Darla Cordero
(Heidi's Assistant)
darla.cordero@fmjlaw.com
Heidi A. Carpenter is a commercial, business, and mergers and acquisitions attorney, and she is the Chief Executive Officer of Fafinski Mark & Johnson. Heidi represents closely held businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, and middle-market companies throughout Minnesota and beyond. Heidi leads the firm’s Corporate & Business Law and Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Groups, and she brings more than 25 years of experience advising companies at every stage of growth.
Heidi focuses her practice on business law, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions, regularly representing buyers, sellers, investors, lenders, and management teams in complex transactions. Her M&A experience includes stock and asset purchases, business sales, recapitalizations, joint ventures, and strategic investments, with deal values ranging from early-stage transactions to acquisitions exceeding $215 million. Clients rely on Heidi as a practical, solutions-oriented M&A lawyer who understands both the legal and business realities of transactions.
In addition to her mergers and acquisitions work, Heidi serves as outside general counsel to Minnesota-based companies across a wide range of industries. Her business law practice includes entity formation, shareholder and operating agreements, contract negotiation, executive compensation, succession planning, and employment-related matters. She regularly advises business owners and executives on risk management, compliance, and long-term strategic planning.
Heidi also assists clients in handling a variety of employment and HR matters, with an eye toward preventing potential litigation. Heidi has experience providing HR professionals and business owners with personnel policies and strategies related to discrimination, harassment, non-compete, trademark and intellectual property protection, employee benefits, employment and contractor agreements, hiring and firing procedures, and employment law compliance. An experienced and fine-tuned drafter, she is particularly adept in drafting compensation plans and agreements, employment policies and non-qualified plans.
Heidi’s work as a Minnesota corporate, business, and M&A attorney has earned consistent recognition. She has been named a Minnesota Super Lawyer annually since 2014, recognized as one of Minnesota’s Top Women in Law, ranked by Chambers and Partners as a leading Corporate/M&A attorney in Minnesota, and included in Forbes’ America’s Best-in-State Lawyers and The Legal 500 Minneapolis Elite.
As CEO of FMJ, Heidi combines her legal practice with firm leadership, helping guide the firm’s growth while maintaining a client-focused approach to legal service. She was unanimously selected as Chief Executive Officer, reflecting her reputation as a trusted leader within the Minnesota legal and business communities. Heidi is also committed to service beyond her client work. For example, she provides pro bono counsel to a breast cancer foundation and actively mentors a number of attorneys and business professionals.
University of Wisconsin- Madison (BA in Political Science)
Hamline University School of Law (JD)
State of Minnesota
Pro bono employment counsel to Hope Chest for Breast Cancer (2014 – present)
“I am committed to understanding my clients and their goals. As their counsel, in addition to giving my clients sound legal advice, I assist them in implementing the best course of action for their business. If I can’t add value to a client’s business, I’ve failed that client as their trusted counsel.”
Heidi and her husband have three daughters who are finishing college and graduate school. When she is able to step away from her legal work, Heidi enjoys reading, fundraising for schools and community organizations, cheering for Wisconsin sports teams, and catching up with friends.