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© 2012 Dorsey & Whitney LLP

  • University of Minnesota Law School (J.D., 1992), Cum laude
  • Washington University (B.S., Business Administration, 1988), With Honors
  • Escuela Libre de Derecho, Mexico City (Diploma, International Business Law, 1993)

  • Minnesota

  • Spanish and French

C. Christopher Bercaw

Partner
Minneapolis
P: (612) 492-6122
F: (612) 465-4217
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A partner in the Corporate group since 2001, Chris Bercaw focuses on the representation of public and privately owned companies in mergers and acquisitions, complex commercial contract matters, international transactions, corporate finance and general corporate law. His clients range from development-stage companies to large, established businesses.

Chris has lived and practiced law in Europe, Asia and Latin America. He returned to Minneapolis in 2004 after five years in the firm's Brussels and Tokyo offices.

Representative Work
  • Lead counsel in a broad range of M&A transactions, representing buyers and sellers in domestic and cross-border acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures.
  • Outside general counsel to various businesses without in-house counsel, including med-tech, manufacturing, apparel and specialty engineering companies.
  • Regular advisor on international business law matters, including establishment of foreign operations, negotiation of sales agency, distributorship, manufacturing and supply agreements, strategic alliances, technology transactions, employment issues and dispute resolution.

Presentations

  • “Business and Investment Opportunities in Turkey,” co-sponsored by Dorsey & Whitney LLP, KPMG and the Minnesota International Center, 2012
  • “Managing a Global Workforce,” co-sponsored by Dorsey & Whitney LLP, KPMG and the Minnesota International Center, 2011
  • “Global Bribery Risks: Complying with the FCPA and Other Anti-Bribery Laws,” Dorsey & Whitney LLP Corporate Counsel Symposium, 2010
  • “Beyond China: Business Opportunities in Southeast Asia,” co-sponsored by Dorsey & Whitney LLP, KPMG and the Minnesota International Center, 2010
  • “Doing Business with Brazil,” co-sponsored by Dorsey & Whitney LLP, KPMG, Caux Roundtable and the Minnesota International Center, 2009
  • "Successful Partnering between Inside and Outside Counsel,” Dorsey & Whitney LLP client program, 2008
  • "Buyer Beware! The Erosion of M&A Buyer Protections and What You Can Do about It,” Dorsey & Whitney LLP Corporate Counsel Symposium, 2006
  • "Structuring M&A Transactions in Japan," Dorsey & Whitney LLP, seminar on Doing Business in China and Japan, 2004
  • "How Not to Turn a Blessing into a Curse: Advice on International Equity Based Compensation Plans", Dorsey & Whitney LLP Corporate Counsel Symposium, 2001
  • "New Developments regarding Investments and Doing Business between Europe and Latin America," New York State Bar Association Conference, Budapest, Hungary, 1999
  • Series of lectures at St. Thomas University on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and doing business in Mexico, 1997-1998.
  • "Export Tools and Techniques – Legal Issues," Minnesota Trade Office, 1997 and 1999
  • "Four Things Every Business Lawyer Should Know about NAFTA," Hennepin County Bar Association, Business and Franchise Law Section, 1996

Professional Activities

  • Chair, Board of Directors and Treasurer of The Advocates for Human Rights
  • Member, Development Committee and former Board Member of the Minnesota International Center
  • Adjunct Instructor of International Business Law and lecturer at the University of St. Thomas, College of Business
  • Member, Minnesota State Bar Association, International and Business Law Sections
  • Member, Board of Directors of the Minnesota Justice Foundation, 1994-1999

Attorney Articles

2001
Author, "Regulating E-Commerce in Europe: The Rhetoric and the Reality"
1993
"Et tu, Mexico? The Abandonment of the Calvo Doctrine as an Obstacle to the Resolution of Investment Disputes in Latin America," Estudios Jurídicos