special counsel

Julie M.

Earnest

Legal Assistant

Kim Miller

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

In the News

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