Attorneys / Kyle S. Willems
Kyle S. Willems
Shareholder | Board of Directors
Practice Groups
Business & Commercial, Business & Commercial Litigation, Business Succession Planning, Construction & Real Estate, Financing & Real Estate Transactions, Food Safety, General Corporate, Intellectual Property, Torts & Products Liability, Torts and Product
Biography
Kyle Willems is a member of Bassford Remele’s board of directors, and co-chair of the firm’s construction and real estate practice group.
As a business litigator, Kyle primarily represents individuals and businesses who have disputes in the construction, real estate, and finance sectors.
Kyle has obtained favorable results for his clients through every other stage of a dispute, including pre-litigation/arbitration, litigation, arbitration, mediation, trials, and appeals.
Kyle’s broad range of experience and knowledge extends to the following areas:
- Commercial litigation: shareholder disputes, directors and officers liability, defamation, deceptive trade practices, non-competition and trade secrets, breach of contract, fraud, class actions and mass torts, internal investigations, and fraud.
- Construction: breach of contract, construction defect, warranty, insurance and bonding, mechanic’s liens, government enforcement actions, project delays and cost overruns, site injury and wrongful death, and defective products.
- Real estate: zoning and land use, boundary disputes, quiet title, premises liability, nuisance and trespass, purchase and sale, non-disclosure, landlord/tenant, leasing, and fraud.
- Catastrophic tort and wrongful death: representation in high-exposure personal injury and wrongful death matters involving oil and gas and industrial explosions, construction and workplace fatalities, defective and dangerous products, environmental and chemical exposures, and other incidents causing severe bodily injury, permanent disability, substantial wage loss, and long-term impairment, with a focus on complex liability, multi-party disputes, and significant damages.
Kyle is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Construction Law Section Council, the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law (Division 1 – Litigation). He was recently elected to the Associated General Contractors of Minnesota’s board of directors and serves on its Contracts and Policy Committees. He is a past member of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Executive Committee and was the Chair of the New Lawyers’ Section.
Kyle has been recognized as the 2025 Minnesota Real Estate Lawyer of the Year by the Real Estate Journal, a 2025 Minnesota Rising Star by Super Lawyers, a 2025 Top Lawyer by Minnesota Monthly, and an Up & Coming Attorney by Minnesota Lawyer. He has also been named to The Best Lawyers in America.
Education
- University of St. Thomas School of Law, J.D.
- Dean’s Scholarship Recipient
- First Place, Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association Moot Court Tournament
- Board of Advocates, member
- University of Minnesota, B.A.
- Dean’s List Recipient
Bar Admissions
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
Certifications
- Qualified Neutral Under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice
- National Center for Dispute Resolution, Arbitration Panel Member
Representative Cases
- Obtained seven-figure settlements for property owners in a chemical waste and contamination dispute involving alleged environmental damage.
- Obtained a seven-figure settlement for the family members of an individual killed by a drunk driver.
- Represented an industrial manufacturer in litigation arising out of a highly publicized explosion, securing a settlement in the client’s favor through a strategic and unconventional resolution approach.
- Obtained the favorable resolution of a highly publicized and international business defamation matter.
- Obtained the favorable resolution of a highly sensitive wrongful death dispute involving a nationally prominent figure following substantial litigation.
- Obtained a favorable resolution of a business defamation suit on behalf of a nationally prominent businessperson.
- Obtained summary judgment for a national eyeglass chain following allegations of violations of federal anti-discrimination laws.
- Obtained a favorable outcome for a national food chain following extensive litigation involving allegations of consumer fraud.
- Obtained a favorable result for a national restaurant chain in a high-profile case involving allegations of food contamination.
- Obtained a favorable result for a national confections manufacturer following allegations of violations of federal consumer protection laws.
- Prevailed at trial on behalf of a civil rights organization against its insurer.
- Participated in obtaining a favorable resolution of a substantial construction defect case involving a major corporation’s headquarters.
- Secured dismissal of a major product manufacturer in a significant dispute related to construction of an NFL stadium.
- Obtained dismissal of a government investigation and requests for significant facility modifications on behalf of a large construction materials manufacturer.
- Obtained a favorable resolution on behalf of a general contractor in litigation arising from a jobsite accident involving a fatality and several persons with severe injuries.
- Obtained a favorable resolution of business disputes involving alleged theft and misuse of trade secrets.
- Obtained favorable resolutions on behalf of multiple transportation companies in matters alleging anti-competitive practices.
- Obtained a favorable outcome for a celebrity chef and national restaurant chain in a complex commercial lease dispute.
- Obtained a favorable outcome that included recovery of attorney’s fees arising from mechanic’s lien claims in a complex and significant commercial construction dispute.
