John H. Stout

John H. Stout is of counsel at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. in Minneapolis, Minnesota whose practice focuses on corporate governance, finance, international business, sustainability, and social responsibility. Stout works with family-owned, closely held, publicly owned, and nonprofit organizations on governance, risk assessment, compliance, internal investigations, director issues, sustainability, and business strategy. The practice is grounded in the specific legal and business issues reflected in those matters, with attention to the governing law, the client’s objectives, and the practical steps required to move a matter forward.

Stout’s education includes a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1967 and a B.A. from Carleton College in 1962. His long professional career has also included teaching corporate governance as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. This background supports careful legal analysis, research, writing, and problem solving in the matters handled in practice. It also provides context for evaluating legal risk, explaining available options, and connecting technical rules to the real-world decisions clients need to make.

Stout’s experience includes advising executives, boards, committees, directors, and officers on governance, legal compliance, indemnification, insurance, board evaluations, artificial intelligence oversight, and international business matters. Stout has also served in leadership roles within the American Bar Association Business Law Section and helped build organizations focused on governance, business development, and public service. These matters have involved boardrooms, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, and domestic and international business settings.

John H. Stout has been listed in Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Governance Law from 2016 through 2026 and has received a lifetime achievement award for corporate governance. Stout also writes, speaks, teaches, and serves in governance-focused professional organizations and on nonprofit and for-profit boards. His work reflects a long-standing focus on how boards, executives, and organizations address oversight, compliance, risk, sustainability, and strategic decision-making.

Law Office Affiliations

• Of Counsel, Fredrikson & Byron P.A.
• Member, Minnesota State Bar Association
• Governing Council, Committee on Corporate Governance, Chair, American Bar Association
• Member, Hennepin County Bar Association
• Minneapolis Chapter, Former Member, Director and Chair Emeritus, Board of Directors, National Association of Corporate Directors
• Former Advisory Board Member, Malaysian Alliance of Corporate Directors (MACD)
• Co-Founder, Director, Past Chair, Secretary, Metropolitan Economic Development Association
• Co-Founder, Director, Past Chair, Minnesota Film Board
• Past Member, Board of Trustees, Carleton College
• Co-Founder, Director, Chair and Secretary, Milestone Growth Fund (inactive)
• Past Director and Member of Executive Committee, Center for International Private Enterprise
• Member, American College of Governance Counsel

Licensed State

• Minnesota

Education

• University of Michigan Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Carleton College
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges