Julie Mecklenburg is Of Counsel in the firm's Maui office and a member of the Transactional Practice Group. Ms. Mecklenburg concentrates her practice on real estate, business and financing transactions.
Prior to joining Carlsmith Ball, her career included in-house and government positions domestically and abroad, in addition to private practice. She has represented a wide variety of clients, including real estate owners, developers and investors, venture capital and private equity firms, governmental entities, and private companies on complex and day-to-day matters arising at all stages of the business life cycle.
Real Estate & Infrastructure Project Development
- Represented city government in agreements with library district for planning and joint development of two projects incorporating parks, open space, libraries and a community center
- Represented governmental entity in negotiation of agreements for joint development and maintenance of three new commuter train line stations with regional transportation district
- Represented county government in planning and development of 276-acre residential community; managed entitlement process and contracts for financing, design, construction, staging, marketing and sales of first phase, including 91 single family homes and bungalows and recreational facilities
- Represented homebuilder and prepared management and constituent documents in connection with development of multi-phased mixed-use development including 139 single family homes, 122 condominiums and park and recreational facilities on 130 acres
- Represented residential developer in preparation of management and constituent documents in connection with development of a master planned community consisting of eight phases of condominiums, affordable and market rate apartments, attached townhouses, retail space and recreational facilities
Real Estate Acquisition and Financing Transactions
- Represented commercial property owner in seller-financed sale of medical facility
- Represented real estate investment management firm in sale of a 40-story office building
- Represented real estate investment management firm in sale of a 1.06 million square foot shopping center
- Represented real estate firm in acquisition of 17-story office building
- Represented real estate investment management firm in sale of 440,000 square foot shopping center
- Represented private equity fund in refinancing of 36-story office building
Real Estate Leasing and Management
- Negotiated and drafted lease agreements and amendments for numerous multi-tenant commercial and retail property owners• Assisted with management of properties for major national retailer, including leasing and acquisitions and dispositions of properties; negotiated settlements of landlord claims relating to leases rejected by client in connection with bankruptcy/restructuring
- Assisted with management of properties of hospitality-focused real estate investment trust, including purchase of luxury resort and transfer of hotel management contracts
- Represented national telecommunications company in management of real property; drafted and negotiated leases, subleases and lease extensions for retail, equipment and office space nationwide
- Negotiated and documented property use agreements for municipal government
- Negotiated and drafted leases, licenses and facility use agreements for retail, office, commercial and industrial space for early-stage companies
- Negotiated and drafted leases, licenses and facility use agreements for retail, office, commercial and industrial space
Mergers & Acquisitions; Joint Ventures
- Represented company-owned health care system in joint venture with preeminent school of medicine
- Represented symmetric DSL technology company in its acquisition for $315 million; managed due diligence and negotiation and drafting of merger agreement and ancillary documents
- Represented customer interaction software company in $75.5 million stock swap merger with another customer relationship management software company; reviewed and produced due diligence materials; negotiated and revised merger agreement and ancillary documents
- Represented software company in acquisition of information technology education and consulting company; reviewed due diligence materials; assisted in drafting merger agreement and ancillary documents
- Represented software company in $10.7 million acquisition of provider of analytic solutions for B2B digital marketplaces; led due diligence team in diligence review
- Represented semiconductor design company in acquisition by semiconductor company for $45 million; managed due diligence materials and negotiation of ancillary merger documents
Venture Capital/Private Equity Financing
- Led legal team responsible for ramp-up and deployment of $200 million double-bottom-line domestic venture capital subsidiary of Saudi Aramco. Created template library, developed innovative investment instruments, established processes, and advised investment committee. Negotiated and drafted all documentation for a multitude of deals including
- Seed investment of $400,000 in indoor navigation technology company
- Seed and Series A investments totaling $1.1 million in 3D aerial scanning and modeling company
- Series A investment of $1.9 million in an information technology telematics company
- Series A investment in fintech payment processing and fraud prevention company
- Convertible note investment in food delivery start up
- Represented hospitality online marketplace company in proposed $30 million venture capital investment by resort chain; produced diligence materials; revised documents
- Represented healthcare technology company in angel round financing; drafted and negotiated equity purchase and ancillary documents
- Represented enterprise management software company in $34 million Series B financing; drafted and revised equity purchase and ancillary documents
