Mitchel C. Chargo

With more than three decades of legal experience as both outside counsel and corporate counsel, Mitch Chargo is a business lawyer with a practice focused on commercial real estate, business transactions, and legalized cannabis. Mitch recently served as General Counsel for a Minnesota-based licensed manufacturer of medical cannabis, where he counseled on legal, compliance and regulatory affairs, real estate management, corporate governance, and human resources issues. He currently represents a variety of clients—tribal entities, growers, and real estate companies—who are seeking to take advantage of opportunities in the Minnesota cannabis and hemp spaces.

Mitch also represents clients in commercial real estate loan transactions and in acquiring, disposing, and leasing retail, office, industrial and multi-family properties. He advises clients in a wide variety of business and corporate transactions, including purchasing and disposing of non-real estate asset classes, executive employment agreements, commercial contract review, and compliance.

Mitch excels within fast-paced and complex organizations, taking a thoughtful and practical approach to solving his clients' problems and managing risk, cost and deadlines. As a seasoned compliance and regulatory professional, commercial attorney, and former litigator, he is known for being a strategic business partner with a results-oriented focus who leads with integrity and transparency.

Prior to joining Hinshaw, Mitch was a partner in a mid-sized law firm and a multi-state law firm owner.

• Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA), Board of Directors
• International Cannabis Bar Association
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• State Bar of Arizona

• Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics

• Named to the Cannabis Law Report's Fifth Edition Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers, 2024/2025
• Selected as a Top Lawyer for Real Estate Law by Minnesota Monthly, 2024
• Named to the Cannabis Law Report's Fourth Edition Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers, 2023/2024

• Moderator, "Sovereign Opportunity: The Cannabis Market Potential for Tribal Nations," MJ Unpacked, May 1, 2025
• "'New Mother Nature' by The Guess Who: The Intersection of Cannabis and Commercial Leasing," Hinshaw University, CLE Webinar, December 20, 2024

• Moderator, "Financing Your Manufacturing Centers Expansion," Marijuana Industry Trade Association (MITA) Unshackled podcast, December 4, 2024

• Moderator, "How White Labeling Will Future Proof Your Manufacturing Center," Marijuana Industry Trade Association (MITA) Unshackled podcast, December 4, 2024

• "Astonishing Developments Are Coming to Tribal Cannabis," Cannabis Equipment News podcast, November 22, 2024
• "The Intersection of Cannabis and Commercial Real Estate in Minnesota," Lucky Leaf Expo, Albuquerque, New Mexico, September 27, 2024
• Panelist, "Development, Construction & Design Solutions in Cannabis Real Estate," Minnesota Cannabis Real Estate Summit, Golden Valley, Minnesota, September 6, 2024

• "Commercial Real Estate and Cannabis – The What, Where, and How of Cannabis Property and Leasing Considerations," 2024 Cannabis Law Conference CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 31, 2024

• "You Have a Cannabis Business, Now What? – Learn What You Need to Do to Remain Compliant After You Obtain a License," 2024 Cannabis Law Conference CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 31, 2024

• "’New Mother Nature’ by The Guess Who: Real Estate and Cannabis," Hinshaw University, CLE Webinar, July 25, 2024
• "The Intersection of Cannabis and Commercial Real Estate in Minnesota," Lucky Leaf Expo, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 26, 2024
• "Unresolved Legal Issues for Municipal Cannabis Dispensaries: Banking, Federal Regulations, and Insurance," Minnesota Association of City Attorneys (MACA) 2024 Annual Conference, Bloomington, Minnesota, February 9, 2024
• Co-Presenter, "MN Cannabis Market Insights: Discover Key Steps to Take Now," BGM, Bloomington, Minnesota, November 15, 2023
• "Minnesota and Adult Recreational Use of Cannabis: The Intersection of Commercial Real Estate and Cannabis," Cresa Minneapolis, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 31, 2023

• "Indigenous Opportunities in Cannabis," mg Magazine, November 8, 2024