This limited series profiles SoCal Power Women who have helped shape cities, neighborhoods, businesses and lifestyles in Los Angeles and Orange counties. These women will be honored at Bisnow's SoCal Power Women event Dec. 13.
Julie Hoffman is a partner in Allen Matkins' Century City office. As a member of the firm's real estate group, Hoffman represents buyers and sellers in the negotiation and documentation of purchase and sale transactions for office, residential and industrial real property. Some of her notable cases include representing Kilroy Realty in the acquisition of a $300M, 276K SF mixed-use site in Washington and Hudson Pacific Properties' acquisition of a 1M SF Class-A office and data center property in San Francisco.
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How do you describe your job to people who are not in the industry?
Hoffman: While I’m an attorney by trade, I tell people I am in the risk assessment business. Whether the client’s goal is to buy, sell, lease, develop, operate or invest in real property, my job is to understand that goal intimately, analyze the situation, present the client with options, and help them make the best possible business decision.
What is the biggest business problem you have faced and how did you solve it?
Hoffman: I once represented a client interested in acquiring a property that severely encroached onto the neighboring property. The original developer literally just built the building several feet over the property line, creating innumerable insurance, construction and financing issues. We solved that problem by convincing the neighbor to just sell us that property too!
What is one thing you think companies can do to address wage and gender inequality?
Hoffman: Instead of just talking about wages and gender inequality, companies have to actually enact formal policies to address and rectify those issues. There might be some grumbling, as unfortunately, backward-looking perspectives still prevail among some folks. But if companies enforce forward-looking policies, eventually, attitudes and behavior will adjust.
What piece of advice do you give others entering the industry?
Hoffman: You have to be prepared to work hard. Someone else might be smarter or more innately talented but I’ve yet to see a situation where work ethic didn’t carry the day. As Coco Chanel said, if you’ve got a problem, you add more lipstick and attack.
What do you do to unwind when you’re not working?
Hoffman: When I am not working, I like to spend time with my kids, Brady and Avery, go for runs and bike rides, and “Netflix and chill” with my husband, Dave. I know that phrase has a different connotation for some, but for us, that literally means binge-watching our favorite shows with a nice bottle of pinot. Who wants to talk to me about "Making a Murderer"?!?! We are obsessed.
Meet Allen Matkins partner Julie Hoffman at Bisnow's SoCal Power Women event Dec. 13 at the LA Grand Hotel Downtown.
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