Julie E. Gifford

Overview

Julie Gifford represents clients with respect to a variety of real estate matters, with a particular focus on real estate finance. Julie’s real estate finance experience includes representing lenders and borrowers on commercial real estate construction and permanent loan transactions, including the financing of multi-family developments, for-sale condominium projects, industrial warehouse centers, office buildings, medical office buildings, senior living facilities and major shopping centers. She has also represented lenders on the financing of note purchases, including unique situations involving the acquisition of notes in foreclosure.

In addition to real estate finance, Julie has experience representing commercial landlords in their leasing activities in office and retail spaces, particularly within multi-family developments, and developers in the acquisition of vacant land for commercial and residential developments.

Julie has previously served on the firm’s Executive Committee and is a past-chair of the firm’s Marketing & BD Committee and Recruiting Committee. Julie also enjoys mentoring young attorneys both professionally and personally and feels strongly that her own success is due in large part to the strong mentorship she received at Otten Johnson.

I support the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado (opens in a new tab) which works to achieve our national promise of “justice for all” by providing access to our civil justice system to low-income Coloradans in need of help with issues related to basic necessities such as housing, healthcare, government benefits and educational services.

Speaking & Publications

• Author: “Mortgages and Financing” (Chapter 6), Colorado Real Estate Practice, 2026 Edition, Colorado Bar Association CLE (2026)
• Presenter: “Mortgages and Financing,” Colorado Real Estate Practice 2026 — The Seminal Course, Colorado Bar Association CLE, Webinar (February 2026)

Awards & Involvement

• Best Lawyers in America: “Lawyer of the Year” Real Estate (2027)
• Best Lawyers in America: Real Estate Law (2020-2027)
• Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Denver
  • Member (2008-present)
  • Chapter Past President (2021)
  • Chapter President (2020)
  • Chapter President-Elect (2019)
  • Chapter Director of Membership (2015-2016)
  • Women of Influence Committee (2009-2013)
  • Co-Chair, Women of Influence Committee (2011-2012)
• Legal Aid Foundation:
  • Board of Trustees (2015-2021)
  • Denver Area Campaign Committee (2010-2015)
• Colorado Bar Association Committee for Balanced Legal Careers (2012-2015)
• Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation (COLTAF) – Board of Trustees (2023-present)

Jurisdiction

• State of Colorado
• American Bar Association
• Colorado Bar Association
• Denver Bar Association

Education

• J.D., University of Denver College of Law (2001); Articles and Managing Editor, University of Denver Water Law Review
• B.A., Cornell University (1996)
• Semester Abroad, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden

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