Joel A. Hilgendorf - Minneapolis, MN
Attorney at Hellmuth & Johnson
Banking, Finance & Workout Lawyers in Minneapolis, MN
8050 West 78th Street Minneapolis, MN 55439
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
25
Years
Experience
Minneapolis Banking, Finance & Workout Lawyer
Updated: 03/10/2026
Areas of Practice
- Banking, Finance & Workout
- Collections, Creditor Remedies & Bankruptcy
- Community Associations
- Real Estate Law
Attorney Information
Overview
Joel Hilgendorf is an attorney with Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC, in both the Real Estate and Community Association Practice Groups. Joel's clients include banks, developers, commercial and residential property owners, condominium and townhome associations, and businesses and individuals.
Joel's practice includes counsel and representation in the following primary areas:
- Real estate law and litigation
- Community Association law
- Foreclosure law and Creditor's remedies
- Commercial and residential real estate transactions
Joel is dedicated to providing clients with exceptional service - defining his practice through efficiency, attention to detail and a commitment to excellence.
Joel has been certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a Board Certified Real Property Specialist, a designation held by a select few Minnesota attorneys. Joel is experienced in:
- Commercial and residential real estate transactions and disputes
- Landlord/tenant issues
- Clearing Title Defects
- Creditor's Remedies and Collections
- Boundary Disputes
- Easements
- Contracts for Deed and Cancellations
- Mortgages and Foreclosure Law
- Priority Disputes
- Partition Actions
- Quiet Title Actions/Torrens Actions
- Zoning and Land Use
- Condemnation
One of Joel's particular areas of concentration is representing condominium and townhome associations. He is active in the Minnesota Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, where has served on the Board of Directors. Joel has extensive experience representing community associations in all of their legal needs, including:
- Assessment collection and lien foreclosure
- Covenant enforcement
- Interpreting and Amending governing documents
- Drafting and reviewing contracts
- Construction defects
- Fair Housing matters
Joel is a frequent speaker and presenter on real estate law issues. Joel also routinely authors articles for real estate industry publications and trade journals.
He has been named to the Minnesota Rising StarsSM list 4 times (2008, 2010, 2011 & 2012) Only 2.5% of young attorneys in the state are chosen each year.
Joel is licensed to practice law in the state and federal courts in Minnesota, and is a member of the Real Property Sections of both the Hennepin County Bar Association and Minnesota State Bar Associations. He obtained his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School, and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana.
Joel Hilgendorf is an attorney with the firm in both the Real Estate and Community Association Practice Groups. Joel's clients include banks, developers, commercial and residential property owners, condominium and townhome associations, and businesses and individuals.
Joel's practice includes counsel and representation in the following primary areas:
- Real estate law and litigation
- Community Association law
- Foreclosure law and Creditor's remedies
- Commercial and residential real estate transactions
Joel is dedicated to providing clients with exceptional service – defining his practice through efficiency, attention to detail and a commitment to excellence.
Joel has been certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a Board Certified Real Property Specialist, a designation held by a select few Minnesota attorneys. Joel is experienced in:
- Commercial and residential real estate transactions and disputes
- Landlord/tenant issues
- Clearing Title Defects
- Creditor's Remedies and Collections
- Boundary Disputes
- Easements
- Contracts for Deed and Cancellations
- Mortgages and Foreclosure Law
- Priority Disputes
- Partition Actions
- Quiet Title Actions/Torrens Actions
- Zoning and Land Use
- Condemnation
One of Joel's particular areas of concentration is representing condominium and townhome associations. He is active in the Minnesota Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, where he serves on the Board of Directors. Joel has extensive experience representing community associations in all of their legal needs, including:
- Assessment collection and lien foreclosure
- Covenant enforcement
- Interpreting and Amending governing documents
- Drafting and reviewing contracts
- Construction defects
- Fair Housing matters
Joel is a frequent speaker and presenter on real estate law issues. Joel also routinely authors articles for real estate industry publications and trade journals.
