About Stephen
Stephen Ringquist is a trusted legal advisor to business owners, developers, landowners, and financial institutions navigating complex real estate and business transactions across Texas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. With over 20 years of experience, Stephen provides strategic counsel on land development, corporate transactions, land use, commercial real estate, commercial lending, entity structuring, and regulatory compliance—always focused on helping clients close deals, mitigate risk, and maximize long-term value.
Stephen’s real estate work spans from raw land acquisitions to complex, income-producing assets. He drafts and negotiates commercial leases, purchase and sale agreements, restrictive covenants, escrow and development agreements, and creates entity structures such as corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and special purpose entities. He also advises on the formation of condominium associations, land use agreements, and surface-use contracts for renewable energy projects.
Stephen represents business clients in a wide range of industries, including ranches, agricultural businesses, blue collar industries, restaurants and retail businesses operating across the U.S. His work includes corporate formation, real estate acquisition and leasing, zoning and land use approvals, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) permitting, employment agreements, and mergers, acquisitions, and reorganizations.
His lending practice includes representing both banks and borrowers in the negotiation and structuring of commercial and agricultural loan packages, title and collateral analysis, and loan workouts. He routinely handles the legal planning and drafting of private offerings of debt and equity securities, venture capital transactions, and investor agreements—especially in connection with real estate developments, hospitality concepts, and energy ventures.
His background as a General Counsel to a billion-dollar construction materials company and leadership roles in financial services gives him a business-minded approach few lawyers offer—providing clients with insight, efficiency, and confidence at every step.
Client Services
Real Estate Lending, Review and Drafting, Closings
Business Advising and Legal Review
Real Estate Development and Finance
Real Estate Acquisitions
Mergers and Acquisitions
Private and Commercial Real Estate Transactions
Real Estate Contracts, Review and Drafting, Closings
Title Review and Conveyances
Commercial Leasing
Solar and Wind Leasing
Surface Use Agreements
Experience
Before joining Braun & Gresham, Stephen built a diverse legal career spanning business, finance, and real estate law. He began in private practice at a nationally ranked law firm in Minneapolis, where he advised clients on complex corporate and real estate matters. He later served as General Counsel for a billion-dollar construction materials company, providing executive-level legal oversight across business operations.
His in-house experience also includes serving as Senior Vice President at a Minnesota-based financial services firm and as Senior Manager of Contracts for a global financial services company. Earlier in his career, he practiced at boutique firms in Minnesota, handling corporate transactions, banking, real estate, and litigation with a strong focus on client advocacy and strategic results.
Volunteer
Stephen was appointed by the Governor of Minnesota as a Director for Minnesota Center for Rural Policy and Development, wrote the manual on condemnation for the Minnesota County Attorney’s Association, was the Chair of the Corporate Counsel Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association, and also served as a member of the Sensible Land Use Coalition.
