Overview
"A good business lawyer knows how to assess and balance risk in order to close a deal. I always keep my client’s end goal in sight."
Justine’s law practice concentrates on all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including the acquisition and disposition of real property assets, development projects, debt and equity financing, leasing, joint ventures, and the formation and operation of ownership entities. She has extensive experience negotiating purchase and sale agreements, ground leases, development agreements, architecture and construction contracts, office and retail leases, and construction, permanent and mezzanine financing documents for commercial mixed-use, office, retail, residential and government projects in Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland, as well as around the U.S. To close a deal as efficiently as possible, Justine works closely with her clients to understand their goals and tolerance for risk. Recognizing that no business deal is without risk, she has a keen sense of what is an intolerable level of risk and advises her clients accordingly. She is a problem solver who takes pride in getting the deal closed.
Justine also represents closely held private and family-owned companies and non-profit organizations in various industries with their real estate space needs, real estate investment projects and shareholder/partner disputes. Additionally, she has represented clients in the sale of their businesses.
Earlier in her career, Justine practiced law for eleven years at Arnold & Porter LLP and served as senior in-house counsel at Hilton Worldwide, Inc. Prior to joining Hirschler in 2016, she co-founded Fitzgerald & Rhodes LLP (later Fitzgerald Law PLLC), a boutique business law firm.
Recognition
"Virginia's Go To Lawyer" for Commercial Real Estate, Virginia Lawyers Weekly, 2023
"Top Attorneys" for Real Estate, Arlington Magazine, 2022, 2023
“Most Influential Women in Virginia,” Virginia Lawyers Weekly, 2022
Experience
Experience
Represented a real estate developer in the acquisition or ground leasing and bond financing of property leased to the U.S. Government for ICE, DOI, DEA, Border Patrol, Coast Guard, and various state agencies at locations throughout the country.
Negotiated on behalf of a Church with an affordable housing developer to enter into a long-term ground lease relating to the development of the Church’s property for a mixed-use project, including new Church space and related programming use.
Negotiated the acquisition and financing of properties around the U.S. for the construction of Veterans Administration clinics for a real estate investor.
Represented start-up companies, nonprofit corporations, trade associations, consulting and law firms, government contracting firms, art galleries, medical groups, dental practices, coffee shops, furniture retailers, and other organizations in their office leasing needs in the Washington, DC area and beyond, for leases from 1,000 to over 40,000 square feet.
Negotiated the asset sale and real estate sale of a restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia.
Provide ongoing counsel to Four Points, LLC, a real estate development company specializing in mixed-use and urban infill development in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. from site acquisition and development, to occupancy and sale.
Perspectives
News
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Community
Beyond the Law
Beyond the Law
Justine and her husband live in Falls Church, where they raised their three children. She enjoys spending time with her grown children and her Airedale Terrier, Ridley, and sharing with her husband a passion for sampling craft beers, exploring the Finger Lakes region of New York, and cheering on the University of Michigan football and basketball teams.
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Services
Education
Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., magna cum laude
- Order of the Coif
University of Pennsylvania, B.S., The Wharton School
University of Pennsylvania, B.A., Political Science with concentration in Public Policy, with honors
Admissions
- Virginia
- District of Columbia
