Christopher J. Bellini

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

Minneapolis

(612) 260-9029

(612) 260-9080

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.

Experience

News

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 232 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.

63 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 16 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2020 Guide

May 14, 2020

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 63 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2020 edition.

U.S. Companies Walk Legal Tightrope as Earnings Season Kicks Off

April 15, 2020

Chris Bellini discusses how The Securities and Exchange Commission’s guidance on reporting earnings outlooks during the coronavirus pandemic could create pitfalls for U.S. companies in The New York Times.

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.

SEC Releases Guidance Regarding COVID-19 Disclosure Considerations [Alert]

June 25, 2020

Kathy Jaffari, Edgar Rapoport, and Chris Bellini discuss the SEC's June 23, 2020, guidance on disclosure considerations regarding operations, liquidity, and capital resources in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SEC Proposes to Expand Private Offerings [Alert]

March 11, 2020

Chris Bellini discusses the SEC's proposal to streamline the current framework of rules and guidance governing exempt offerings and to broaden the availability of such offerings.

SEC Proposes to Update Accredited Investor Definition [Alert]

December 23, 2019

Chris Bellini discusses propose amendments to the definition of “accredited investor” in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933.

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, 2020-2024

Stand-out Lawyer, Thomson Reuters

Best Lawyers in America, 2024 - 2025

Top Lawyers in Minnesota, Minnesota Monthly, 2024

Super Lawyers, 2024

  • Minnesota
  • New York