Poonam Kumar

Poonam Kumar

Partner
MinneapolisNew York
About

Poonam Kumar has extensive experience advising multinational companies on complex cross-border transactions, global growth initiatives and strategic business transformations, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, corporate restructurings, as well as general corporate and commercial law matters.

Poonam's recent work experience has focused on transformative cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate separations, post-closing integration initiatives and global business transformation projects.

She has advised large multinationals on the planning and implementation of various multi-jurisdictional transactions, including pre-acquisition planning, post-acquisition integration, business separations, supply chain optimization, operating model transformation, and intellectual property planning and migration. Her work frequently involves helping clients align transaction execution with broader business, operational and growth objectives.

She regularly advises on global growth strategies, market-entry initiatives, international expansion and the development of scalable cross-border operating structures.

Poonam's practice extends across a wide variety of sectors, with a particular emphasis on industrial, manufacturing, energy and financial services companies undergoing strategic growth, transformation and international expansion. 

Poonam's transactions regularly involve multidisciplinary cross-border teams that leverage the strength of the firm's global platform. Clients value her ability to combine strategic business judgment with practical execution, enabling companies to achieve complex transaction and transformation objectives across multiple jurisdictions.

Areas of FocusHealthcareCorporateMergers and AcquisitionsPrivate Equity
Bar admissionsMinnesotaNew York

EXPERIENCE

Recent transactions that Poonam has been involved with include:

Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Global information technology company in its multi-jurisdictional divestiture of its telecommunications-solutions business to a leading global technology company
  • London Stock Exchange Group in its US$325 million acquisition of TORA, a leading cloud-based technology provider which supports customers trading multiple asset classes across global markets
  • ERIKS NV sale of its North American operations (ERIKS North America, Rawson-Industrial Controls, ERIKS Seals and Plastics and CNC Flow Control) to LKCM Headwater Investments
  • Sodexo in its acquisition of Frontline Food Services (dba Accent Food Services), a leading provider of breakroom and refreshment solutions
  • Health and Happiness (H&H) International Holdings Limited in its acquisition of Zesty Paws LLC for US$610 million
  • Riveter Capital in its acquisition of Healthy Lunch Box Inc., a food service provider of high-quality, nutritious meals to children and adults
  • Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.'s proposed acquisition of the European and Chinese operations of IVA, from its parent company Superior Essex
  • Deere & Company's joint venture with Hagie Manufacturing, a manufacturer of high-clearance sprayers. In connection with the joint venture, Deere & Company acquired a majority ownership in Hagie Manufacturing
  • Deere & Company's sale of its crop insurance business to Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa
  • Communica Global LLC in its acquisition of Alpha PM Consulting Inc.
  • Deere & Company's divestment of its global water irrigation business to FIMI Irrigation Ltd. (involving 18 countries worldwide)
  • Musco Lighting LLC's joint venture with Ferrostaal Industrial Projects (Musco Ferrostaal GmbH) to design, supply and install lighting systems for industrial plants and sports grounds in continental Europe
  • Fortune 50 company's strategic investment in a Hong Kong company
  • GoDaddy's expansion of its international domain name registration operations in Asia, Europe and Latin America
  • Polaris Industries Inc.'s joint venture with Eicher Motors Limited to develop and market new products in India and other emerging markets
  • Graco Inc.'s US$650 million acquisition of the global finishing business of Illinois Tool Works Inc.
  • H.B. Fuller Company's US$395 million acquisition of Forbo Group's global industrial adhesives business
  • H.B. Fuller Company's US$120 million sale of its Central American paints business to Compania Global de Pinturas SA, a company of Grupo Mundial
  • Polaris Industries Inc.'s acquisition of Goupil Industrie SA, a France-based manufacturer of on-road, commercial electric vehicles
  • Creation of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney joint venture (involving 35 jurisdictions securities compliance analysis)
  • US$30 million sale of a service contract business
  • Proposed sale of a controlling stake in a global cable business
  • Proposed US$1 billion cross-investment and joint venture between financial institutions
  • Negotiation of global supply arrangement for aircraft equipment manufacturer
Global Corporate Restructuring Transactions

Poonam has also advised large multinational companies with the following corporate restructurings and integration projects:

  • Ecolab Inc. in its acquisition and post-acquisition integration of Ovivo's electronic business across North America, Europe and Asia
  • Honeywell International Inc. in its carveout and spin-off of its advanced materials business into an independent, US publicly traded company
  • General Electric in its carveout and spin-offs into separate publicly traded aviation, healthcare and energy companies
  • Ecolab Inc. in its separation of the global upstream energy business (involving 68 countries)
  • Bunge and Loders Croklaan USA LLC in the global integration following the cross-border joint ventures
  • Ecolab Inc.'s pre-acquisition financing and post-acquisition integration for acquisition of Laboratories Anios for US$800 million
  • Ecolab Inc.'s global IP migration to align the IP ownership for Europe and Asia
  • Ecolab Inc.'s reorganization of Mexico holding company structure and debt alignment which involved subsidiaries in Algeria, Austria, Ireland, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands and the US
  • Ecolab Inc.'s implementation of alternative financing structure for the Ecolab worldwide group through Irish subsidiaries
  • Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.'s rationalization of domestic legal entity structure by segregating manufacturing operations from sales, distribution, R&D, procurement and management functions
  • Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.'s creation and integration of headquarters for operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa and centralization of European management structure
  • The Toro Company's pre-acquisition financing structure for its acquisition of Regnerbau Calw GmbH, and multiple cash repatriation transactions
  • The Toro Company's global reorganization for legal entity rationalization and to implement debt leverage and financing activities
  • Ecolab Inc.'s pre-acquisition reorganization to implement financing structure for acquisition of controlling interest in Jianghai Environmental Protection Co. Ltd., an industrial water treatment company in China
  • Ecolab Inc. and Champion Technologies Inc.'s post-acquisition integration of operations in North America, Latin America and Europe (involving 30 countries worldwide)
  • Ecolab Inc. and Nalco Holding Company's post-acquisition integration of operations (involving 99 countries worldwide)
  • H.B. Fuller Company in its post-acquisition integration of the Forbo Group's global industrial adhesives business
  • Pentair plc's global integration and reorganization of its valves and control business acquired from Tyco International in the US, Australia and the UK
  • Veon Ltd.'s centralization of transactional support functions and the implementation of standard intercompany services agreement in Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan
Languages
  • English
  • Hindi

