Helping Businesses Grow with Commercial Transactions Attorney Amanda Tummons

Her work centers on guiding clients through complex agreements, meeting them at moments when strategy matters most. In this conversation, she shares how she found her niche, how she approaches dealmaking without a template and what she’s learned from the clients she serves.

Biz 417: What originally drew you to commercial contracting, and what has kept you engaged in this work?

Amanda Tummons: I knew early on that litigation was not for me. The idea of having to stand up in front of a judge and think quickly on my feet gave me a lot of anxiety. I wanted to be on the business side. My focus on commercial contracting was a byproduct of when and where I started practicing. I joined the firm in 2006. Not long after that, the 2008 financial crisis disrupted the mergers and acquisitions work I had been doing. At the same time, I had exposure to aviation-related work, which is centered on commercial contracts. I just naturally gravitated that way.

The thing that has kept me engaged is the feeling of helping businesses move forward. I’m not usually stepping in at a moment of crisis or sale, but at a moment of growth. A company may be reaching the point where it can no longer take a casual approach to signing contracts. It has to become more deliberate about risk, strategy, and long-term planning. It’s rewarding to help clients navigate that transition.

Biz: You often handle high-value, complex agreements that don’t always come with a clear template. How do you approach structuring deals when there is no playbook?

A.T.: I go back to the basics of what the client is trying to accomplish. Clients are often thinking about the full complexity of the transaction, which makes sense, but part of my job is to bring it down to its simplest components.

For example, if a deal involves equipment and services, I start by separating those pieces out. What is the equipment being purchased? What is the service component? Once you have that solid foundation laid, you can start to address the complexities. Sometimes it looks like waking up in the middle of the night with a flash of insight. A good night’s rest can help a lot.

Biz: As an attorney building a sophisticated practice in Springfield, what do you value most about being part of the local business community?

A.T.: The sense of connection. In a community like Springfield, people know each other or know somebody who knows somebody, and there is a real overlap across businesses, organizations and relationships. That creates a strong sense of community. What’s great about that is when you’re helping a business grow, you’re helping your community grow. 

Biz: What advice would you give to someone who is interested in building a career in business law?

A.T.: Be authentically yourself and be comfortable with that. You are always going to get advice from other people about what they think you should do, how you should present yourself, or what your career should look like. Some of that advice may be helpful, and some of it may not fit who you are.

You must also understand that work-life balance is rarely in balance. Some days, work needs more of your attention, sometimes your family does, and sometimes the balance shifts hour by hour. The key is figuring out what your priorities are and what works for you. When building a professional career, be a professional in everything you do. That may mean early mornings, late nights, or adjusting your schedule to make life work. It also means recognizing that not everyone’s goals are the same. If your version of a successful and meaningful career is different from someone else’s, that’s okay, too.