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Dennis L. Monroe

Co-founder and chairman of Monroe Moxness Berg PA, Dennis is a pioneer in corporate financing with a broad network of finance contacts and clients. He assists businesses, from emerging companies to multi-national firms, by providing creative ideas, identifying unique financing sources, and developing the financial tools necessary for their growth and development. His focus is on multi-unit acquisitions.

Extensive experience enables Dennis to evaluate and manage the most complex and sophisticated transactions. Representing lenders, investors, and developers, Dennis has overseen in excess of $4 billion dollars in commercial transactions, ranging from $5,000,000 to $300,000,000.

Over the last thirty years, Dennis has been recognized as a national expert in corporate and institutional finance and mergers and acquisitions, and he is often consulted regarding the latest acquisition financing techniques. He is a frequent speaker at business conferences, professional organizations, and special finance industry events including the YPO Restaurant Roundtable and SS&G Financial Services Restaurant CFO Bootcamps. He is a regular speaker at the Restaurant Finance and Development Conference and was one of three people to receive a first-ever Hall of Fame award at the 10th annual conference. He also frequently speaks at franchisor conferences, law school, and college seminars.

Recognized by Franchise Times as a leader in the franchise community, Dennis was featured in a cover story as “Franchising’s Go-To Guy.” In 2014, he received the Franchise Times Dealmakers Special Achievement award, honoring his 30-year career in franchise finance. In addition, the magazine has honored him as one of franchising’s top 125 “Legal Eagles” and one of the “Top 20 to Watch.” He has been selected as one of the top 10 mergers and acquisitions lawyers for Minnesota and is consistently honored as a “Minnesota Super Lawyer.” He has been selected to the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers in Franchise and listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for franchise law. In 2010, Dennis received the Carthage College Distinguished Alumni Award and currently serves on the Carthage College Board of Trustees. Dennis is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors. He received the 2015 Outstanding Director Award from Twin Cities Business for his service on the board of Nystrom, Inc. He also serves on the board of Alerus Financial, Nystrom, Inc., Coles Salon and Let’s Dish. He is a senior distinguished fellow at the University of St. Thomas School of Law and a trustee at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis.

Dennis wrote monthly articles for Franchise Times from 1999 through 2013 and currently writes monthly columns for Restaurant Finance Monitor and Foodservice News. He is also a contributing writer to Nation’s Restaurant News and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today and numerous other trade publications. He also authored a children’s book Make It Right Kids.

Furthering his knowledge of business enterprise, Dennis served as CEO of Parasole Restaurant Holdings, one of the largest restaurant companies in Minnesota, from 2009 to 2011.

Area of Practice

Business Concept Growth & Protection
Business Law
Corporate Finance / M&A
Franchise Distribution and IP
Tax Planning

Admissions

Minnesota State Bar
U.S. District Court- District of Minnesota
U.S. Tax Court

Education

Carthage College – B.A., cum laude
St. Louis University – M.B.A., Juris Doctor

Memberships

Hennepin County Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association
American Bar Association Member: Business Section and Franchising Forum
International Franchising Association

News & Events

Dennis Monroe and Patricia Weller to Present at Commercial Real Estate Investment Conference

MMB Attorneys Selected to 2024 Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America

MMB Attorneys Selected to 2023 Minnesota “Super Lawyers” and “Rising Stars” lists

MMB Attorneys Named 2023 Franchise Times “Legal Eagles”

MMB Attorneys Named 2022 Franchise Times “Legal Eagles”

Dennis Monroe, Lenders to Offer Guidance on New Round of PPP and Other Loan Programs for Restaurants

MMB Panel to Discuss New Forms of Collaboration in Restaurant Industry

Recent Publications

Thinking Outside the Box for Funding Your Restaurant Company

Who Said You Can’t Come Up with Money to Fund a Restaurant Concept?

Some Key Ideas to Owning Multiple Concepts

MMB Attorneys Selected to 2024 Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America

Rethinking Your Franchise Agreements

Thoughts Regarding Your Buy-Sell Agreement

How to Use a Board for Your Company