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Overview

With a career-long emphasis on supply chain and complex commercial litigation issues, Julie provides a full suite of legal services to clients, with a special focus upon the transportation, cargo, and logistics industries.

With 20+ years as a transportation logistics attorney and litigator, Julie handles all legal matters for transportation/transportation-adjacent companies, including contract drafting and analysis, day-to-day legal consultations, regulatory advice, and complex litigation, often involving lost, damaged, or delayed cargo. She represents clients operating in every transportation sphere, touching all points of the supply chain across the globe, including shippers, brokers (3PLs), motor carriers, freight forwarders, marine and energy companies, intermediaries, NVOCCs, warehouses, ocean vessels, and software providers for vehicle tracking systems and autonomous vehicles, as well as consignees/consignors, and she also represents major corporations dealing with shipping or supply chain issues. She handles disputes involving both intrastate, interstate, and international commerce.

Julie works with clients who maintain in-house fleets, outsourced/third-party fleets, or both. With an international practice, she routinely assists clients with a combination of multi-modal issues domestically and abroad. Julie also handles freight loss and damage claims; litigates issues related to the collection of tariff and transportation charges; and drafts, negotiates, and advises clients on transportation contracts and insurance issues.

Julie routinely serves as national counsel for clients, providing ongoing consultation services and spearheading litigation across the country. She regularly advises on laws such as the:

  • Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. § 14706
  • Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA), 49 U.S.C. § 14501(c)(1)
  • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
  • Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA), 46 U.S.C. § 30702
  • Montreal Convention/Warsaw Convention
  • Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
  • Federal Chemical, Natural Resource, and Waste Transportation Law
  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCPA)
  • Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. §§ 5101, et seq.
  • Uniform Self-Service Storage Facility Act
  • Uniform Commercial Code, Article 7

A talented trial attorney who first cut her teeth on general business disputes and complex commercial litigation before developing an industry-specific supply chain and transportation focus, Julie has extensive experience trying cases to verdict in both federal and state courts. Julie has repeatedly been recognized as Arizona’s largest defense verdict for the year, and clients can count on her to fiercely defend their interests. Julie is known for her ability to simplify complex legal matters into addressable issues and solutions.

In recent years, Julie has developed a niche practice in autonomous vehicles, or so-called “driverless cars.” She is well-positioned to advise clients on the array of novel legal issues and potential liability presented by these vehicles and the technology behind them.

After serving as chair and co-chair of the Cargo & Logistics, Autonomous Vehicles, and Transportation practices at a prior national firm, Julie joined Husch Blackwell in 2023 to enhance full service capabilities for existing and future clients. She recognized the solid caliber of the firm’s attorneys, allowing her to offer clients a truly exceptional bench. She also knew the firm’s broad geographic reach, with attorneys throughout the contiguous states, would allow her to serve clients around the globe. At Husch Blackwell, Julie offers business and supply chain clients a one-stop shop for all their legal needs.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers In America®
    • Insurance Law, 2025
    • Transportation Law, 2023-2025
  • Arizona’s Finest Lawyers
  • 40 Under 40, Phoenix Business Journal
  • Rising Star, Southwest Super Lawyer; Civil Litigation Defense, 2013-2014; Employment Litigation Defense, 2012
  • Award of Professional Distinction, Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly University of Missouri–Rolla)

Education

  • J.D., University of Notre Dame Law School
    • Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy, Solicitation Editor and Symposium Chair
  • M.P.A., Arizona State University
    • summa cum laude
    • Graduate Research Assistant, School of Public Affairs
  • B.A., University of Missouri–Rolla
    • summa cum laude
    • Athletic Hall of Fame
    • Award of Professional Distinction, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Admissions

  • Arizona
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Law360 Transportation Editorial Advisory Board, 2024
  • International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
  • Conference of Freight Counsel (CFC)
  • Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA)
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
  • Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA)
  • Transportation Intermediary Association (TIA)
  • International Association of Defense Counsel, Trial Academy, Stanford Law School
  • Ladder Down, Arizona Association of Defense Counsel
  • Mountain States Legal Foundation, Board of Litigation, Arizona Delegate
  • Appointed Judge Pro Tempore for the Arizona Superior Court of Maricopa County
  • Women In Transportation (WIT)

I’m so thankful to be at a firm where I’m excited to introduce clients to my colleagues so that they experience a one-stop shop of excellent, client-centric services.

