Kylie Kaminski, an attorney at Hellmuth & Johnson, has a unique way to describe her mergers & acquisitions practice. She calls it “happy laws.”
Kaminski, a University of San Diego business major, saw her future in a dynamic class on business law. She took the LSAT, “on a random whim,” and was accepted into the St. Thomas School of Law where a professor had a big influence.
She recalls, “I was hooked from the very first day.” “My mergers-and-acquisitions professor was the most amazing professor I’ve ever had. He told me amazing stories about his career and his life. “I decided that’s what I wanted to do when I grew-up.”
Kaminski started working as a legal assistant at Hellmuth & Johnson, where she met another key figure in her career development. I ended up working with Alec Sherod who is the head of Hellmuth & Johnson’s M&A group. This set me on a path of never leaving M&A. His influence has shaped my persona and career.
Kaminski’s corporate and business practice covers a wide range of issues, including entity creation, reorganization and joint ventures. She also handles capital raising, private placements and the sale and purchase of businesses. She advises clients in general corporate and governance issues.
Kaminski’s ability to quickly solve complex problems, understand her clients and connect with them is one of the many qualities that makes her so successful as a M&A attorney. She is a passionate advocate who enjoys negotiating resolutions that make both parties happy with the result.
“After my first closing, both the buyer and seller asked me to snap a picture of them shaking their hands at the table of closing. What I enjoy most about my job is that we don’t have a competitive relationship. “We both want to protect the client but also get the deal done.”
Kaminski, as an associate at the firm, has been involved in several important matters that have led to the outstanding results for which the firm is renowned. She was named an Up and Coming Attorney in Minnesota Lawyer in 2022 and was included in the Best Lawyers in America: Ones To Watch in America in 2023 – Closely Held Companies & Family Businesses Law. She said that receiving the honors had been humbling, affirming and a testament of the willingness of senior lawyers at Hellmuth & Johnson in providing meaningful opportunities for new attorney.
She says that “each partner has given me excellent feedback since the beginning of my tenure at the firm.” “Alec allowed me to take on a lot of responsibility and let me handle some large deals very early, so I became an effective advocate. I felt free to express my opinions in phone calls, meetings, and other situations. I was never a faceless employee.”
Kaminski, a woman who practices in a field where she is a minority of women, says that she has had overwhelmingly positive experiences with both the firm and clients. “Nobody made me feel that I shouldn’t be here. And the men at large companies show me great respect.” “I want to let other women know that business law doesn’t have to be scary.”
Kaminski can summarize her career in three words: “Take a leap.” M&A law is happy, and there are happy people here.
The article Kylie E. Kaminski – The Law of Happiness first appeared on Attorney At Law Magazine.