- Prevailed at trial on behalf of a landlord in a commercial lease and property damage dispute.
- Obtained a trial verdict upheld on appeal following an insurer’s denial of fire coverage to a steakhouse.
- Obtained a favorable resolution of a dispute involving a commercial landowner and general contractor over damages caused by neighboring construction projects.
- Resolved a complex shareholder disputes on terms highly favorable to clients accused of fraud and improper business practices.
- Obtained favorable buyouts for minority owners in closely held businesses, including a fitness enterprise and a construction and remediation company, both before and during litigation.
- Resolved a complex trust dispute resulting in the buyout of a hostile trustee.
- Resolved a complex medical malpractice matter on behalf of a national upscale spa chain on terms highly favorable to the client.
- Obtained numerous judgments on behalf of victims of real estate fraud.
- Obtained favorable outcomes in more than 100 residential, multifamily, and commercial construction contract and construction defect disputes.
- Obtained a favorable trial outcome in sensitive family financial dispute.
- Prevailed on a motion to dismiss on behalf of commercial tenant against its landlord.
Publications
- Cracks in the Foundation: Understanding and Preventing Fraud in Minnesota’s Construction Industry, author, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, June 2025
- Five Provisions That Should Get Extra Attention During Your 2025 Contracts Review, author, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, October 2024
- The Corporate Transparency Act Is On Appeal! How That Impacts Your Business Plans, author, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, June 2024
- The Corporate Transparency Act – What You Need to Know, author, Attorney at Law, April 2024
- Business Succession Planning, author, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota Thought Leadership Series, February 2024
- “Slander of Title”: The Counter-Punch to a Mechanic’s Lien, author, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, January 2024
- A Guide to the New Corporate Transparency Act, author, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, January 2024
- An Important Change for Minnesota’s Anti-Indemnity Statute and What It Means for Minnesota Construction Companies, author, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, June 2023
- Ten Tips for Creating Strong Business Agreements and Contracts, author, Upsize, May 2023
- Keeping an Eye on the Clock: Important Legal Deadlines That Construction Professionals Should Be Tracking, author, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, February 2023
- Special Verdict Forms and Jury Instructions, author, Chapter 19, Minnesota Motor Vehicle Accident Deskbook, 2020
- TECH-SAVVY and HUMAN-CENTRIC – St. Thomas Lawyers embrace artificial intelligence’s growing role within the law, author, St. Thomas Lawyer, Fall 2019
- Trends in E-Scooter Litigation, author, Minnesota Bench & Bar Magazine, September 2019
- An Overview: The Impact of Rideshare Insurance on the Role of Liability Insurance in Motor Vehicle Accident Cases, author, Mitchell Hamline School of Law Journal of Public Policy and Practice, April 2019
- Liability in Self Driving Cars, author, Hennepin Lawyer, January/February 2019
- Protecting the Owner and the Project, author, Insurance and Bonding Issues in Construction, June 2016
- Litigating Sports Concussions: What You Need to Know About the Science and the Law, author, Bench & Bar Magazine, August/September 2017
- How to Level the Playing Field When the Insurers Fail to Pay, author, Attorney at Law Magazine, August 2015
Seminars
- Tenant Improvement Strategies, moderator, Minnesota Real Estate Journal Minnesota Office Summit, December 12, 2025
- Indemnification in Minnesota Construction, co-presenter, Bassford Remele Key Provisions When Negotiating Your Contract, December 11, 2025
- Dispute Resolution, Flow-Down Provisions and Fee Shifts, presenter, Bassford Remele Key Provisions When Negotiating Your Contract, December 11, 2025
- Modern Risk in Construction: Cybersecurity & Artificial Intelligence, presenter, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota Board of Directors, July 16, 2025
- Office Market Update, panel moderator, Minnesota Real Estate Journal Mid-Year Forecast Summit, May 30, 2025
- Ethical Traps in the Post-COVID Construction Industry, co-presenter, Associated General Contractors 2025 Minnesota Construction Summit, February 19, 2025
- Navigating Emerging Trends: ESOPs, Private Equity, and Financial Innovations, co-presenter, Bassford Remele 2025 Annual Construction Law Summit, February 6, 2025
- Commercial Construction Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities, panel moderator, Minnesota Real Estate Journal 17th Annual Construction Summit, January 23, 2025
- Post-Trial Enforcement and Considerations, co-presenter, Bassford Remele Mechanic’s Lien: A Primer, December 12, 2024
- Navigating Corporate Transparency: Understanding the Corporate Transparency Act and Compliance Essentials, presenter, Wyoming State Bar’s Annual Meeting & Judicial Conference, September 13, 2024
