Experience

Joe Thompson counsels renewable energy and agribusiness clients on strategic business entity structuring and restructuring, project development matters, private and public equity capitalization, debt financing, federal and state regulatory compliance, and provides ongoing general corporate representation.

Joe works closely with project leaders in the development and operation of ethanol, biodiesel, and other bioenergy production facilities, in the development of community-based wind projects, and in the acquisition and operation of livestock facilities. He has extensive experience with feedstock aggregation and delivery systems, fuel and other product marketing agreements, and construction contracts. Joe also assists clients with joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and related commercial transactions.

Representative Work

• Represented 900+ farmer-member cooperative in its development, capitalization, and ongoing operation of a combination soybean crush and 30 mgy biodiesel facility.
• Represented 300+ farmer-member cooperative and its partially owned subsidiary in the development, financing and ongoing operation of a food and 50 mgy ethanol production facility.
• Representing 1,000+ farmer-member cooperative in its capitalization and ongoing development of a combination soybean crush and 60 mgy biodiesel facility.
• Representing landowner groups developing community-based wind projects.
• Representing project leaders developing strategic commercial implementation of cellulosic ethanol technology.
• Representing numerous entities in the biofuel industry throughout the United States and Canada in various stages of development, capitalization, and operation.

Professional Honors

• Minnesota Rising Star, Minnesota Law & Politics, 2007

Professional Activities

• Member, Minnesota State Bar Association (Council Member of Agricultural Law Section)
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Hennepin County Bar Association
• Member, Iowa Bar Association
• Member, American Agricultural Law Association

Panel Discussions

• "Impacts of RPS and Other Initiatives on Project Development in the Midwest," Opportunities in Midwest Renewable Energy, Oct. 2008
• "Biomass to Power – Fossil Fuel Plant Conversions and Traditional Biomass-to-Power Project Developers," Biomass Finance & Investment Summit, Jan. 2008

Presentations

• "Unique Legal Issues, Challenges and Opportunities for Cellulosic Ethanol," 2009 International Fuel Ethanol Workshops, June 2009
• "Wind Leases and Community Wind Projects," Agricultural & Rural Law Institute, Mar. 2008
• "Community Ownership Models: Keeping Local Dollars Local," Harvesting Clean Energy, Jan. 2008
• "Production Risk and Marketing Opportunities for Next Generation Ethanol Facilities," BBI Biofuels Workshop & Trade Show Series, Oct. 2007
• "Structuring Your Biofuels Business," 2007 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo, June 2007
• "Offtake Agreements," Biodiesel Finance & Investment Summit, Pre-Summit Workshop, April 2007
• "Structuring Your Biofuels Business," 2006 BBI Biofuels Workshop & Trade Show Series: Eastern Region, Nashville
• "Project Finance," Biodiesel Finance & Investment Summit, Minneapolis, Oct. 2006
• "Selected Issues Related to a Cooperative's Extension of Credit," Minnesota Association for Cooperatives, Credit Issues Conference, Minneapolis, Feb. 2005
• "New Patron Investment Cooperative Laws," College Conference on Cooperatives, Minneapolis, Feb. 2004
• "Farm Business Development and Funding—The Attorney's Role," 24th Annual Educational Symposium of the American Agricultural Law Association, San Antonio, Oct. 2003
• "Liability Issues Concerning Special Use Corn," 25th Annual Seed Technology Conference, Ames, Iowa, Feb. 2003

Civic Activities

• Habitat for Humanity Volunteer
• Crisis Nursery Volunteer

Publications

• "Community Wind," The Law of Wind, Chapter 10, 4th Edition, Stoel Rives 2008
• "Financing Your Biofuels Project," The Law of Biofuels, Chapter 1, 2nd Edition, Stoel Rives 2008
• "Renewable Energy: Trends in Finance and Business Structure," The Law of Cooperatives, Chapter 3, 1st Edition, Stoel Rives 2007

Education

• University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., 1998
• Iowa State University, B.S., Agricultural Business, 1993

Admissions

• Minnesota
• Iowa

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