Julie Herzog specializes in corporate, securities and merger and acquisition transactions. She has handled transactions valued at over $4 billion for major public companies and investment banks and enjoys working with a diverse clientele ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to startups, family offices, and venture capital and private equity funds. In the last three years, Julie negotiated and closed over 50 transactions valued at over $1.3 billion on behalf of our clients. Her clients represent a variety of industry sectors, including energy, health care, technology, manufacturing, real estate, food and beverage, business consulting and other services. She has counseled over 150 companies from inception through initial public offerings or successful sales.
Before joining the firm in 2003, Julie practiced corporate and securities law for more than eight years at major international law firms, Morrison & Foerster’s Denver and Hong Kong offices and Jones Day’s Chicago office. In 2004, she started her own clothing business, grew the business over three years and successfully sold it in 2007. Her experience managing the entire lifecycle of a business adds value to her work with clients.
Each client has varying demands and requirements and Julie has earned a reputation for respecting the unique qualities of each of her clients. Her approach is refreshingly down-to-earth as she meets her clients’ business objectives, while appropriately addressing the legal and business risks. Having been on both sides of the desk, she understands the importance of timeliness, efficiency and other factors that create quality customer service—and that is what she delivers.
Practice Areas
– Entity and fund formations
– Domestic and international public and private mergers and acquisitions
– Partnerships, joint ventures and strategic alliances
– Management buyouts and debt and equity financings (including angel investments, venture capital, private equity and public offerings)
– Technology transfer and licensing
– Corporate governance matters, including director and officer liability protection
– Securities and stock exchange compliance
– Commercial transactions
– Real estate and development
Bar Admissions
– Colorado
– Illinois (inactive)
Education
– Juris doctor, cum laude, Southern Methodist University (1994)
*Law Review Managing Editor and elected to Order of the Coif (top 10%)
– Bachelors of science in accounting and political science, with honors, Oklahoma State University (1991)
– Certificate in Authentic Leadership, Naropa University (2003)
Professional Affiliations
– Rocky Mountain Securities Conference – 2017 and 2018 Planning Committee
– American Bar Association – Business Law Section
*Mergers & Acquisitions Committee, Market Trends Subcommittee
*Committee on LLCs, Partnerships and Unincorporated Entities
– Colorado Bar Association – Business Law Section
*Mergers & Acquisitions Subsection
*Securities Law Subsection
– Association for Corporate Growth (Corporate Affairs Committee)
– Entrepreneurs’ Organization (Co-Chair Alchemy 2015, Forum Moderator 2014, Membership Chair 2017-2018)
– University of Colorado Leeds School of Business Women’s Council
– Blackstone Entrepreneurs’ Network – Network Advisor 2017 and 2018
– Boomtown Accelerator – Mentor (2017)
Honors & Awards
– Honored with the 2017 and 2018 M&A Lawyer of the Year by ACQ Global Awards
– Presented with the 2017 M&A Corporate LiveWire Award
– Named to the Colorado Super Lawyers lists – 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018
– Colorado Super Lawyers – Top 50 Women – 2015, 2016 & 2017
– Finalist in the Law category for the Denver Business Journal’s 2015 Outstanding Women in Business Award
– Won the Corporate Live Wire award for Elite M&A Lawyer in Colorado in 2015
– Named one of InterContinental Finance Magazine’s “100 Leading Female Lawyers” for 2014
– Finalist for “Top Woman Lawyer” in 2010
– “Woman of Accomplishment” by Law Week Colorado in 2009
– Finalist in the “Mile Hi Leader” category for the Denver Business Journal’s 2005 “Outstanding Women in Business Awards”
– Denver Business Journal “40 under 40” in 2002
Community Activities & Personal Interests
Julie has been involved in a variety of charitable organizations during her career. As the Chair of the Underwriting Committee for the Women Inspiring Leadership Development (WILD) Summit she helped create the initial Summit in 2013, raise nearly $260,000 in donations, and grow participation to over 500 women in 2014. She has volunteered at Anchor Center for Blind Children, served as an Associate Board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and served as a Guardian ad Litem through the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center.
In her free time Julie enjoys spending time with her triplets, country western dancing, yoga, golf, running, skiing and she loves personal development and learning opportunities. She and her triplets earned their black belts in karate in 2017. She is also a founder and President of Chrysalis Development Group LLC, a real estate investment company.