Articles | November 12, 2024
Legal Insights for Manufacturing: Transportation & Logistics

After a period of relative calm in 2023, this past year witnessed a variety of disruptions underscoring the fragility of global supply chains amid a larger reconfiguration of world trade.

White Papers | October 24, 2024
Legal Insights for Manufacturing: Outlook for 2025

Intensifying geopolitical crises, increasing regulatory burdens, and uncertain macroeconomic conditions have led to an era of caution for manufacturers.

Legal Updates | October 01, 2024
ILA Contract Expires, Dockworkers on Strike
Legal Updates | September 16, 2024
ILA Labor Agreement Set to Expire, Strike Looms
Outside the Office

Julie adores live music: anywhere and any type, from reggae to folk to blues. A former student athlete who put herself through college playing soccer and basketball, she also enjoys watching all types of sports and staying active with anything except pickleball.

When she has time away, Julie loves to spoil her 25 nieces and nephews. As a proud Midwesterner, she also loves anything Wisconsin, and her secret obsession includes any and all documentaries and biographies.

Community Leadership
  • Arizona Women's Education and Employment, Board of Directors
  • Phoenix ToolBank, Vice-President, Board of Directors
  • Suns Charities 88
  • Big Brother Big Sisters of Central Arizona
Published Opinions

Many of Julie’s cases have resulted in published opinions regarding new areas of law, as well as confirmation of critical areas of law for the transportation industry:

  • Fast Post Shanghai Logistics Co., Ltd. v. B612 Tima Inc., et al., Case No. EDCV 23-1628 JGB (DTBx) (C.D. Calif. Aug. 26, 2024).
  • Starceski v. United Van Lines, LLC, 8:22-cv-962-WFJ-CPT (M.D. Fla. Aug. 22, 2023).
  • Starceski v. United Van Lines, et. al., Docket No. 8:22-cv-00962-WFJ-CPT, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 190949 (M.D. Fla. Oct. 19, 2022).
  • Brunner v. Beltmann Group, INC., 2020 WL 635905 (N.D. ILL. 2020).
  • Cook v. N.Y. Moving & Storage, Inc., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 179954 (D. Utah Sep. 28, 2020).
  • Anson Calder, LLC v. Bay Shore Moving & Storage, Inc., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 127845 (D. Utah July 30, 2019).
  • Nachman v. Seaford Transfer, Inc., 2018 WL 4186397, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 149315 (E.D. Va. Aug. 31, 2018).
  • Reclaimed Goods, LLC v. Frisard’s Trucking Company, Inc., 2018 WL 2771426, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 97059 (W.D. La. June 7, 2018).
  • Re-Borne, Inc. v. Panther II Transportation, Inc., 3:17-cv-00023-GFVT, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51243 (E.D. Kent. 2018).
  • Delta Stone Products v. Xpertfreight, et. al., 2018 WL 354681, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5337 (D. Utah 2018).
  • Chisesi Bros. Meat Packing Co. v. Transco Logistics Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. Lexis 75580, 2017 WL 2189829 (E.D. La. 2017).
  • Sony Biotechnology, Inc. v. Chipman Logistics and Relocation, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134440, 2017 WL 3605500 (S.D. Cal. 2017).
  • Hartley v. Don Farr Moving & Storage, 2017 U.S. Dist. Lexis 206360 (W.D. La. 2017).
  • Grier v. Griffin Moving & Storage, Inc., 0:17-cv-61485-DMM (S.D. Fla. 2017).
  • United Van Lines, LLC v. Deming, 2017 WL 3149301, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 116308 (N.D. Cal. July 25, 2017).
  • Pinnacle Pines Cmty Ass'n v. Everest Nat'l Ins. Co., Chartis Specialty Co., et al., No. CV-12-08202-PCT-DGC, 2014 WL 1875166 (D. Ariz. May 9, 2014).
  • Pacific Indemnity Co. v. Atlas Van Lines, Inc., 642 F. 3d 702 (9th Cir. 2011).
  • Pacific Indemnity Co. v. Pickens Kane Moving & Storage Co., et al., 655 F. Supp. 2d 1023 (D. Ariz. 2009).
  • In re Accuride Erie, 125 LA 1061 (Franckiewicz 2008).