Julie’s expertise spans the interrelated areas of business immigration, corporate law, and employment law. Recognizing the unique and often overlapping challenges faced by businesses and individuals in today’s global economy, Julie offers an integrated, strategic approach that addresses the complexities of all three practice areas in tandem.
With a deep understanding of both corporate and immigration law, Julie helps businesses navigate the ever-evolving landscape of U.S. immigration policies while ensuring compliance with corporate and employment regulations. Whether advising on corporate immigration compliance, visa strategies, or labor certification processes, Julie ensures that companies maintain a smooth, legally compliant operation while hiring and retaining top global talent. This multi-faceted expertise allows clients to streamline their legal needs and avoid costly mistakes by working with a single attorney who can address all aspects of their business and immigration concerns.
In her corporate law practice, Julie provides practical, results-driven advice on business formation, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, and governance, while also addressing the potential immigration implications of cross-border transactions, if any exist. By connecting the dots between corporate needs and immigration requirements, Julie enables businesses to build and maintain strong, legally compliant operations both domestically and internationally.
On the employment law front, Julie works to negotiate employment agreements, draft handbooks and internal policies for single and multi-state employers, and ensure compliance with wage and hour laws, discrimination regulations, and workplace policies. Julie’s in-depth understanding of the intersection between employment and immigration law allows her to help clients navigate and proactively address employee issues, create compliant workplace policies, and mitigate risk in areas such as I-9 compliance and E-Verify obligations.
With a client-focused, holistic approach, Julie provides seamless legal services that cater to the full spectrum of business, immigration, and employment needs. Clients benefit from working with an attorney who not only understands each practice area in isolation but also grasps the critical ways in which these areas interconnect to safeguard their businesses and workforce.
Personal
Julie was born in California and spent her early childhood in Mexico before settling in West Des Moines, Iowa where she has called home ever since. Julie earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from Drake University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, attending her children’s sporting events, and cultivating her skills in cooking and baking.
Prior to pursuing law school, Julie spent various years in state government as an investigator with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. During her law school career, Julie obtained a diverse legal background working as a student attorney for the Drake Law General Civil Legal Clinic and clerking for a state district court judge and various other legal firms in the Des Moines area. Upon graduation from Drake Law, Julie served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Helen C. Adams in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Prior to joining Belin McCormick, Julie was an associate attorney in private practice at a firm in Des Moines.
Honors and Accomplishments
During her time in law schools, Julie was an editorial board member of the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law. Her student note was published in Volume 25 of the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law and was the recipient of the Outstanding Note Award. Julie was also a member on the National Moot Court and Client Counseling Teams, served as a member of the Moot Court Board, served as Vice President of the Drake Law Hispanic and Latino Law Student Association, and was a Cady Law Fellow. Upon graduation, Julie was inducted into Order of the Barristers.
Community & Professional Activities
Julie is committed to giving back to her community and actively participates in several organizations. Julie serves as a board member on the Iowa/Nebraska AILA Chapter, Al Exito, and Latinos Unidos of Iowa. Julie is also a member of the Polk County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the Hispanic National Bar Association.
Publications and Presentations
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Presenter, “Employment-Based Sponsorship 101” (September 2024)
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Presenter, “Business Formation Considerations for Small Business Owners” (June 2024)
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The FTC Votes to Ban Non-Compete Agreements (April 2024)
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Key Immigration Considerations in Mergers and Acquisitions (July 2023)