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 state-registered manufacturer of medical marijuana based in Minnesota, where he counseled on legal, compliance and regulatory affairs, real estate management, corporate governance, and human resources issues. He currently counsels a variety of clients—tribally-owned entities, cannabis businesses, and hemp businesses – on matters related to licensing, regulatory and compliance, corporate governance, real estate leasing and site acquisition, equipment and vendor agreements, and raising capital needed for cannabis operations..

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

• Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Real Estate Law, 2026
• Recognized as a Super Lawyer by peers in Minnesota Super Lawyers magazine, 2025
• Named to the Cannabis Law Report's Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers, Sixth Edition 2025/2026
• Named to the Cannabis Law Report's Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers, Fifth Edition 2024/2025
• Named to the Cannabis Law Report's Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers, Fourth Edition 2023/2024
• Recognized as a "Notable Partner in Law" by Twin Cities Business, 2025
• Selected as a Top Lawyer for Real Estate Law by Minnesota Monthly, 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

• Panelist, "Development, Construction, and Design Solutions in Cannabis Real Estate," Minnesota Cannabis Real Estate Summit, Golden Valley, Minnesota, September 10, 2025
• Panelist, "Pivot & Thrive: Building a Future in Cannabis from the Ground Up," CannaCon Midwest, St. Paul, Minnesota, August 10, 2025
• Co-Presenter, "State of Tribal Dispensaries and Growing Operations," 10th Annual Native American Cannabis and Hemp Conference, Temecula, California, June 10, 2025
• Interview, "Episode 157 - Mitch Chargo, Partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP," Apartment 113 Podcast, June 2, 2025
• Interview, "White Earth Nation Set to Open First Pot Shop Off-Reservation This Weekend," KARE 11 (NBC), May 22, 2025
• Moderator, "Sovereign Opportunity: The Cannabis Market Potential for Tribal Nations," MJ Unpacked, May 1, 2025
• Presenter, "'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

• Interview, "Astonishing Developments Are Coming to Tribal Cannabis," Cannabis Equipment News podcast, November 22, 2024
• Presenter, "Commercial Real Estate and Cannabis – The What, Where, and How of Cannabis Property and Leasing Considerations," 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

• Presenter, "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

• Presenter, "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

• Presenter, "The Intersection of Cannabis and Commercial Real Estate in Minnesota," Lucky Leaf Expo, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 26, 2024
• Presenter, "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
• Presenter, "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