- Represented private equity firm in $47 million leveraged buyout of national trucking and logistics company; involved in drafting of financing and equity purchase documents and ancillary agreements; coordinated and conducted due diligence review
Asset Purchase & Sale
- Represented waste management company in acquisition of assets of competitor; negotiated and drafted letter of intent, asset purchase agreement and all ancillary documents
- Represented restaurant business owner in acquisition of assets of another restaurant; negotiated and drafted asset purchase agreement and all ancillary documents and handled transfer of liquor license
- Represented temporary staffing company in sale of assets; reviewed and revised purchase documents; coordinated production of due diligence documentation
Land Use and Zoning; HOA
- Represented governmental entities in negotiation and drafting of developers’ agreements with conditions for large-scale projects
- Conducted land use diligence review for acquisition of resort property by real estate investment trust
- Represented city in negotiation and documentation of property use agreements and acquisitions of temporary and permanent utility, transportation, and access and right-of-way easements, avoiding eminent domain actions
- Compiled zoning and land use diligence reports for developers on various target properties
- Represented planning commission in consideration of applications for variances and use permits, including contested case hearings
- Represented property owners in disputes regarding use of properties under HOA rules
- Represented developers in formation of owners’ associations and preparation of conditions, covenants and restrictions and other governing documents
Real Estate Lending/Affordable Housing Gap Financing
- Negotiated and documented municipality’s investments from $150 million affordable housing fund into a multitude of housing developments, including the following:
- $3 million investment in new apartment community producing 252 affordable units
- $2.6 million investment in new apartment complex producing 180 affordable units
- $1.6 million investment into new apartment complex producing 103 affordable units and permanent supportive housing
- $2.6 million investment in apartment building renovation producing 188 affordable units
- $1.8 million investment in new home development producing 32 for-sale affordable paired homes
- multiple other investments in projects producing more than 700 additional affordable units
Other Transactional, Commercial & Litigation Experience
Commercial Contracting & Procurement
- Represented internal departments of large multinational company in negotiation of commercial contracts, licenses, software as a service (SaaS) contracts and professional services agreements
- Advised government leadership on procurement procedures, contracting requirements and contract enforcement matters
Corporate Maintenance
- Formed and effectuated corporate entity reorganizations for various client entities
- Documented issuance and transfers of membership interests and stocks
- Served as secretary, assistant secretary and legal counsel to numerous boards, commissions, and committees; prepared agendas, minutes, and resolutions, and handled other formalities
- Formed, organized, and issued founders’ stock for several start-up companies
- Advised several entities on day-to-day legal issues including employment agreements, stock option issuances, warrants, stock transfers, intellectual property protection
Claims/Litigation
- Represented local governmental entity in tax disputes with major corporate taxpayers
- Represented local governmental entity in several contractor disputes before state hearings officer
- Conducted research and drafted pleadings, briefs and motions on behalf of governmental entity as plaintiff in arbitration and litigation in fraud and breach of contract claim
- Represented government entity in Section 8 housing claims (administrative hearings and appeals)
- Drafted California fairness hearing documentation and prepared witnesses for hearings
- Negotiated settlement of bankruptcy claims by landlords on behalf of department store chain
- Managed outside counsel’s representation of governmental entities and companies in various claims and lawsuits
Compliance
- Represented city in preparation and implementation of ADA Transition Plan• Advised internal client departments and subsidiaries on compliance and risk management matters
- Drafted legislation and regulations to comply with budgeting standards and reporting requirements of a foreign government’s Compact of Free Association with the United States
- Advised law firm clients regarding compliance with securities laws, labor laws, affordable housing regulations and reporting requirements
Employment
- Drafted and reviewed employment agreements for a variety of public and private entities
Intellectual Property
- Advised clients and drafted documentation regarding the protection, licensing and transfer of intellectual property rights
Maritime
- Advised government officials and police regarding enforcement of fishing rights in the Federated States of Micronesia
Counseling
- Advised company divisions and subsidiaries regarding development and revision of policies, procedures, and standard terms and templates
- Provided advice to variety of governmental and private boards, committees, and commissions and assisted with enforcement of procedural rules
- Advised city and county council members regarding the law and their rights and duties; drafted legislation, resolutions, and policies
- Worked closely with the President, Vice President and members of Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), providing advice and counsel on a wide variety of matters
- Provided advice and counsel to the FSM’s Economic Policy Implementation Council
Affiliations
- Hawaii State Bar Association
- Colorado Women’s Bar Association