Christopher J. Bellini

Chair, Private Equity
Co-Chair, Capital Markets & Securities

Minneapolis

(612) 260-9029

(612) 260-9080

Recent News:

Cozen O’Connor Lawyers and Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2025 Guide

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 98 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2025 edition.

Chris is chair of Cozen O'Connor's Private Equity Practice and co-chair of the Capital Markets & Securities Practice. Chris concentrates his practice on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and securities and compliance issues. His clients include private equity firms and their portfolio companies, public and private companies in a variety of industries, and investment banks.

Chris’ mergers and acquisition practice focuses on representing strategic and private equity buyers and sellers on public and private acquisitions and divestitures, as well as representing boards of directors of public companies on their fiduciary duties in the context of a change of control. His securities practice focuses on representing issuers and underwriters in SEC-registered public offerings, debt financing, and private placement transactions, and on securities compliance and corporate governance matters.

During his career, Chris also spent time as an investment banker at Piper Jaffray & Co. (now Piper Sandler Companies). In this role, he advised clients in the technology industry on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions.

Chris earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School and his LL.M. from the New York University School of Law, where he was the graduate editor of the New York University Journal of International Law and Politics. Chris received his bachelor's degree, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota. 

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Experience

Represented Spell Capital Partners, LLC in connection with its acquisition of Complete Packaging, LLC, a leading supplier of precision-engineered and customizable packaging solutions primarily to automotive and industrial markets based in Monroe, Mich.

Underwriter’s counsel to JMP Securities, LLC, acting as sole book-running manager for $50 million common stock offering for Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation.

Underwriter’s counsel to Alexander Capital, L.P., acting as lead selling agent for a $2.7 million and a $2.8 million common stock offering for AzurX BioPharma, Inc.

Represented Acreage Holdings, Inc. in connection with its acquisition of Form Factory, Inc., a cannabis manufacturer, co-packer, and distributor headquartered in Portland, Ore.

Represented Spell Capital Partners, LLC in connection with its acquisition of Polar Plastics Inc., a manufacturer of plastic film and low-density polyethylene packaging products based in St. Paul, Minn.

Represented Acreage Holdings, Inc.’s U.S. corporate counsel in its reverse takeover of Toronto-based Applied Inventions Management, resulting in the listing of Acreage shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange.

Represented Spell Capital Partners, a Minnesota-based private equity firm, and its portfolio company, Viking Plastics, in connection with the acquisition of Genesis Plastics and Engineering, LLC and Genesis Plastics Solutions, LLC.

Represented Spell Capital Partners, LLC in its acquisition of Viking Engineering & Development, Inc., a manufacturer of automated wood pallet and bedding manufacturer equipment. The transaction drew on the experience of the firm's corporate, employee benefits, tax, real estate, intellectual property, and environmental attorneys.

Underwriter’s counsel to Alexander Capital, L.P., acting as lead managing selling agent for $6.5 million Regulation A+ initial public offering of common stock of Xspand Products Labs, Inc.

Represented Spell Capital Partners, LLC and its portfolio company, Viking Plastics, in connection with its acquisition of Kentucky Manufacturing & Technology, LLC, a Louisville, Ky.-based manufacturer of high-precision, custom injection molded products.

Served as underwriters’ counsel to WallachBeth Capital, LLC and Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc. in the initial public offering of Co-Diagnostics, Inc.

Underwriter’s counsel to Boenning & Scattergood, Inc., acting as sole book-running manager (with American Capital Partners, LLC and Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC acting as co-managers) in connection with an underwritten public offering by 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc. of its 8% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A.

Underwriter’s counsel to JMP Securities, LLC, acting as sole book-running manager for $100 million convertible senior note offering for Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation.

Underwriter’s counsel to JMP Securities, LLC, acting as placement agent for equity distribution at-the-market offering for Five Oaks Investment Corp.

Underwriter’s counsel to JMP Securities, LLC, acting as placement agent for equity distribution at-the-market offering for Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation.  

Underwriter’s counsel to WallachBeth Capital, LLC and Network1 Financial Securities, Inc., acting as co-book running managers for $5.2 million initial public offering of common stock of AzurRX BioPharma, Inc.

Represented the underwriters in connection with the initial public offering of AzurRX BioPharma, Inc., which develops non-systemic, recombinant protein therapies for gastrointestinal diseases and is headquartered in Brooklyn, N.Y., with scientific operations based in Langlade, France.

Represented WWSC Holdings, LLC, one of the largest structural steel fabrication and erection companies in North America, in connection with the acquisition by Alleghany Capital Corporation of a majority interest in the company.

