Erika S. Baurecht

Biography

Erika S. Baurecht, a Partner in the Commercial Law Group, is an experienced transactional lawyer who represents National corporations and technology companies, banking institutions, public entities, construction companies, real estate developers, landlords, tenants and restaurant owners in a wide variety of commercial real estate and financing matters, in both corporate and private practice.

Her primary focus has been in the areas of the purchase, sale, development and management of commercial real estate; project financing and loan workouts; construction transactions; retail, office, industrial, data center, communications and cellular site leasing; and condominium conversions, with a complementary focus on corporate restructurings and all aspects of general corporate law. She is also experienced in the areas of zoning and planning, asset purchase and procurement, licensing and advertising and commercial contracts.

Some of Ms. Baurecht’s former and current projects include:

• Representation of several global technology companies for the expansion of their regional and international offices, data centers, communication site facilities, and on-going facilities management.
• Representation of Wisconsin Energies for the negotiation and drafting of the $2.3 billion dollar Engineering Procurement and Construction contract with Bechtel Corporation for the construction of the Oak Creek supercritical coal-based power facility on the west shore of Lake Michigan (the largest lump-sum turnkey project in Bechtel’s history).
• Representation of institutional lenders in connection with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily housing loan programs.
• Assisted in the representation of a large Pacific Northwestern developer for the development and leasing of an 18-acre mixed use project consisting of retail, restaurants, entertainment, health and educational facilities.
• Representation of a prominent Pacific Northwestern non-profit foundation in the development and management of 500 parcels of property in Washington State, including 11 historical buildings in historic Pioneer Square, and two city blocks in the downtown core of Seattle, as well as 16,000 acres of timber, agricultural land.
• Assisted with the representation of The Southeastern Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District (“SWPBPD”) for the development and construction of Miller Park, the public professional baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Brewers. Also served on the SWPBPD Board of the Minority Advisory Affairs Committee and the Board of the SWPBPD Minority and Women Owned Business Participation Committee.
• Representation of Hawaiian offshore lender in Pacific Northwestern commercial real estate secured transactions.
• Selected as construction counsel for the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration. Responsible for the development of the State Construction Manager at Risk model contracts and the revision of all State construction related contracts and supporting documentation.
• Advised Nationwide residential/condominium/mixed use developer on land acquisition and disposition issues, and corporate structure and financing issues.
• Representation of Harley-Davidson Motor Company in commercial real estate transactions and facility leasing.

Ms. Baurecht frequently speaks at seminars and to local and national associations on issues concerning facilities management, construction contracting, leasing and lien law, including annual presentations at the Washington Construction Law conference, and the publication of the articles “ABC’s of Construction Contracting: Creating a Contract You Can Live With” and “Don’t Let The Roof Fall On Your Head! The Risky Relationship Between Owner, Contractor And Subcontractors”.

Ms. Baurecht is active in the national Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) network, is the Past President of the CREW Seattle & Sound Chapter, and has served on the Board of the Wisconsin CREW Chapter. Her other professional associations and memberships include the Washington State Bar Association, the Wisconsin State Bar Association, the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry, and the American Corporate Counsel Association.

Ms. Baurecht earned her J.D. from Marquette University Law School and a B.A. in English and Geology, magna cum laude, at the University of New Mexico. She has practiced law in Wisconsin, Washington and California. Ms. Baurecht is admitted to practice in Wisconsin, Washington, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh and Ninth Circuits, and the U.S. Federal Courts. She is a native of New Mexico and former collegiate soccer and rugby player.

Education & Bar Admissions

Education

• Marquette University Law School, J.D.
• University of New Mexico, B.A., English and Geology, magna cum laude

Bar Admissions

• Wisconsin
• Washington
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh and Ninth Circuits
• U.S. Federal Courts

In the News

• 4/2/2013 - GSH Welcomes Erika S. Baurecht