Awards

Chambers USA

  • Band 3, Minnesota Corporate/M&A, (2026)
  • Band 4, Minnesota Corporate/M&A, (2024 – 2025)
Additional Recognitions
  • Named, Notable Women in Law, Twin Cities Business, (2023)
  • Named, Top Women in Law, Minnesota Lawyer, (2023)
  • Fellow, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, (2020)
  • Rising Star, Super Lawyers, (2018)

Pro Bono

Poonam's pro bono work includes estate planning, counselling and will preparation for senior citizens and immigration clinics for detainees. She also counsels low-income owners of small businesses on a variety of transactional matters.

Education
  • J.D., University of Texas School of Law, 2007
    with honors
  • B.A., Lawrence University, 2004
    magna cum laude
    Phi Beta Kappa

Bylines

  • "The Impact of the Pandemic on Women Lawyers," Hennepin Lawyer, Hennepin County Bar Association, October 2020
  • "How I Made Partner: DLA Piper's Poonam Kumar, Law.com, January 2019
  • "Corporate reorganizations in the US: five key steps – Getting the Deal Through 2018," DLA Piper, July 2018

Seminars

  • Panelist, "Three Generations of Lawyers in the Workplace," Corporate Counsel Women of Color Annual Strategies Conference, October 2024
  • Panelist, "Teamwork to Make the Dream Work: How to Maximize Your Teams' Performance," Global Women's Leadership Summit, September 2024
  • Moderator, "Finding and Using your Voice," 2023 MWL Rosalie Wahl Lecture, Minnesota Women Lawyers, November 2023
  • Panelist, "COVID-19 and the Impact of Women in the Workplace," Fordham Law Women's 3rd Annual Symposium, March 2021
  • Panelist, "Unexpected Lessons in M&A: Key Takeaways from 2020 and Predictions for 2021," American Bar Association, December 2020
  • Panelist, "Challenging the Status Quo: Self-Advocacy & Countering Personal Negation," Women in Law & Leadership Summit, December 2020
  • Moderator, "Insights for Your 2020 Performance Review," Minnesota Women Lawyers, November 2020
  • Presenter, "Impact of COVD-19 on M&A Transactions," Corporate Counsel Women of Color Conference, September 2020
  • Presenter, "Doing Business in Emerging Markets," Advanced Business Series, August 2019
  • Panelist, "Navigating Unwritten Rules of the Law Firm," Women in the Law Conference, March 2019
  • Presenter, "Cross-border M&A – Trends and Key Considerations," 2018 Business Law Institute, Minneapolis, MN, May 2018
  • Moderator, "Leadership Lessons from the In-house Perspective," Minnesota Women Lawyers, March 2018
  • Presenter, "Cross-border M&A – Trends, Key Considerations and Making the Deal Work Globally," Minnesota State Bar Association, International Business Law Section, Minneapolis, MN, November 2014

Media Mentions

Prior Experience

Poonam began her career as an associate in the New York office of a multinational law firm headquartered in London, where she was a member of the corporate mergers and acquisitions team. During her time at that firm, Poonam was seconded to the legal department of Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London, where she advised the global wealth investment management business for the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions.

Leadership Positions

  • President, Minnesota Women Lawyers, (2023)
  • Advisory Board Member, South Asian Women's Network (Twin Cities), (2022)
  • Board of Directors, National Conference of Women's Bar Associations
  • Board of Directors, Minnesota Women Lawyers
  • Board of Directors, Minnesota Women Lawyers Foundation, (2016 – 2018)
  • Co-Chair, Mosaic, DLA Piper's Diverse Partners and Counsel Resource Group
  • Partner Delegate, DLA Piper's Americas Pro Bono Committee
  • Representative, Partner Delegate, DLA Piper Leadership Alliance for Women
  • DLA Piper International Corporate Reorganizations Steering Group

Memberships And Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • National Association of Women Lawyers
  • National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
  • Twin Cities Diversity in Practice
  • Economic Club of Minnesota

My latest insights

News

DLA Piper advises HPE on the sale of its telecommunications solutions business to HCLTech

25 August 2026 .1 minute read

News

DLA Piper partner Poonam Kumar named to the Twin Cities Business 2023 Notable Women in Law...

10 October 2023 .2 minute read

News

DLA Piper partner Poonam Kumar named to Minnesota Lawyer’s 2023 Top Women in Law list

6 September 2023 .2 minute read

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Phone

+1 612 524 3022
(Work, Minneapolis)
+1 646 752 5221
(Work)