Contact Me

(612) 252-2867

Clark Opdahl

Attorney, Past President & Shareholder

Caution: Sending an email or contacting us through this website does not create an attorney-client relationship with Henson Efron. Please do not share confidential or sensitive information unless you have formally retained our firm. Unsolicited communications will not be treated as confidential, nor will they create a conflict that would prevent us from representing current or former clients. By proceeding, you acknowledge and accept these terms.

SERVICES

Assisted By
Kathy Godfrey
(612) 252-2836

Clients Say

With more than 35 years of experience, I provide strategic counsel to individuals and businesses of all sizes, from well-established midsized companies to major corporations. My practice covers the full spectrum of business law, including mergers and acquisitions, governance, contract negotiations, financing, and employee relationships. Whether advising on a $5 million deal or a billion-dollar merger, I deliver tailored solutions to meet each client’s specific goals. 

Having served as the firm’s President for over a decade and as the leader of the Business Law Practice Group, I’ve been fortunate to play a key role in guiding both the firm and its clients toward long-term success. My early experience working in my family’s graphic arts and advertising business shaped my business-focused approach and helps me understand the challenges my clients face. 

Clients rely on me to identify potential risks, negotiate practical solutions, and drive successful outcomes. My ability to foster strong relationships and navigate complex issues with creativity and professionalism is a hallmark of my practice. I am committed to helping clients achieve their objectives efficiently and effectively while positioning their businesses for continued growth. 

It is incredibly rewarding to help businesses thrive at every stage of their journey. Whether navigating an acquisition, structuring agreements, or addressing day-to-day legal challenges, I approach each matter with focus, strategy, and a commitment to delivering results. 

 

 

Opdahl_mybadgeBest Lawyers Award BadgeAttorney of the Year

AOY Small Logo

 

  • Assisted in the $1.24 billion sale of a private company owning a portfolio of warehouses and storage spaces. 
  • Represented Classic Collision, LLC in numerous asset and stock acquisitions, including single and multi-shop transactions of varying complexity. 
  • Advised publicly held and privately owned companies in acquisitions and divestitures valued up to and exceeding $300 million. 
  • Provided comprehensive business counsel on transactions, employee and contractor relationships, and business formation issues, including choice of entity, governance, and buy/sell agreements. 
  • Represented parties in private-label supply agreements and multi-million-dollar contracts for services, components, and finished goods. 
  • Guided lenders and borrowers in secured and unsecured lending transactions, including a $400 million bridge loan and $800 million multi-currency facility. 
  • Drafted agreements for product development, supply, and patents, including a multi-million-dollar deal utilizing a substantial patent portfolio. 
  • Managed the sale of businesses, including an accounting placement firm with an earn-out feature, a co-pack manufacturing company to private equity, and multiple sales to publicly traded companies. 
  • Directed a $150 million family business transaction involving shareholder disputes, trust issues, and sale to an ESOP with layered financing and retained equity. 
  • Represented a truck dealership in a complex Cleveland acquisition involving asset purchases, employment agreements, and phantom equity arrangements. 
  • Structured and negotiated major mergers, including a $100+ million service and buying group transaction. 
  • Represented licensors and licensees in patent and trademark licensing agreements, as well as sales of intellectual property. 
  • Supported clients with advertising, UCC issues, antitrust matters, and Robinson-Patman compliance. 
  • Drafted distribution and sales contracts, advised on distributor and sales representative terminations, and oversaw related litigation. 
  • Represented commercial landlords and tenants in lease drafting and review, as well as unlawful detainer actions and receivership advice. 
  • Advised on real estate transactions, including purchases, leases, and construction lending. 
  • Drafted a landfill gas sale and easement contract enabling tax credit utilization under IRC Section 29. 

EDUCATION

  • J.D., magna cum laude, William Mitchell College of Law, 1986
  • B.A., University of Minnesota, 1978

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Minnesota
  • United States District Court for the District of Minnesota

HONORS

  • Best Lawyers in America honoree, 2021-present  
  • Top Lawyer honoree, Minnesota Monthly Magazine, 2023 
  • Circle of Excellence Attorney of The Year honoree, Minnesota Lawyer, 2022 
  • Attorneys of the Year honoree, Minnesota Lawyers, 2019 
  • Minnesota Super Lawyers honoree, 2007-present 
  • Fellow, Hennepin County Bar Foundation, 2019  
  • AV Preeminent Peer Rated, Martindale-Hubbell 

PROFESSIONAL

  • Legal Netlink Alliance, Executive Committee Member 2008-Present; Treasurer, 2017-Present 
  • Henson Efron Management Committee, 2006-2023; President, 2008-2019 
  • Minnesota State Bar Association 
  • Hennepin County Bar Association, Past Member of the Board of Directors and Finance and Planning Committee 
  • Hennepin County Community Relations Committee, Co-Chair 1997-1999, Chair 1988-1990 
  • Hennepin County Publications Committee, Co-Chair 1990-1997 

ARTICLES & PRESENTATIONS

  • Co-Presenter, “Hot Legal Topics for Accountants”, Henson Efron Seminar, 2016 
  • Co-Presenter, “Top 10 Changes to Minnesota LLC Act”, Henson Efron Seminar, 2015 
  • Featured, “Alliance is a Resource for Overseas Legal Aid,” Star Tribune, November 2013 
  • Featured, “Bringing Lawyers Together,” Star Tribune, November 2013 
  • Featured, Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal, February 2011 
  • Co-Presenter, “Advanced Choice of Entity: Tax and Non-Tax Considerations”, Henson Efron Seminar, 2007 
  • Presenter, “Considerations in Choosing a Business Entity”, 49th Annual MNCPA Tax Conference 
  • Co-Presenter, “Effective Use of Buy/Sell Agreements”, Henson Efron Seminar Series co-sponsored by ADP and US Bank, 2003 
  • Co-Presenter, “Choice of Entity (Tax and Non-Tax Considerations)”, Henson Efron Seminar Series co-sponsored by ADP and US Bank, 2002 
  • Presenter, “Drafting and Negotiating Issues in Landfill Gas Sale Contracts,” Solid Waste Association of North America, March 1995 
  • Presenter, “Drafting and Negotiating Issues in Landfill Gas Sale Contracts,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Landfill Gas Energy Recovery Financing Workshop, June 1995 

ARTICLES & NEWS

CLIENTS SAY