Alec Sherod, Hellmuth & Johnson

Partner, Hellmuth & Johnson

According to the Hellmuth & Johnson website, Alec Sherod helps buyers, sellers and financial advisers with domestic and internation M&A transactions. In an interview for his 2024 Power List profile, Sherod told Minnesota Lawyer that private equity remains a driving force in his M&A practice because as an industry it has a lot of cash and needs to use it.

What are the biggest challenges you currently see in the M&A world?

The typical challenges of political uncertainty, interest rates and inflation, but I think M&A markets in general will continue to see increasing focus on due diligence, valuations/quality of earnings analysis and deal terms that are impacted by data and privacy protection laws, cybersecurity issues, and ESG and related regulations.

Without revealing the names of a client, what is the most interesting transaction you’ve worked on lately?

We represented a large agricultural implement dealer in the sale of their business; as an Iowa farm boy and M&A attorney, a dream come true.

How do you manage work/life balance?

As an M&A attorney, sometimes you have work/life balance, sometimes you have none. I’ve learned to manage how I deal with that.

What is one thing you would change about Minnesota if you could?

I would increase the quality of the driving on our highways and byways. Man, there are some terrible drivers out there.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I once spent a Sunday afternoon drinking beer and watching football with Antonio Banderas.