Matthew Schwandt
Counsel
Overview
Matt Schwandt is an accomplished attorney and seasoned entrepreneur who returned to private practice after a decade of successfully running his own business. As the principal co-founder and board chair of Bauhaus Brew Labs, Matt has personally walked in the shoes of business owners and has overcome many of the same challenges. He has a proven track record of founding, developing, and expanding a small business, and his experience honed his capabilities in business finance, commercial transactions, strategic planning, and regulatory issues.
Matt assists clients with corporate formation and governance issues; securities offerings for closely held businesses; commercial contracts, including purchase agreements, sales and distribution contracts, and lending instruments; and general outside counsel services, particularly on compliance issues and regulatory considerations for food, beverage, and emerging cannabis businesses in Minnesota. Prior to his entrepreneurial journey, Matt served as an assistant attorney general for the state of Minnesota. He earned his J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law.
Outside the office, Matt is an avid guitar player and outdoor enthusiast who can often be found poolside cheering on his teenage kids, both of whom are competitive swimmers.
Experience
Securities & Capital Markets
- Guided early-stage manufacturing, technology and healthcare companies through Series A financing rounds, including structuring private placements under Regulation D exemptions and negotiating transaction documents.
- Advised a prominent commercial real estate development firm on a multimillion-dollar private securities offering to finance the acquisition and redevelopment of a landmark mixed-use property in downtown St. Paul.
Emerging Industries & Regulatory Compliance
- Counseled a Minnesota-based cannabis enterprise through complex regulatory approval processes for license transfer, including compliance with state cannabis regulations and corporate restructuring requirements.
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Represented a hospitality group in the strategic acquisition of an established restaurant concept and underlying real estate assets in Montana, including due diligence, purchase agreement negotiation, and closing coordination.
Corporate Governance & Restructuring
- Successfully facilitated numerous corporate entity conversions for established businesses, including LLC-to-corporation conversions and reorganizations to optimize tax structures and facilitate growth capital investment.
Honors
Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, 2026 (These awards recognize attorneys, who are earlier in their careers, for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.)