John Marsalek
PEOPLE

John Marsalek

Partner
marsalek.john@dorsey.com

Overview

JOHN IS AN EXPERIENCED, BUSINESS-FOCUSED ATTORNEY WHO HELPS CLIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR BUSINESS GOALS THROUGH CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS, SUCH AS MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS, JOINT VENTURES AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS.

As a partner in the M&A practice group, John represents buyers and sellers in business transactions, venture capital financings and complex commercial arrangements.  He also provides general corporate counseling on a variety of matters, such as corporate governance, commercial contracts and technology commerce.  Prior to practicing in the United States, John practiced law in Toronto, Canada for several years.

Education & Admissions

William Mitchell College of Law (J.D., 2003), summa cum laude

Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto, Canada (LL.B., 1997)

McMaster University (MBA, 1993)

University of Toronto (B.Sc., 1990)

Admissions

  • Minnesota

Experience

Representative Transactions

Healthcare

  • Acquisition of Tufts Health Freedom Plan by UnitedHealthcare Services
  • Purchase of HealthMarkets, a provider of health and ancillary protection products to individuals and small business consumers, by Golden Rule Financial Corporation
  • Purchase of Peoples Health, a Louisiana Medicare Advantage Plan and operator of four primary care clinics, by UnitedHealthcare
  • Purchase of EPIC Hearing Services Plan and entry into a long-term supply agreement
  • Sale of Spectera vision lab assets to Essilor and entry into a long-term supply agreement
  • Purchase of Amber Pharmacy by Hy-Vee, Inc.
  • Purchase by St. Jude Medical of certain assets of MitralSolutions
  • Acquisition by Oxford Health Plans LLC of certain subsidiaries of Health Net of the Northeast, Inc.
  • Sale of Atritech, Inc. to Boston Scientific Corporation

Technology

  • Acquisition of a remote patient-monitoring and care company by Best Buy
  • Sale of MediaBeacon, a leader in Digital Asset Management (DAM) software solutions, to DHR Esko
  • Sale of MindShift Technologies, a cloud and managed services company, by Best Buy

Retail/Services

  • Acquisition of Two Peaks, LLC (Yardbird outdoor furniture) by Best Buy
  • Acquisition of Floral Merchandising Assets by Stein Industries
  • Sale of AmeriPride Services, a linen and uniform services company, to Aramark
  • Sale of Napster, a digital music service provider, by Best Buy to Rhapsody

Banking

  • Acquisition of AimBank, the wholly owned subsidiary of holding company AIM Bancshares, Inc., by FirstBank & Trust
  • Acquisition of Johnson Financial Group Arizona Branches by Arizona Bank & Trust, a wholly owned subsidiary of Heartland USA, Inc.

Manufacturing/Mining

  • Sale of the assets of Aevenia, Inc., an energy and electrical construction company, to Primoris Services Corporation
  • Purchase by Apogee Enterprises, Inc. of Glassec, a Brazilian glass manufacturer
  • Purchase by The Mosaic Company of Archer Daniels Midland Co's fertilizer distribution business in Brazil and Paraguay
  • Sale of Mosaic Argentina’s assets to Bunge Argentina
  • Purchase by The Mosaic Company of CF Industries’ phosphate mining and manufacturing operations
  • Sale of Mosaic International (Thailand) Limited to ICP Fertilizer Co., Ltd.

