W. Morgan Burns

Partner

Overview

Morgan is a trusted adviser to public and private companies, their boards of directors and investment banks on a wide range of strategic matters, including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, and corporate governance. Morgan has deep experience across a number of industries and a variety of transaction structures, having led over 100 M&A transactions and over 100 capital markets transactions during his career. He has also advised numerous public companies on their most sensitive corporate governance and compliance matters. Morgan has firsthand business experience as a corporate development executive and as co-founder of a successful software company.

Capital Markets

Within the capital markets, Morgan has led public and private offerings of debt, equity, convertible and hybrid securities. He has acted as primary counsel for numerous IPO and follow-on equity offerings, as well as for high-yield and investment grade debt issuances. These transactions have involved representation of both issuers and investment banks and have been denominated in multiple currencies. Deal size has ranged from $10 million to over $2 billion.

Mergers & Acquisitions

In the M&A space, Morgan has led deal teams for buyers and sellers in domestic transactions and cross-border transactions involving over 30 countries. These deals have involved acquisitions and sales of public companies, PE and venture-backed companies, family-owned enterprises and carveouts from large multinationals. Deal size has ranged from less than $100 million to over $2 billion.

Public Companies

Morgan also assists public companies in their corporate governance and compliance matters. This work involves advising boards of directors on fiduciary duties and governance processes, and advising companies on their SEC and stock exchange compliance, activism defense and dealings with the public markets.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Minnesota

Education

University of Virginia School of Law
J.D. Order of the Coif (1996)

Dartmouth College
A.B. cum laude (1993)

Insights & Events

Leadership & Community

Civic Activities

  • Children's Theatre Company — Board of Governors; Executive Committee
  • Wilderness Inquiry — Board of Directors; Executive Committee
  • One Heartland — Former Board of Directors; Current Finance Committee

Firm Leadership

  • Board Member

Honors

  • Minnesota Lawyer — The POWER 30: Mergers & Acquisitions, 2023-24
  • Chambers USA — Minnesota, Corporate/M&A, 2011-23
  • Chambers USA — Minnesota, Capital Markets: Debt & Equity, 2021-23
  • Best Lawyers® — Corporate Law, 2013-24; Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2013-24 (Lawyer of the Year - 2021); Corporate Governance Law, 2014-24 (Lawyer of the Year - 2020, 2023) 
  • Minnesota Super Lawyers — Securities & Corporate Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions, 2010-23
  • Acritas — Star Lawyer, 2018-20
  • Minnesota Lawyer — Attorney of the Year, Corporate, 2013
  • BTI Client Service All-Star Team (based on survey of Fortune 1000 in-house counsel), 2007
Awards Methodology
No aspect of these recognitions has been approved by the highest court of any state.
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