Speeches & Publications
– Presented at Fortis Law Partners 2018 Lunch & Learn Series – “How Do I Maximize My Company’s Value for a Future Exit Event? And Laying the Foundation for a Successful Exit.” (2018)
– Moderator at The Business Buyer’s Symposium “Growth Through Acquisition” hosted by Transworld Business Advisors of Denver (2017 & 2018)
– Presented “Securities Law Survival Guide” at the Colorado Bar Business Law Institute’s annual CLE (2017)
– Presented at Fortis Law Partners 2017 Lunch & Learn Series – “How Do I Maximize My Company’s Value for a Future Exit Event?” (2017)
– Presented “Critical Updates in the Changing M&A Landscape” to the Colorado Bar Association, M&A Subsection (2015)
– Featured speaker on a national webcast entitled “How to Effectively Deal with an SEC Investigation” (2014)
– Featured speaker on a national webcast entitled “SEC and Dodd-Frank Act Regulations Compliance: Emerging Issues and Practical Guidance” (2013)
– Presented “Securities Law Survival Guide” to the Colorado Bar Association (2012)
– Featured on Mile High Radio’s “Blind Justice”, speaking on the recently enacted JOBS Act (2012)
– Quoted in the regional and national press on corporate governance and securities issues
– Lectured on entity formations, technology transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital financings to trade organizations and bar associations (2000-Present)
– Published law review article on Securities Law in the George Washington Law Review (1994)
– Published law review article on Oil and Gas Law in the Baylor Law Review (1994)
Representative Transactions
– Represented NetFactor on the sale of substantially all of their assets to Bombora
– Represented a local private equity fund in negotiating with other investors and lender for a $17 million purchase of a multifamily apartment complex in Thornton through a tenant in common structure and $14 million Freddie Mac loan
– Represented a Spanish private equity firm with three $1+ million Preferred Stock investments in California tech start-ups
– Assisted a majority investor in connection with a $63 million Fannie Mae refinancing of a construction loan for a multifamily apartment complex in Austin, Texas
– Assisted and negotiated several large scale M&A deals for clients
– Assisted and advised on multiple aspects for the construction and operation of a world class aquatic training facility including raising private capital from investors and the negotiation and closing of bank debt financing of over $6 million
– Assisted a family-office client with an investment in tenants-in-common that purchased a multi-family apartment complex in Texas for $37 million and related Freddie Mac financing of $22 million and two additional Freddie Mac refinancings for other projects totaling $88 million
– Represented a Colorado pet foods company in its $2.5 million sale to a strategic buyer
– Represented the Rocky Mountain’s leading manufacturer of bottled water in connection with its SEC filings, NASDAQ compliance, going private, debt financings and general corporate and governance matters
– Finalized the launch of a private placement of up to $1.6 million for the holding company of a multi-state title insurance underwriting company. The deal was designed to eliminate corporate debt and add working capital to, among other things, fund expansion efforts
– Assisted a family-office client with an investment in a joint venture that purchased a multi-family apartment complex in Arizona and the sale via a reverse 1031 exchange of another multi-family apartment complex in Texas for $37.3 million
– Negotiated the joint development and licensing of new predictive analytics applications in the mental health industry on behalf of a leading Colorado non-profit
– Assisted a client in the manufacturing industry with negotiating and closing a sale of the company, yielding an excellent result for a long-term client and its owners
– Represented a family office/private equity fund in connection with the purchase of 11 and sale of 7 multi-family apartment complexes throughout the country with an aggregate value of $800 million and simultaneous obtaining or amending of $300 million in FHA multi-family primary and supplemental loans
– Represented the founders of pet products leader, The Kyjen Company, in sale to The Riverside Company
– Represented a global leading publicly held medical technology company in connection with its domestic and international acquisitions of, and investments in, a number of privately-held companies and divestitures ranging in size from $20-80 million, including divestiture of a German subsidiary to a U.S. public company, a U.S. subsidiary to a Dutch company and acquisition of a privately held U.S. company
– Represented a family office/private equity fund in connection with 10-15 hedge fund and real estate investments, debt financings and refinancings for real estate projects, including Fannie Mae loans, and development projects annually averaging approximately $80 million
– Represented a publicly held environmental technology products and services company in connection with its public and private offerings, international and domestic mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, stock exchange compliance, corporate governance and general corporate and commercial matters, including structuring and closing a $300 million joint venture for a new manufacturing facility, multi-million dollar PIPEs by strategic and financial investors, a $30 million registered direct offering, $27 million confidentially marketed public offering, reorganization in Delaware, stock split, two restatements, SEC investigation, derivative lawsuits and debt financings
– Represented healthcare technology and services company in the medical transcription and electronic medical records space in a $14 million management buyout and recapitalization
– Represent large Colorado non-profit organization that provides comprehensive and accessible mental health and substance abuse treatment, housing, education and employment services for adults and is the leading resource of treatment for children, teens and families
– Assisted public companies in connection with restatements of financial statements due to SEC comments and advice to the board and management as to appropriate public disclosures
– Represented a family office/private equity fund in connection with a complex 1031 reverse exchange, the acquisition of three multi-family apartment complexes with an aggregate value of $165 million and simultaneous negotiation and closing of Fannie Mae loans
– Assisted Motor Sport Country Club in connection with its financial restatements and going private transaction
– Represented a medical documentation software and services company in connection with 5-10 acquisitions of privately-held companies per year over 5 years as part of its roll-up strategy, a $3 million Series A Convertible Preferred Stock offering to angel investors and $10 million Series B offering to a private equity fund
– Represent real estate developers in connection with fund formations, Regulation D offerings, debt financings and development of various projects through Colorado
– Represented Fortune 20 company in the healthcare industry in connection with its acquisitions of, and investments in, a number of privately-held companies and joint ventures
– Facilitated the negotiations and closing for a $2.1 billion hardware and software products distributor resulting in distribution agreements with 15-20 vendors, representing over $250 million in revenue and subsequently prepared new hardware, software and services distribution and license agreements to standardize and streamline operations
– Represented Saratoga Harness Racing’s acquisition of Fitzgerald’s casino in Black Hawk, Colorado
– Assisted real estate development company in connection with its $8.5 million acquisition of real estate near Vail, Colorado, including recapitalization and debt financing
– Represented a publicly held Australian manufacturer of cryogenic and high vacuum equipment with two acquisitions in the United States
– Assisted a mother-owned publisher of online consumer reporting services in the automobile industry in connection with the sale of the company to the industry leader
– Assisted several start-up companies in connection with their formation, debt and equity financings, shareholder and buy-sell agreements, software development, technology licensing, manufacturing, supply and OEM agreements, website privacy policies and terms of use and various other commercial transactions.
