About

Jeffrey C. O’Brien is a partner with the law firm of  Husch Blackwell and serves as outside general counsel to a wide variety of small and closely held businesses as well as real estate investors and developers. He has significant experience working with craft breweries, distilleries, and a variety of other liquor and hospitality focused businesses on an array of issues including entity formation, financing, real estate matters, intellectual property protection, operational issues, securities law, and distribution contracts. Jeff also advises clients in the industrial hemp and cannabis industries and is a member of the Minnesota Industrial Hemp Association’s Board of Directors.

Mr. O’Brien represents multiple craft breweries and distilleries, helping them with financing issues, real estate matters, the launch of their businesses, intellectual property protection, operational issues and all of their other legal needs.  He is a member of the Craft Beer Attorney Coalition and is a frequent commentator on issues pertaining to liquor law.

Jeff has several other niche practice areas, including his work with individuals financing a business venture and/or acquiring real estate through the use of self-directed retirement accounts.

Mr. O’Brien is a Minnesota State Bar Association Board Certified Real Property Specialist and has been the voice of the “Legal Minute” on the Minnesota Home Talk radio show.  He has also appeared on  the Minnesota Beercast, and is a regular guest on The BS Show and Jon Justice in the Morning, where he is known as the “Lawyer Extraordinaire”.

Mr. O’Brien attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and graduated with honors in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering as a member of the first class of students to graduate with such a degree. He received his juris doctor with honors from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 2000

Jeff’s practice is regional and national in scope. In addition to Minnesota, Mr. O’Brien is admitted to practice in the States of Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, and before the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, the District of South Dakota and the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Non-Resident Lawyers Division (NRLD), and he regularly assists businesses across the United States on matters pertaining to Federal securities law, with an emphasis on exempt offerings under Regulation D and Regulation CF.

A frequent lecturer and writer, Mr. O’Brien has presented and written articles on a variety of topics such as asset protection planning, entity conversions, real estate law and real estate lending and loan documentation and other general business matters.

Mr. O’Brien has been named as a Minnesota Super Lawyer eight times, including 2023. From 2008 through 2012 he was named a Minnesota Super Lawyer “Rising Star” , a designation reserved for only 2.5 percent of all attorneys in Minnesota.  In 2014, he was named by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal as one of its “Forty Under 40” and a Minnesota Monthly Top Lawyer for 2023.

Mr. O’Brien is a passionate networker and prides himself on leveraging his connections for the benefit of his clients and others’ businesses.

Areas of Practice:

Real Estate Law
Business Law
Brewery Law
Hemp/Cannabis Law
Sports and Entertainment Law
Entity Formations
Business Transactions
Mergers and Acquisitions
Securities Law
Contract Drafting
Trademark Registrations
Franchising
Business Loan Documentation
Corporate Finance/Securities
Real Estate Transactions
Registration Proceedings
Quiet Title Actions
Commercial Leasing
Landlord-Tenant/Unlawful Detainer
Condominiums/Homeowners Associations
Commercial Real Estate Loan Documentation
Mechanic’s Lien Litigation
Mortgage Foreclosures
Estate and Business Succession Planning
Wills
Trusts
Family Limited Partnerships
Buy-Sell Agreements

Certification/Specialties:
Board Certified Real Property Specialist, MSBA

Admissions:

Minnesota, 2000
Wisconsin, 2006
Iowa, 2021
South Dakota, 2022
North Dakota, 2023

U.S. District Court, Minnesota
U.S. District Court, Iowa (Northern District)
U.S. District Court, Iowa (Southern District)
U.S. District Court, South Dakota

Education:
William Mitchell College of Law, St Paul, Minnesota, 2000
J.D.
Honors: Cum Laude

University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States, 1997
B.S.
Honors: Cum Laude
Honors: Aquinas Scholar
Major: Manufacturing Engineering

Honors and Awards:
Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal 40 Under 40, 2014
Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2013-2019
Minnesota Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2008 – 2012
MSBA Board Certified Real Property Law Specialist

Professional Associations, Memberships and Community Involvement:
Hennepin County Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association, Real Property Law Section
State Bar of Wisconsin
State Bar of Wisconsin, Non-Resident Lawyers Division, Board of Directors, July 2022-Present
State Bar of Wisconsin, Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section
Wisconsin Entertainment Law Association
Iowa Bar Association
State Bar of South Dakota

State Bar of South Dakota, Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section
American Bar Association
American Bar Association, Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section
Minnesota Industrial Hemp Association, Board of Directors, 2019-Present
Enchanted Hollow Foundation, March 2021 – Present
Financial Security Bank, Community Advisory Board, July 2022 – Present
Gaia Collective, Board of Directors, 2001-2004
American Association of Microbusinesses, Board of Directors, 2008-2012
U.S.- China Business Connections, Board of Directors, 2010