Legal News
“Blazing a new trail” is an expression that resonates with Honigman attorney Kim Dudek, who last fall became chair of the law firm’s Corporate Department that includes approximately 130 lawyers spread across nine offices in Michigan, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Israel.
Dudek was determined to chart her own path while holding down jobs throughout high school, college, and law school, a juggling act that helped instill a sense of discipline, pride, and independence that prepared her for the demands of a busy law practice at a notable Detroit-based firm with a growing national presence.
“My journey to Honigman wasn’t a straight line – it was instead a series of decisions and experiences that revealed my passion for law and the work I do every day,” said Dudek, a University of Michigan alum who also earned her law degree from U-M. “When I began my career here, I knew I found a firm that matched by own entrepreneurial spirit. I was immediately empowered by leadership to articulate and pursue my interests, a truly once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity.”
Her record at Honigman speaks for itself, as Dudek has served on the firm’s Board of Directors, as an adviser to the Compensation Committee, and as vice chair of the Corporate Department before succeeding Donald Kunz as chair.
“Kim couldn’t be more deserving of this role,” said Kunz, who served as chair for 20 years and remains as a partner in the Corporate Department. “In her successful tenure at Honigman, she has emerged as a strong leader and earned the trust of her peers and clients – both as a result of her impressive legal acumen and her longstanding engagement in the growth of the Corporate Department.”
A product of Livonia Ladywood High School, Dudek began her career at Honigman as a summer associate in 2008 after obtaining her bachelor’s degree in psychology from U-M. It’s an experience she described as akin to “becoming part of a close family,” with even senior partners invested in her success from day one thanks to the small summer associate class size and plentiful early-career opportunities.
Over the course of her career, she has guided clients in corporate and financing transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Her primary focus is on representing private equity sponsors and private borrowers in connection with acquisition financings, working capital facilities, senior and subordinated financing transactions and recapitalizations.
Dudek, who began her law school journey at Wayne State University before transferring to U-M, also regularly counsels privately held companies and their owners and executives, providing a broad range of corporate legal advice across a variety of business sectors, including manufacturing, automotive, property management, and residential services.
In her new leadership role, Dudek starts the next chapter of a legal career built entirely at Honigman—a common phenomenon at the firm led by Chairman David Foltyn, who also began his legal journey as a summer associate at the firm. As Corporate Department chair, Dudek is looking to build upon the legacy of the leaders before her by continuing to attract exceptional legal talent and encouraging engagement, collaboration, and innovation among her colleagues.
“Over the years, I’ve grown my career at Honigman and found a true home among my colleagues, who have empowered me to pursue my unique career path and encouraged me to explore my interest in the inner workings of the firm,” said Dudek. “I’m grateful to Don (Kunz), my peers, and valued clients of many years for the opportunity to help write the next chapter of Honigman’s Corporate Department.”
Dudek noted that the firm is committed to evolving and is being thoughtful about the future and building upon its success, blending the knowledge of longtime leaders with the next generation of leadership. She said Kunz spent time preparing her “to continue his legacy of renowned client service,” and in his practice continues to be a trusted mentor and adviser as she takes on the responsibilities of chair.
As a firm, Honigman has a storied history and marked its 75th anniversary in 2023. The law firm traces its roots to the post-war year of 1948 when Jason Honigman, a Russian immigrant, and Milton (Jack) Miller, a Baltimore native, joined legal forces in Detroit’s First National Building. This initial partnership – which later grew to encompass key firm leaders like Alan E. Schwartz and Irwin Cohn – set the stage for the twin forces of growth and success during the next six decades.
Much of that success, of course, can be attributed to acquiring and retaining top legal talent, whether from the finest law schools in the nation or from some of the most prominent business law firms in the U.S., according to Dudek, who considered a career in the medical or pharmaceutical profession before setting her sights on law school.
“I worked at Rite-Aid throughout college as a pharmacy technician and was seriously thinking about following a medical track before I was encouraged to think about attending law school instead,” said Dudek, whose father (Tom) worked in the automotive industry while her mother (Julia) was a stay-at-home mom primarily tasked with raising the couple’s two children.
Dudek attended Catholic schools while growing up and credits her parochial education with “giving me confidence in myself” and the “ability to share and articulate my opinions.”
She and her husband, Frank, are now imparting the same kind of educational message and values on their two sons, ages 11 and 7. Their boys – a sixth-grader and first-grader, respectively – each sport a first name with musical connections.
“I grew up in a musical household, and my husband and I enjoy fiddling around with instruments,” said Dudek, who met her future husband in high school and now has been married for 15 years.
“We share a love of nature and travel, and each year we try to take a special weekend trip with our boys,” said Dudek. “Last year, we enjoyed a sight-seeing trip in New York and this year we’re talking about going to Nashville.”
In the warm weather months, Dudek and her family also find joy by heading up north to stay at their cottage on Glen Lake, a scenic spot near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
“It’s a great place to unwind, as is hiking in the woods in our backyard where I can totally unplug and enjoy the sounds of nature.”
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Three-County & Full Pass also available