Strategic Transactions/Equity Investments

  • Negotiation of ammonia supply agreement, raw material supply agreement and toll manufacturing agreement relating to the production of fertilizer along with an equity investment in the fertilizer producer
  • Joint Development and License Agreement along with preferred equity investment in glass technology company
  • Negotiation of Master Services Agreements between The Mosaic Company and Hatch Ltd.
  • Sale on behalf of shareholder of minority interest in Cyromed Therapies
  • Negotiation of mining joint venture between Vale S.A., Mitsui & Co., Ltd., and The Mosaic Company
  • Series A preferred stock investment by Best Buy in Unagi scooter
  • Equity Investment by Canon USA in Spartan Bioscience Inc., a leader in on-demand DNA testing
  • Negotiate investment agreements on behalf of start-up entities in connection with seed and preferred financings

Education

  • Sale of assets relating to qualifying nurses for Certified Nurse Assistant Certificates in various States
  • Acquisition of Navvy Education, LLC, which developed a diagnostic assessment system, by NCS Pearson
  • Acquisition of MZ Development, a testing technology innovation company, by NCS Pearson
  • Acquisition of Spotlight Education, a provider of proprietary technology to create personalized video reports for students Sale of assets relating to qualifying nurses for a Certified Nurse Assistant Certificate
  • Sale of Education Software for Guiding Instruction (ESGI) in its sale to Riverside Insights, a portfolio company of Alpine Investors

News & Resources

Articles

Delaware Courts Expand Corwin Line of Cases
Delaware Chancery Court Provides Further Insights into the Validity of Anti-Reliance Clauses
2016 Amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law
Ground-Breaking Delaware Opinion: Books and Records include Electronic Documents Subject to Inspection and to be Incorporated in any Resulting Action
The Demise of Disclosure-Only Settlements?
Informed Approval of M&A Transactions by Disinterested Stockholders Invokes the Business Judgment Rule
2015 Amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law
Survival of Non-Binding LOI Provisions Does Not Make Them Binding

News & Press Mentions

IFLR1000 Ranks 13 Dorsey Lawyers and 13 Practices for 2023
200 Dorsey Lawyers Selected for Inclusion in 2024 Best Lawyers in America, Lawyers of the Year, and Ones to Watch
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes 30 Dorsey Lawyers and 10 Practices in Minneapolis
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
IFLR1000 Ranks Dorsey Lawyers and Practices for 2022
Chambers USA 2022 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
IFLR1000 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers in Banking and Finance Practices
IFLR1000 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
IFLR1000 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
IFLR 1000 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Chambers USA 2019 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Chambers USA 2018 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices in Minnesota
Chambers USA 2017 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Chambers USA 2017 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices in Minnesota
Chambers USA 2016 Ranks Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Chambers USA 2016 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices in Minnesota
Dorsey Partners Edelman, Marsalek and Tygesson Named BTI 2016 Client Service All-Stars
Chambers USA 2015 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices in Minnesota
Chambers USA 2014 Ranks Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Chambers USA 2014 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices in Minnesota
Chambers USA 2013 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices in Minnesota
Dorsey Lawyers and Practices in Minnesota Highly Ranked By Chambers & Partners

Industries & Practices

  • Canada Cross-Border Transactions
  • Closely Held Businesses
  • Corporate Governance & Compliance
  • Emerging Companies
  • Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Mining
  • Technology

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • Board of Directors of Global Minnesota (formerly the Minnesota International Center)
  • Pro Bono Counsel to Rebuilding Together, Twin Cities

Accolades

Chambers USA 2023Chambers 2022Chambers USA 2021  Ranked in Chambers USA 2020  Ranked in Chambers USA 2019 Leading Individual  
Chambers USA 2018 Leading Individual  Ranked in USA Chambers 2017 Leading Individual  Ranked In - USA Chambers and Partners 2016 - Leading Individual   
Ranked in Chambers USA 2015 - Leading Individual 

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America©, 2021-2024
  • Named one of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers” by Chambers USA (Corporate/M&A), 2011-2023

Pro Bono 50 Hours 2022

  • Contributed more than 50 Challenge pro bono hours, 2022
  • Named to BTI Client Service All-Star Attorneys, 2016

North Star Lawyer logo

  • MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2015-2016, 2018, and 2022
  • Listed as a "Rising Star" by Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2008-2009
  • IFLR1000 Highly Regarded – State, 2019-2021; 2023
John Marsalek