William A. Jonason
PEOPLE

William A. Jonason

Partner
jonason.bill@dorsey.com

Overview

BILL'S PRACTICE FOCUSES ON CORPORATE LAW AND MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS.

Bill has been a partner in the Corporate group for over thirty years, and is chair of the Closely Held Businesses practice group and former co-chair of the Mergers & Acquisitions practice group. His practice focuses on corporate law and mergers and acquisitions for both publicly held and closely held companies. He serves as general counsel for numerous small and medium-size businesses without in-house counsel.

Bill has substantial experience in advising clients on corporate formations, financings, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, commercial contracts, shareholder agreements, shareholder disputes, succession planning and tax planning.

Bill was a member of the firm's Policy Committee for eight years and was a member of the Board of Directors of Dorsey & Whitney Foundation for seven years. He was also recently the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Science Museum of Minnesota (having been on that board for six years), and was recently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Walker Art Center for three years. He is also a past Chair of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, having served on its board from 2007 to 2015. Bill has also served on the boards of Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest, Rochester Public Library Foundation and Rochester Public School Foundation.

Education & Admissions

University of Iowa College of Law (J.D., 1983), with distinction
Senior Articles Editor, Iowa Law Review

St. Olaf College (B.A., Economics, 1980), with honors

Admissions

  • Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
  • U.S. Tax Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Clerkships

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, Chief Judge Donald Lay, 1983-1984

Experience

Representative Clients

  • Mayo Clinic
  • UnitedHealth Group, Inc.
  • Thomson Reuters
  • SUPERVALU INC.
  • C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. 
  • The Schwan Food Company 
  • Cretex Companies, Inc.
  • Brock White Company
  • DecoPac, Inc.
  • Personnel Decisions International Corporation
  • Minnetronix, Inc.
  • Concordia International Corp.

News & Resources

Select Presentations

  • Adjunct Professor of Law, Corporations, Hamline Law School
  • Adjunct Professor of Law, Business Planning, St. Thomas Law School
  • Lecturer at legal education seminars on mergers and acquisitions, corporate formations and shareholder disputes

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • Member, Minnesota Bar Association
  • Member, Hennepin County Bar Association
  • Board of Directors:
    • Science Museum of Minnesota (2014-2020; Chair 2018-2019)
    • Walker Art Center (Member of Acquisition Committee, Finance Committee and Chair of Corporate Giving Committee) (2017-2020)
    • Dorsey & Whitney Foundation (Secretary, Treasurer) (2012-2019)
    • Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce (2007-2015; Chair 2013-2014)
    • Minneapolis Downtown Council (2013-2014)
    • Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest (2002-2008)
    • Rochester Public Library Foundation (1996-2002; Past Chair)
    • Rochester Public School Foundation (1998-2002)

Accolades

Ranked in Chambers USA 2019 Leading Individual  Chambers USA 2018 Leading Individual  North Star Lawyer logo

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America©, Corporate Law, 2024
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America©, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2024
  • Recommended by Legal 500 United States, 2019
  • Named one of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers” by Chambers USA (Corporate/M&A), 2018 and 2019
  • IFLR1000 Highly Regarded – State, 2018-2021; 2023
  • MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2014
  • Minneapolis Star Tribune, Movers and Shakers 2013
William A. Jonason