Kevin's Bio

Kevin Johnson is a founding shareholder of Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A and Chair of FMJ’s Transportation Group. He concentrates his practice in aircraft finance and leasing, cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions of aviation companies, and other complex commercial transactions. He has negotiated equipment leases, transfers, foreclosures, and financings worldwide and handled the restructuring of hundreds of aircraft transactions arising out of every major airline bankruptcy in the last 20 years. Kevin and his team are renowned for their practicality and flexibility in closing difficult transactions and for their creative problem-solving skills.

Kevin began his legal career in-house at Northwest Airlines where he learned the airline industry from the inside including airline distribution systems, marketing, purchasing, maintenance and ground handling contracts, antitrust matters, and associated regulatory matters. As in-house counsel and for more than two decades in private practice, Kevin has been a trusted advisor to companies of all sizes in developing strategies for overcoming business and commercial law issues. In addition to structuring and handling commercial aviation transactions for national and international clients, Kevin also routinely consults with business aircraft buyers in the United States in navigating the many regulatory and tax obstacles that come with aircraft ownership and use.

Kevin has been honored by his peers as a “Super Lawyer” for more than a decade – an honor only given to the top lawyers in Minnesota. He has also been recognized as one of the leading commercial aviation attorneys in the world, he has been named to the International Who’s Who of Aviation Lawyers, and he has been ranked by Chambers and Partners in their USA Guide as one of the top U.S. Attorneys in Transportation: Aviation: Finance. Kevin also holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the organization’s highest peer-review rating for legal ability, professional excellence, and ethical standards.

University of Minnesota Law School (J.D. cum laude 1989)
University of Minnesota (B.A. summa cum laude 1986)

State of Minnesota

  • International Society of Aircraft Trading (ISTAT)
  • National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA)
  • Minnesota Business Aircraft Association (MBAA)
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Business Law Section

News About Kevin

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March 2026

Want to Buy or Sell an Aviation Business? Here is What You Need to Know.

Aviation M&A involves more than standard deals, including FAA regulations, deal structure, and industry-specific risks. Read more

October 2025

FMJ Joins the National Aircraft Finance Association

NAFA sets the standard for aviation finance. Read more

October 2025

Still Thinking of Buying an Airplane by Year-End? Here Are Seven Things You Need to Know!

And Bonus Depreciation is available for those who qualify. Read more

June 2025

FMJ Selected for Multiple 2025 Chambers and Partners Rankings!

FMJ is ranked on the USA-Minnesota Corporate/M&A list and the USA-Nationwide Aviation Transactions list! Read more

June 2024

What Business Aircraft Owners Need to Know About the Corporate Transparency Act

The CTA can impact individuals and organizations that utilize business entities to own aircraft. Read more

June 2024

Chambers and Partners Selects FMJ for 2024 Ranking in Aviation Transactions!

Congratulations to the Aviation Practice Group! Read more

June 2024

Chambers and Partners Selects FMJ for Multiple 2024 Rankings!

FMJ is excited to announce its 2024 Chambers rankings for Corporate/M&A and Aviation! Read more

April 2024

The Pre-Flight Checklist

Guidance for Non-Aviation Professionals Whose Clients Own (or Want to Own) Aircraft. Read more

November 2023

Q3 Transactions – Corporate and M&A

2023 Third Quarter Closings! Read more

August 2023

Q2 Transactions – Corporate and M&A

FMJ recently closed a very busy second quarter for 2023! Here are a sample of our transactions from Q2. Read more

July 2023

FMJ Looks at Aviation and Taxes – Part 3 of 3

How Aircraft Leasing Might Cost You in Unexpected Ways. Read more

July 2023

FMJ Looks at Aviation and Taxes – Part 2 of 3

Stamp Taxes and Other Unexpected Aviation Costs. Read more

July 2023

16 FMJ Attorneys Named to the 2023 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists!

We are proud to announce that 16 of our attorneys have been named to the 2023 Minnesota Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists! Congratulations... Read more