Counsel to Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. in its at-the-market offering of shares of common stock.

Counsel to Spell Capital Partners, LLC on its sale of Engineered Products Company to the Donaldson Company, Inc.

U.S. counsel to Robert Bosch GmbH on its sale of Bosch Rexroth AG global pneumatics business to Triton Partners.

Counsel to Piper Jaffray Companies, financial advisor to Solta Medical, on its fairness opinion in connection with the tender offer by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc.

Counsel to Genmab A/S on its sale of an antibody manufacturing facility to Baxter, a medical manufacturer and researcher.

News

Cozen O’Connor Lawyers and Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2025 Guide

June 05, 2025

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 98 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2025 edition.

Cozen O’Connor Announces New Group Leadership, OMPs, Other Promotions

March 11, 2025

Cozen O’Connor announced today new practice group leadership, office managing partners, and leaders of firm committees and initiatives.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Six Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named to 2024 Minnesota Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

July 22, 2024

Thomas G. Wallrich and Christopher J. Bellini were recognized as Super Lawyers, and John E. Crozier, Cassandra Jacobsen, Samuel E. Mogensen, and Curt N. Trisko were named Rising Stars.

Fourteen Cozen O’Connor Lawyers Named to Minnesota Monthly “Top Lawyers” list

July 09, 2024

The list will appear in the July/August 2024 issue of Minnesota Monthly

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 230 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Business Today Names 32 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to Its Top 10 Lists

July 28, 2023

These lists recognize lawyers “mastering,” “leading,” “revolutionizing,” and “dominating” their fields in their respective states and nationwide.

Legal 500 Recognizes Six Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 16 Attorneys in its 2023 Guide

July 10, 2023

Cozen O'Connor's Aviation (Litigation/Regulation), Construction, L&E, M&A (Midmarket), Shipping (Finance and Litigation/Regulation) practices were ranked by the Legal 500.

Eighty-eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 23 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2023 Guide

June 05, 2023

Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.

Chambers Ranks 86 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 22 Practice Areas in Chambers USA 2022 Guide

June 02, 2022

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.

82 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 19 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2021 Guide

May 26, 2021

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.

Cozen O'Connor Represents Underwriters in Cannabis Finance REIT Readies $100M IPO

February 03, 2021

AFC Gamma, a Florida-based real estate investment trust that finances cannabis ventures, set terms for a roughly $100 million initial public offering.

Cozen O’Connor Promotes Six Members to Shareholder

August 24, 2020

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce the promotion of six members to shareholders.

Publications

SEC Adopts Final Private Fund Adviser Rules [Alert]

August 28, 2023

The SEC's new rules and amendments are designed to increase transparency, competition, and efficiency in the private funds market.

SEC Adopts Final Rules for Share Repurchase Disclosure [Alert]

May 04, 2023

On May 3, 2023, the SEC adopted final rules that significantly increase insurers' disclosure obligations.

Gensler's SEC Can Bring Regulatory Clarity to Digital Assets

April 14, 2021

Chris Bellini and Kara Kapp discuss potential changes to be made to the digital assets industry as a result of Gensler’s recent appointment as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission in ThinkAdvisor.

SEC Releases Sample Comment Letter for Issuers Conducting Offerings During Periods of Volatility [Alert]

February 23, 2021

Chris Bellini discusses the sample letter published by the SEC that identifies a number of sample comments the SEC may provide to issuers conducting securities offerings amid market and price volatility.

Nasdaq Proposes New Rules Regarding Board Diversity for Listed Companies

December 03, 2020

On December 1, 2020, The Nasdaq Stock Market filed a proposal with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to adopt new listing rules that relate to diversity of board composition, proposed Rule 5605(f), and disclosure of statistical information on board composition, proposed Rule 5606.

SEC Adopts Amendments to Modernize Shareholder Proposal Rules [Alert]

September 28, 2020

Chris Bellini discusses the SEC's amendments to modernize Rule 14a-8, which governs the process for shareholder proposals to be included in a company’s proxy statement.

Education

  • University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 1998
  • New York University School of Law, LL.M., 2000
  • University of Minnesota , B.A., cum laude, 1994

Awards & Honors

Chambers and Partners USA, 2020-2025

Stand-out Lawyer, Thomson Reuters

Best Lawyers in America, 2024 - 2025

M&A Attorney Power List, Minnesota Lawyer, 2025

Top Lawyers in Minnesota, Minnesota Monthly, 2024

Super Lawyers, 2024

  • Minnesota
  • New York