Hellmuth & Johnson: Celebrating 30 Years
Founded in 1994, Hellmuth & Johnson began as a two-attorney law firm. Over time, the firm grew to include 70 attorneys operating from four office locations throughout the state, becoming the 12th largest law firm in Minnesota.
Founding Partner Chad Johnson says of those early days, “Thirty years ago, it was Dave Hellmuth and me, and nobody else. We didn’t have any staff or other attorneys. We did everything from purchasing furniture and supplies to answering the phone and preparing letters and documents. We focused on representing our clients, but we had to do everything else as well to keep the law firm running. It has been an incredible journey – one that is far from the finish line.”
Johnson represents a varied clientele, including businesses, corporations, limited liability entities, and individuals in pursuit of their business, real estate, and transaction goals. He primarily practices in mergers and acquisitions, business/corporate, and real estate law. He holds certification as an MSBA board certified real property law specialist.
“I am a dealmaker, guiding my clients to their goals. I started and grew a business from scratch, invested in real estate, and experienced the decisions and dedication to make those investments successful,” Johnson says.
Fellow Founding Partner David Hellmuth works with a diverse group of clients, including small to large businesses, financial institutions, non-profit entities, and individuals. His primary areas of expertise encompass real estate, corporations, collection/creditor remedies, banking and finance, and business matters. He primarily practices in collections, creditor remedies and bankruptcy, banking, finance and workouts, business/corporate, mergers and acquisitions, construction and lien law, homeowner associations, and real estate law.
“Whether it’s a commercial transaction or litigation, the pleasure of my job comes from using my skills, not just to achieve the desired results, but to go beyond them,” Hellmuth says.
Hellmuth and Johnson met during law school and stayed in touch after becoming attorneys and working at separate law firms. Each had similar practices, doing business/corporate, real estate, and community associations law. Both founding partners came from small firm environments, which exposed them to the intricacies of practicing law and the operational aspects of running a law firm as a business. One evening after teaching at the same seminar, they discussed the future, which included starting a law firm together. Six months later, they did just that.
“Dave and I had some commonality, not just in practice areas, but in the desire to do things better than what we had seen in the past. We thought that bringing our talents together would help us achieve that goal,” Johnson says.
They wanted a firm that valued clients, delivered legal services in a timely and cost-effective manner, and most importantly, achieved their clients’ goals. “We also wanted a firm that valued its people, whether they be attorneys or staff, making sure that we created an environment where every person involved with the firm had a career path and not just a job.”
Statistics bear out the success of that approach. For example, five percent of Minnesota attorneys are recognized as Super Lawyers, but Hellmuth & Johnson had twenty percent of its attorneys recognized on the most recent list. Johnson says, “Our firm’s representation on that list is extremely high, and we had another 10 attorneys recognized as Rising Stars. We also just had 25 attorneys recognized on The Best Lawyers in America 2025 list and eight more attorneys recognized on The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list. This level of recognition shows our attorneys are not only recognized by our clients, but by our peers, as top-of-class.”
One of the reasons for the firm’s success is a management style that focuses on communication and accessibility at every level of the organization. Johnson says the big difference between Hellmuth & Johnson and other law firms is a streamlined management style. Many similar-sized and larger law firms have numerous committees of attorneys to manage the firm and deal with compensation, hiring, staffing, and information technology issues. Hellmuth & Johnson does not have management committees. Instead, the law firm is run by its managing partner and a non-lawyer management staff.
“Our management style allows our attorneys to focus on what they do best: representing their clients and achieving their clients’ goals. Our management style has proven to be very successful for our firm. As the Managing Partner, my management staff and I focus on the business issues, keeping our attorneys focused on our clients and meeting their expectations. By doing so, our attorneys invest their time in doing what they do best, ultimately benefiting their clients,” Johnson says.
Hellmuth & Johnson’s legal expertise now spans over 25 practice and sub-practice areas. The firm’s attorneys select their practice areas based on their strengths, interests, and passion for specific legal domains. To foster professional growth, the firm has implemented a comprehensive mentoring program. This initiative pairs attorneys with senior colleagues who guide them in developing their chosen practice areas, refining their work product, and encouraging continuous self-improvement. Additionally, Hellmuth & Johnson offers a business development coaching program designed to elevate its attorneys’ profiles within the legal field and the wider community.
“Whether someone starts as an associate attorney and works to become a partner or, really, for anyone in any position with the firm who wants to take that next step in their career, we are there for them, not only emotionally, but in very practical and professional ways,” Johnson says.
Hellmuth & Johnson demonstrates a strong commitment to community engagement. Many of the firm’s attorneys provide leadership, active participation, and pro bono services to various foundations and civic organizations. To commemorate its 25th anniversary, the firm established the H&J Foundation, which serves as its charitable arm. This foundation, financially supported by both the firm and its employees, is overseen by a 10-member committee comprising lawyers and staff. Annually, the H&J Foundation distributes tens of thousands of dollars to carefully vetted local charities selected by the committee.
“Individually, our people are regularly involved in various charitable organizations by donating their time and talents as well.” Johnson says.
While helping support the community, Hellmuth & Johnson plans on continued growth within that community. Hellmuth & Johnson has demonstrated consistent year-over-year growth throughout its long history. The firm prepares for future challenges by maintaining a steadfast commitment to client service and continuously recruiting and developing top talent for both its organization and clients.
Our success is based on the quality of people that work for the firm, delivering high-quality legal services and advice to our clients.
“Our success is based on the quality of people that work for the firm, delivering high-quality legal services and advice to our clients, and the vast number of clients who remain loyal to the firm, coming back for future legal needs and referring others to our firm. Our past growth provided an environment where younger attorneys can become partners in the firm, where staff people can take that next step in in their career and grow in what they are doing. To provide that environment into the future, the firm remains focused on future growth to serve our clients and provide even more opportunities for our people,” Johnson says.
At a Glance
Hellmuth & Johnson
8050 West 78th Street
Edina, MN 55439
952-941-4005
hjlawfirm.com
Offices
- Edina, Woodbury, Tyler & Rochester
Founding Partners
- Chad A. Johnson
- David G. Hellmuth
Practice Areas
- Agriculture
- Banking, Finance & Workouts
- Business & Corporate
- Business Litigation
- Cannabis Law
- Class Action
- Construction & Lien Law
- Entertainment Law
- Employment and Labor Law
- Family Law
- Homeowner Associations
- Hospitality & Events
- Insurance Coverage
- Intellectual Property
- Litigation
- Mineral Rights and Royalty Claims
- Real Estate
- Trusts & Estates
Select Awards
- Best Law Firms in 2024
- David Hellmuth Named a 2023 Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America
- Chad Johnson Named a Minnesota Top 500 Business Leader
- Top 25 Law Firm, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
- David Hellmuth and Chad Johnson Named to 2019 Minnesota’s Top 500 Business Leaders
- Top Corporate Law Firm, Forbes
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