned internet and fiber infrastructure provider in its bid to acquire assets and broaden its scope within a regulated industry.
  • Guided a regional feed products company through multiple acquisitions to broaden its product line and customer base.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its disposition of a manufacturer of commercial trailers to strategic buyers.
  • Represented a privately held distributor of welding products and supplies in a series of acquisitions over a decade, diversifying holdings, expanding geographic reach and broadening product offerings.

  • Represented DeZURIK, Inc., a manufacturer of industrial and municipal valves, in acquiring Valve and Primer Corporation, Hilton Valve, Inc. and Red Valve.
  • Represented Granite Partners, a private investment and holding company, on platform investments in biomedical products, heavy manufacturing, software, high-tech circuit manufacturing, medical technology and automation sectors.
  • Represented Massman Companies, Inc. in acquiring New England Machinery, Inc., EDL Packaging Engineers, Inc., Ideal-Pak Incorporated and DTM Packaging, LLC.
  • Represented private sellers of a paving and infrastructure company in a tax-free merger with a public untility.
  • Represented privately held trailer manufacturer in disposition to strategic buyer.
  • Represented a privately held trailer manufacturer in its acquisition to expand its product offering and geographic footprint.
  • Supported a privately held frozen food manufacturer in acquiring a distribution business across the mid- and southwest regions.
  • Supported Microbiologics, Inc. in acquiring Gibson Bioscience, Inc., Virapur, LLC, Micromyx, Inc, and SensID, GmBH.

Private and Closely Held Business

  • Advised a portfolio of over 20 closely held businesses on restructuring and transitioning to a new generation of leadership.
  • Guided a family-owned business through its transition to third-generation ownership.
  • Represented a management team in acquiring a manufacturing company from a private equity owner.
  • Supported a portfolio of privately held businesses in implementing stock and non-stock incentive plans across multiple entities.

Private Fund Advising

  • Advised clients on forming private equity investment funds, conducting private securities offerings and ongoing fund operations.
  • Assisted a private investment fund in multiple tax-free restructurings of its portfolio holdings.
  • Assisted a private investment fund in multiple advisor-led secondary transactions.
  • Guided the formation and private securities offerings of real estate investment funds.

Credentials

Education

  • Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (LL.M., 2005)
  • New England Law | Boston (J.D., 2004)
  • Marquette University (B.S., Finance and International Business, 2001)

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Tax Court

Recognitions

  • “5 Under 40,” St. Cloud Times, 2017

Presentations

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

Professional Activities

  • Stearns-Benton Bar Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association, Tax Section

Community Involvement

  • 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