Mindi M. Johnson

Mindi Johnson is one of very few Michigan attorneys who concentrate their practices on Employee Stock Ownership Plans (“ESOPs”). In that regard, she serves as a trusted partner of selling shareholders (assisting with the development and implementation of their succession plans), companies (consulting on the creation and establishment of the ESOP) and trustees (advising on the fiduciary requirements for ESOP transactions). 

Not only is she involved at the beginning of an ESOP’s life, she walks alongside the company and management team to support ongoing efforts related to ESOP administration, compliance, fiduciary decisions, distributions/payments and audit investigations. Mindi has also had the privilege of working with ESOP ‘success stories,’ where mature ESOP-owned companies are sold to a strategic buyer (and where those transactions result in numerous employee-owners becoming millionaires).

Mindi’s intense focus, skillset and experience differentiate her from other attorneys in her field. She has extensively worked with ESOPs since 2010 and has served as the firm’s ESOP team leader since 2020. Her experience was honed by directly assisting ESOP and soon-to-be ESOP companies with their initial, ongoing, and post-transaction questions.

She leads or supports approximately 12-15 ESOP transactions per year, involving companies with enterprise values ranging from $5 million to $200 million, across industries that include construction, manufacturing, skilled trades, information technology, hospitality, health care and more. She is an active member and frequent speaker with the ESOP Association and National Center for Employee Ownership.

In addition to ESOP matters, Mindi practices general employee benefits law, advising companies on qualified retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) and profit-sharing plans), nonqualified deferred compensation plans (e.g., stock appreciation rights and phantom stock plans), and welfare plans (e.g., health plans, cafeteria plans and wrap plans). Typical matters related to these types of plans include: plan design and interpretation, correction guidance, risk avoidance, fiduciary consulting, governance, and governmental audit assistance.

Outside of her legal practice, Mindi stays busy with her husband, two teenage boys and two dogs. She loves swimming, traveling, reading and eating (all of which combined together would form her perfect vacation). Her favorite organizations are those that educate, support and empower children and women, such as Girls on the Run- West Michigan (she is a former Board member), Grandville Calvin Christian School (former Board member), Safe Haven Ministries and Degage Ministries.

Crain's Quick Takes

• How deferred compensation plans help attract and retain top talent

Best Lawyers® in America, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, (2021-2026)

Best Lawyers® in America, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), (2025-2026)

Best Lawyers® in America, Tax Law, (2025-2026)

Women Who Move West Michigan, Grand Rapids Magazine, (2026)

"Top Lawyer", Grand Rapids Magazine, Employee Benefits Law (2023)

Michigan Lawyers Weekly Woman in the Law Honoree, (2018)

Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Young Professional Award Nominee, (2009)

Michigan State Bar Foundation, Fellow

Legal Affiliations:

• American Bar Association
  • Section of Taxation
    • Employee Benefits Committee
    • Defined Contribution Plans, Subcommittee Co-Chair
• State Bar of Michigan
  • Taxation Section
    • Former Council Member and Michigan Tax Lawyer Editor
  • Business Law Section

Industry & Professional Associations:

• National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO)
• The ESOP Association
• Michigan Chapter of the ESOP Association, Vice President - Professionals
• Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
• Michigan Women's Tax Association
• Calvin University Alumni Association

Community Activities:

• Grandville Calvin Christian Schools, Board of Directors
• Girls on the Run of Kent and Muskegon Counties, Former Member of Board of Directors
• Gazelle Girls, Advisory Committee