Miller Johnson Attorneys Austin Koltonowski and Brandon Tomash Earn Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA) Designation
Grand Rapids, MI – July 30, 2026 – Miller Johnson is pleased to announce that Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions attorneys Austin Koltonowski and Brandon Tomash have earned the prestigious Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA) certification, a nationally recognized credential awarded to professionals with advanced expertise in middle-market mergers and acquisitions from the Alliance of Mergers & Acquisitions Advisors (AM&AA).
The CM&AA designation demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the merger and acquisition process, including transaction structuring, valuation, due diligence, negotiations, financing, and post-closing integration strategies. The certification equips advisors with specialized knowledge to guide business owners, investors, and organizations through complex transactions and strategic growth opportunities.
“In today’s M&A environment, clients need more than legal expertise-they need commercially minded partners who can navigate both the strategic and practical aspects of a deal,” said Anne Marie Carson, chair of the Corporate / M&A practice group. “Austin and Brandon exemplify what it means to be pragmatic, business-focused advisors. Their achievement underscores Miller Johnson’s commitment to being true partners to our clients-delivering not just legal counsel, but practical guidance that drives successful outcomes at every stage of a transaction.”
Koltonowski and Tomash are members of Miller Johnson’s Corporate / M&A practice, where they advise privately held companies, business owners, family-owned enterprises, private equity firms, and strategic buyers on a wide range of corporate transactions. Their work includes mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, business succession planning, governance matters, and general corporate counseling.
Earning the CM&AA designation requires completion of an intensive educational program focused on middle-market M&A transactions and demonstrates a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professional excellence in the field.
“Our clients entrust us with some of the most significant decisions in the life of their businesses,” said Koltonowski. “The CM&AA program provided valuable insights into the strategic and financial aspects of transactions, strengthening our ability to help clients achieve their goals.”
Tomash added, “The designation enhances our understanding of the full M&A process and further supports our collaborative approach to helping clients navigate opportunities and challenges with confidence.”
Miller Johnson’s Corporate / M&A practice group collaborates with clients and their advisors to structure, negotiate and close deals and to navigate the challenges that can arise in mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, and other business combination or investment transactions.
Miller Johnson is top listed for mergers and acquisitions with U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms and is ranked by Chambers USA. At The M&A Advisor’s national awards and the ACG M&A Deals and Dealmakers regional awards, our attorneys are consistently involved in deals honored as winners and finalists.
About The Alliance of Mergers & Acquisition Advisors
The Alliance of Mergers & Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA) is the premiere International Organization serving the educational and resource needs of the middle market M&A profession. Formed in 1998 to bring together CPAs, attorneys, and other experienced corporate financial advisors, AM&AA’s 1100+ professional services firms – including some of the most highly recognized leaders in the industry—draw upon their combined transactional expertise to better serve the needs of their middle market clients worldwide.
Miller Johnson is a full-service law firm delivering strategic legal counsel to businesses and individuals through corporate law, employment and labor, litigation, mergers & acquisitions, education law, and private client services. The firm’s 170+ attorneys serve clients across regional, national, and global markets from offices in Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo. For more than six decades, Miller Johnson has helped clients navigate complex legal matters through a collaborative, practical, and results-driven approach. The firm is recognized in Chambers USA; Best Lawyers; Best Law Firms; Legal 500; and additional leading rankings and recognition publications reflecting its commitment to excellence and client service.
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