Minneapolis, MN — May 17, 2021 — Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce as part of the ongoing expansion of its Corporate Practice, the addition of veteran Minnesota health care and transactional attorney Jeff Saunders who will be joining as a shareholder in the Minneapolis office. Saunders comes to the firm from Dorsey & Whitney LLP and brings over three decades of experience in venture capital, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, technology, and corporate governance. He also has extensive experience across the health care spectrum, including medtech and biotech, digital health, risk management, and service delivery. He has helped pioneer the development of consumer-driven and wellness products and services in the health benefits arena.
Saunders has held business development and operational roles and has served on the board of directors of several for-profit and nonprofit companies, giving him a keen insight in advising boards of directors and board committees on governance and strategy, as well as the conduct of internal investigations and the appropriate response to regulatory bodies exercising investigative powers.
“Jeff brings a tremendous level of experience to our corporate clients, having served in legal as well as business development and operational roles. This shows a depth of understanding of the issues our clients face on a daily basis, making him a compelling addition to our team,” said Thomas G. Wallrich, Managing Partner of Cozen O’Connor’s Minneapolis office. “Jeff is a trusted adviser with an excellent reputation among his clients for his detailed work on mergers and acquisitions, capital formation in the private and public markets, and other growth-oriented corporate activities. We expect his experience in the current economic environment will greatly benefit Cozen O’Connor clients.”
“The current capital markets have created a perfect storm for corporate activity and we fully expect it to continue to be an extremely active area of legal engagement,” said Larry P. Laubach, co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Corporate Practice. “Whether it is advising clients on strategic partnerships or mergers, capital formation, licensing agreements, or providing regulatory guidance, Jeff will be a welcome addition for Cozen O’Connor clients.”
Saunders has been routinely lauded by his peers and has received several prestigious legal accolades of distinction. He was one of 164 lawyers nationally named to the BTI Client Service All-Star Team in 2010, in recognition of outstanding client service. He was named a “Minnesota Super Lawyer” from 1998-2013, a “Top 40 Business & Commercial Transactions Minnesota Super Lawyer” in 2004, and a “Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyer” in 2006. Since 2010, he has been on the board of directors for the Penumbra Theatre and is a member of the American Health Law Association and the Business and Health Law Sections of the American Bar Association. Saunders has been a featured speaker on legal matters in the digital health sciences and health and wellness development arenas.
“I am very pleased to join the Cozen O’Connor team,” Saunders said. “While I am excited to collaborate with my colleagues in Minnesota, having the breadth and depth of resources and entrepreneurial focus that Cozen O’Connor offers on a national scale will be a true benefit to clients.”
Saunders earned his J.D. from University of Minnesota Law School where he graduated cum laude and was a moot court member and awarded Dean’s List honors. He received a B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College and graduated cum laude.
Over the past year, Cozen O’Connor has added several prominent attorneys to the firm’s Corporate Practice, including Frank A. Pugliese and Christian Moretti, who joined the New York City office, Katheryn A. Gettman, who joined the Minnesota office, and nine attorneys from Baer Crossey McDemus LLC, a nationally recognized tech and corporate law boutique, who joined the Philadelphia office.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 825 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 32 offices across two continents.