special counsel
Julie M.
Earnest
Legal Assistant
Ms. Earnest has worked as a transactional attorney in private practice and as in-house counsel for an international design and construction company. She has experience with construction, real estate, corporate matters, merger & acquisitions, and litigation management. Her primary focus at Berg hill Greenleaf Ruscitti is construction law.
Prior to recently rejoining Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti as Special Counsel, Ms. Earnest was Associate General Counsel, Secretary, and Vice President for an international design and construction company. Ms. Earnest is a member of the Construction and Commercial Panel for the American Arbitration Association and is a registered professional engineer.
Experience
Construction Law
As in-house counsel for a construction contractor and engineer, Ms. Earnest performed the following: advised the Civil/Construction/Mining, Power, and Oil & Gas Business Units in the pursuit of infrastructure and industrial projects, negotiation of contracts, implementation of work, and dispute resolution; drafted and negotiated contracts for domestic and international infrastructure and industrial projects valued from hundreds of thousands to those in excess of one billion dollars; negotiated professional services agreements (engineering consulting and construction management services), design/build and construction contracts, change orders, and settlement agreements; represented the contractor as the construction joint venture partner in the pursuit of private public partnership projects; managed outside counsel regarding litigation (cost and schedule construction claims, OSHA citations, union grievances, personal injury claims), intellectual property law, environmental matters, federal contract provisions, creation of special purpose entities, payment disputes, and international legal matters; consulted with engineers, managers, and executive management to communicate risks, develop practical solutions to mitigate risks, and resolve disputes; and worked with risk management in-house experts and brokers to evaluate insurance coverage. In private practice, Ms. Earnest provided legal representation to owners, developers, contractors, and subcontractors in the negotiation of contracts and the resolution of breach of contract, termination, and lien claims; performed research regarding construction litigation claims and prepared complaints.
Real Estate Law
Ms. Earnest has negotiated and drafted purchase agreements, leases, and closing documents for commercial and residential real estate purchase and sale transactions including those for affordable housing projects. She has assisted clients with loan financing documents and acquisitions through eminent domain.
Corporate Law
Ms. Earnest has prepared documents for the creation and operation of corporations, private foundations, and limited liability companies; prepared merger documents including acquisition agreements, assignments, resolutions and employment agreements; negotiated shareholders’ agreements, LLC operating agreements, and joint venture agreements; advised clients on the tax implications and requirements associated with the formation of non-profit organizations, conservation easements, business division in divorce, estate planning and characterization of income. She has drafted development management agreements and strategized with real estate developers regarding their organizational structure and contracts in order to minimize taxation.
Mergers & Acquisitions
In private practice, Ms. Earnest negotiated and drafted documents relating to mergers, asset acquisitions, stock purchases, noncompetition agreements, indemnity agreements, employment agreements, and other closing documents associated with such business transactions. As in-house counsel, she participated in business asset sales and internal reorganizations in anticipation of stock sales.
Government Contracts
Ms. Earnest has reviewed and negotiated federal and state contracts for infrastructure projects, negotiated change orders, participated in dispute resolution processes, researched and advised regarding interpretation and application of federal acquisition regulations and state procurement regulations, and represented contractors in the development of claims.
EDUCATION, ADMISSIONS & PROFESSIONAL LICENSES
JURIS DOCTOR
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO SCHOOL OF LAW, 2000
MASTERS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
KELLER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, XXXX
MASTERS OF SCIENCE
PURDUE UNIVERSITY, 1984
BACHELORS OF SCIENCE
PURDUE UNIVERSITY, 1982
Colorado
2000
Registered Professional Engineer
Illinois
Professional Associations
Colorado Bar Association
Public Speaking & Engagements
Panelist, BizWest’s Rocky Mountain Construction Summit 2018,
The Voice of General Construction: Current Challenges in Construction.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Experience
Assisted contractor in support of its $30 million delay claim in the Dispute Resolution Board proceeding related to a $204 million transportation project.
Supported contractor in the defense of a $50 million breach of contract arbitration claim related to a contract mining operation.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Training
AAA ACE 19 Case Finances: What Arbitrators Need to Know, 2019
Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators, 2019
AAA Arbitration Awards – Safeguarding, Deciding and Writing Awards, 2019
AAA – Clarity in Award Writing. AAA – Case Finances for Arbitrators.

Julie’s Blog

Safer Federal Workforce Task Force Issues Vaccine Mandate Guidance for Federal Contractors
As a follow up to President Biden’s Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors, (Order) the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (TASK Force) has issued its guidance (Guidance) in an effort to implement a science-based plan...

Updated Client Alert: Current State of Colorado Eviction Procedure and Other Changes to Landlord-Tenant Law Effective October 4, 2021.
As of October 4, 2021, the 30-day notice requirement for filing a residential eviction suit for failure to pay rent has expired and Governor Polis has stated that he does not intend to renew that protection. Governor Polis had previously extended Executive Orders D...

“Workouts & Workarounds” in Commercial Real Estate
On Tuesday, November 17, 2020, managing partner, Giovanni Ruscitti, moderated a panel on "Workouts and Workarounds" within the Boulder Valley commercial real estate industry. This session was part of BizWest's annual Boulder Valley Real Estate Conference. Joining him...
In the News
Merritt Named Co-Chair of the Firm’s Trusts, Estates, Probate, and Tax Practice
Shelly Merritt, a partner at Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti, has been named the co-chair of the Firm's Trust, Estates, Probate, and Tax Practice. Merritt has over thirty years of experience representing individuals, families, closely-held businesses, executives, and...
BHGR Introduces the Women’s Leadership Committee
Just in time for Women's History Month, Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP formed and formally introduced the BHGR Women's Leadership Committee. The Women's Leadership Committee is comprised of sixteen female attorneys and was established to recognize and cultivate a...
BHGR Partnership Expands with 2023 Elections
The Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti partnership gathered at our Boulder office on January 31, 2023. In that meeting, attorneys Geoff Williamson and Benjamin Wilson were elected Equity Partners, and Elizabeth Froehlke and DJ Goldfarb were elected Non-Equity Partners,...
Firm Happenings
Updates in California Employment Law: Additional Requirements for Pay Data Reporting and Pay Transparency
Updates in California Employment Law: Additional Requirements for Pay Data Reporting and Pay Transparency On September 27, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 1162 ("SB 1162"), expanding California's data reporting requirements under Government...
Client Alert: What Employers Must Convey Upon Employee Termination or Separation
Colorado's most recent legislative session, concluding in early May, pushed through several new employment-related laws that concern employers and employees alike. Senate Bill (SB) 22-234 should be of particular interest to employers, as it requires employers to...
Client Alert: Colorado Places New Restrictions on Non-Compete Agreements Between Employers and their Employees
Colorado has long disfavored non-compete agreements within the state. Historically, under C.R.S. § 8-2-113, restrictive covenants were void and unenforceable except for under specific circumstances, including: the purchase and sale of a business or the assets of a...