Joel has been named to the Minnesota Rising Stars list 3 times (2008, 2010 & 2011) by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine; only 2.5% of young attorneys in the state of Minnesota are chosen each year.
Joel is licensed to practice law in the state and federal courts in Minnesota, and is a member of the Real Property Sections of both the Hennepin County Bar Association and Minnesota State Bar Associations. He obtained his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School, and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Named to the Minnesota Rising Stars in 2008 and 2010-2013 by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine, 2008 - Present
- Selected to the Minnesota Rising Stars List, 2010 - 2011
Other Sources of Feedback About Joel A. Hilgendorf
Included on the 2013 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2012 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
- 2008 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
University of Minnesota Law School,
Minneapolis,
Minnesota, 2001
J.D.
-
University of Minnesota Law School,
Minneapolis,
Minnesota, 2001
-
Non Legal Education
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
Urbana,
Illinois, 1995
A.B., Bachelor of Arts
Honors: With Honors
Major: English
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
Urbana,
Illinois, 1995
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Partner
Classes and Seminars
-
Fair Housing Law for Common Interest Communities, CIC Midwest, April 28, 2010 - Present
-
Real Property Foreclosure, National Business Institute, August 25, 2010 - Present
-
Community Association Rules and Regulations, Community Associations Institute - Minnesota Chapter, October 27, 2010 - Present
-
Community Associations in Distress: Legal Implications of the Economic Downturn, MN CLE, November 12, 2010 - Present
-
Know & Tell: Sound Strategies to Meet Today's Complex Real Estate Disclosure Requirements, Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC
-
Fair Housing & Dual Agency for Real Estate Agents, Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC
-
Aging in Place, Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC
-
Amending Your Governing Documents, Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC
-
A Community Association's Guide to Collecting Delinquent Assessments, Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC
- Minnesota Residential Landlord Law, Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC
Representative Cases
-
Washington Mutual Bank, F.A. v. Elfelt
- Citation: 756 N.W.2d 501
- Court: Minnesota Court of Appeals
- Year: 2008
Published Works
Articles
-
New Reserves Legislation - Learn How Your Association May Be Affected, Minnesota Community Living, March/April, 2010
-
"The Fair Housing Act Does Not Apply to Our Community Association" - A Common Misconception Addressed, CIC Midwest News, March, 2010
-
A Primer on Collections for Common Interest Communities, CIC Midwest News, May, 2009
-
Guidance in Hiring Contractors, Minnesota Community Living, March/April, 2008
-
New Fannie Mae and HUD Lending Rules - Learn How Your Association is Affected, Hellmunth & Johnson Community Association Newsletter, Winter, 2010
- Reviewing Collection Procedures to Avoid Defamation Claims, Hellmuth & Johnson Community Association Newsletter, Winter, 2007
- Rules and Regulations - Adopt and Enforce as a Rule, Hellmuth & Johnson Community Association Newsletter, Fall, 2007
- A Path Through the Woods - A Brief Look at the Law of Trees, Hellmuth & Johnson Real Estate Newsletter, Summer, 2009
- Crossing the Line - A Brief Look at Boundary Issues, Hellmuth & Johnson Real Estate Newsletter, Summer, 2008
- Properly Preparing Filing Documents Key to Clear Title, Hellmuth & Johnson Real Estate Newsletter, Summer, 2006
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 2001
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 2002
Specialties and Certifications
- Real Property Specialist, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2008
Other Affiliations
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- Community Associations Institute of Minnesota (Membership Committee)
- Community Associations Institute of Minnesota (Former member of the Board of Directors)
- CIC-Midwest (Member)
- Edina Chamber of Commerce (Ambassador and Government Affairs Committee)
- Southwest Metro Area Chamber of Commerce
- Member, Real Property Section, Hennepin County Bar Association
- Member, Real Property Section, Minnesota State Bar Association
- Minnesota Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (Board of Directors)
Photo
Contact
8050 West 78th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55439
Phone: (952) 746-2167
Fax: (952) 941-2337
Email: Send a message
Hours: Mon – Fri: 8am to 5pm
Disclaimer
Your Profile? Update Now
When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.