- How to Solicit and Respond to Bids with New Laws and Contract Changes to Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing Update, presenter, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota Summer Mini Summit, July 17, 2024
- Office Market Update, panel moderator, Minnesota Real Estate Journal Mid-Year Forecast Summit, June 6, 2024
- Effectively Working with Opposing Counsel, presenter, HalfMoon Publications Trial Preparation for Minnesota Legal Assistants, June 2024
- Adopting Practices That Reduce Construction Defects and Failures, presenter, HalfMoon Publications Preventing and Addressing Construction Defects and Failures in Minnesota Seminar, February 21, 2024
- Strategies and Considerations for Construction Professionals Who Are Thinking About Investing and Succession Planning in Closely-Held Companies, presenter, Bassford Remele Construction Law Summit, February 8, 2024
- Hot Trends in the Construction Industry and What You Need to Know About these Trends, presenter, Bassford Remele Construction Law Summit, February 8, 2024
- Avoiding Disputes & Winning Disputes, moderator, Minnesota Real Estate Journal 16th Annual Construction Summit, January 26, 2024
- Construction Contracts 401, presenter, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota Construction Summit, January 17, 2024
- Determining Damages, Trying Defamation Cases, and Settlement Considerations, presenter, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, December 2023
- Construction Contracts, presenter, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, September 2023
- Office Market Update – State of the Market, moderator, Minnesota Real Estate Journal Mid-Year Forecast Summit, June 15, 2023
- Getting Into the Weeds: Navigating Cannabis Legalization in Minnesota, presenter, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, June 14, 2023
- Avoiding Disputes, Winning Disputes & Construction Finance, presenter, Minnesota Real Estate Journal 15th Annual Construction Summit, January 25, 2023
- High Exposure from High Tech: Preparing for Legal Risks Posted by High Tech Advancements in the Construction Industry, presenter, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota Construction Summit, January 18, 2023
- How to Try a Civil Jury Trial, presenter, PowerHouse Mediation, December 6, 2022
- A Conversation About New Employment Laws in the Construction Industry, moderator, Minnesota State Bar Association Construction Law Section, September 15, 2022
- Pre-empting Post-COVID Legal Issues Affecting Your Project, presenter, Minnesota Real Estate Journal 18th Annual Land Development Summit, May 5, 2022
- Opportunities in Today’s Residential Construction & Home Building Marketplace, presenter, Minnesota Real Estate Journal 14th Annual Construction Summit, January 27, 2022
- Commercial Land Development State of the Market, panel moderator, Minnesota Real Estate Journal 17th Annual Land Development Summit, September 15, 2021
- Legality of Electronic Scooters, presenter, St. Thomas School of Law Journal of Law and Public Policy, January 26, 2021
- Ride Sharing and Other Non-Driver Based Chaos, presenter, Minnesota Deskbook Series, September 2020
- Worksite Accident Litigation in the Tech Age, presenter, Minnesota State Bar Association, May 11, 2020
- Pleadings and Insurance Coverage: What Every Litigator Needs to Know, presenter, Minnesota State Bar Association, February 2019
- Legal Roles in Construction Law, panelist, Minnesota State Bar Association, January 2019
- Bonding and Insurance Issues in Construction, presenter, HalfMoon Publications Continuing Legal Education, 2016
Professional Achievements
- Douglas K. Amdahl Inn of Court, Barrister
Bar Associations
- American Bar Association
- Forum on Construction Law, Division 1 – Litigation
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Construction Section, Council, 2020-2021; 2022-present
- New Lawyers Section, Chair, 2020-2021
- Real Estate Property Section
- Civil Litigation Section
- Hennepin County Bar Association
Professional Associations
- Associated General Contractors of Minnesota
- Board of Directors, 2026-present
- Contracts Committee, 2022-present
- Association of Women Contractors
- Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, past member
- Products Liability Committee, Co-Chair, 2020-2021
- NAIOP Minnesota | Commercial Real Estate Development Association
Civic Involvement
- University of St. Thomas School of Law
- Mentor Program, Mentor, 2015-2018; 2020-present
- Alumni Board, 2018-2020
- Wildlife Forever
- Board of Directors, 2025-present
- Servant Leaders in Training
- Member
Honors & Awards
- Real Estate Lawyer of the Year, Minnesota Real Estate Journal, 2025; Finalist, 2022 and 2023
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Commercial Litigation and Real Estate Litigation, 2025
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Construction Litigation, Real Estate Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation, 2024
- New Lawyers Distinguished Service Award, Minnesota State Bar Association New Lawyers Section, 2021
- Top Lawyers list, Minnesota Monthly, Construction Law, 2022, 2023 and 2025; Construction Litigation, 2024
- Up and Coming Attorney, Minnesota Lawyer, 2019
- Selected to the Minnesota Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers, 2020-present
- North Star Attorney, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2015-2018

