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Julien Polk

Julien Polk

Of Counsel

301 S. College Street
23rd Floor
Charlotte, NC 28202
T 704.417.3073
julien.polk@nelsonmullins.com
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Julien Polk focuses his legal practice on real estate and capital markets, bringing extensive in-house counsel experience from a major North American corporation. As former lead legal counsel at the largest tire distributor in North America, Julien provided strategic legal support across a broad range of practice areas, including real estate, logistics and supply chain,...

Julien Polk focuses his legal practice on real estate and capital markets, bringing extensive in-house counsel experience from a major North American corporation. As former lead legal counsel at the largest tire distributor in North America, Julien provided strategic legal support across a broad range of practice areas, including real estate, logistics and supply chain, proprietary brands, sales and merchandising, litigation, and risk management. His multidisciplinary experience enables him to offer comprehensive legal solutions that align with both operational and business objectives.

Julien is valued for his pragmatic approach to problem-solving and his ability to navigate complex commercial transactions and regulatory matters. His unique in-house background gives him insight into the practical legal needs of corporate clients, operating at the intersection of legal strategy and high-stakes commercial operations.

Julien Polk

proprietary brands, sales and merchandising, litigation, and risk management. His multidisciplinary experience enables him to offer comprehensive legal solutions that align with both operational and business objectives.

Julien is valued for his pragmatic approach to problem-solving and his ability to navigate complex commercial transactions and regulatory matters. His unique in-house background gives him insight into the practical legal needs of corporate clients, operating at the intersection of legal strategy and high-stakes commercial operations.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Representative Matters

  • Managed legal aspects of ~113 distribution centers (≈16 million sq ft), including sale‑leasebacks, lease negotiation/sublease; guided transactions affecting portfolio operational strategy.
  • Counseled landlord/subtenant litigation and facility safety matters, resolving disputes through mediation and negotiation to mitigate exposure without resorting to protracted litigation.
  • Negotiated high‑volume white‑label supply agreements with Chinese manufacturers, crafting terms to optimize cost, limit liability, and align with corporate goals.
  • Advised on regional distribution center (RDC) model rollout, unlocking over $200 million in working capital by reshaping the North American supply chain footprint.
  • Partnered with executive leadership to develop enterprise‑wide compliance frameworks covering Proposition 65, DOT/NHTSA safety regulations, financial controls, data privacy (including CCPA), and delegation of authority.
  • Successfully resolved complex contract, products liability, and auto bodily injury claims through negotiation and mediation—avoiding litigation and preserving corporate interests.
  • Led internal legal strategy and execution for major corporate acquisitions, including due diligence, regulatory coordination, and integration planning.
  • Led and negotiated various logistics contracts, including broker-carrier agreements, load tenders, warehouse receipts, rate confirmations, charter party agreements, accessorial contracts, bills of lading, air waybills, and multimodal transport documents, all aimed at optimizing transportation efficiency, ensuring compliance, and aligning legal strategies with business objectives.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Director, Associate General Counsel (2019–2025)
  • Associate General Counsel, Logistics and Supply Chain Solutions, (2022–2023)
  • Senior Corporate Counsel, (2020–2022)     
  • Corporate Counsel, (2019–2020)
  • Contracts Attorney, (April 2019–Sept. 2019)
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Representative Matters

  • Managed legal aspects of ~113 distribution centers (≈16 million sq ft), including sale‑leasebacks, lease negotiation/sublease; guided transactions affecting portfolio operational strategy.
  • Counseled landlord/subtenant litigation and facility safety matters, resolving disputes through mediation and negotiation to mitigate exposure without resorting to protracted litigation.
  • Negotiated high‑volume white‑label supply agreements with Chinese manufacturers, crafting terms to optimize cost, limit liability, and align with corporate goals.
  • Advised on regional distribution center (RDC) model rollout, unlocking over $200 million in working capital by reshaping the North American supply chain footprint.
  • Partnered with executive leadership to develop enterprise‑wide compliance frameworks covering Proposition 65, DOT/NHTSA safety regulations, financial controls, data privacy (including CCPA), and delegation of authority.
  • Successfully resolved complex contract, products liability, and auto bodily injury claims through negotiation and mediation—avoiding litigation and preserving corporate interests.
  • Led internal legal strategy and execution for major corporate acquisitions, including due diligence, regulatory coordination, and integration planning.
  • Led and negotiated various logistics contracts, including broker-carrier agreements, load tenders, warehouse receipts, rate confirmations, charter party agreements, accessorial contracts, bills of lading, air waybills, and multimodal transport documents, all aimed at optimizing transportation efficiency, ensuring compliance, and aligning legal strategies with business objectives.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Director, Associate General Counsel (2019–2025)
  • Associate General Counsel, Logistics and Supply Chain Solutions, (2022–2023)
  • Senior Corporate Counsel, (2020–2022)     
  • Corporate Counsel, (2019–2020)
  • Contracts Attorney, (April 2019–Sept. 2019)

Professional Activities

  • Associate of Corporate Counsel, Mecklenburg Bar Association

Community

  • A Voteless People is a Hopeless People, Project Alpha, Go to High School, Go to College, and March of Dimes

Julien Polk focuses his legal practice on real estate and capital markets, bringing extensive in-house counsel experience from a major North American corporation. As former lead legal counsel at the largest tire distributor in North America, Julien provided strategic legal support across a broad range of practice areas, including real estate, logistics and supply chain,... proprietary brands, sales and merchandising, litigation, and risk management. His multidisciplinary experience enables him to offer comprehensive legal solutions that align with both operational and business objectives.

Julien is valued for his pragmatic approach to problem-solving and his ability to navigate complex commercial transactions and regulatory matters. His unique in-house background gives him insight into the practical legal needs of corporate clients, operating at the intersection of legal strategy and high-stakes commercial operations.

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Representative Matters

  • Managed legal aspects of ~113 distribution centers (≈16 million sq ft), including sale‑leasebacks, lease negotiation/sublease; guided transactions affecting portfolio operational strategy.
  • Counseled landlord/subtenant litigation and facility safety matters, resolving disputes through mediation and negotiation to mitigate exposure without resorting to protracted litigation.
  • Negotiated high‑volume white‑label supply agreements with Chinese manufacturers, crafting terms to optimize cost, limit liability, and align with corporate goals.
  • Advised on regional distribution center (RDC) model rollout, unlocking over $200 million in working capital by reshaping the North American supply chain footprint.
  • Partnered with executive leadership to develop enterprise‑wide compliance frameworks covering Proposition 65, DOT/NHTSA safety regulations, financial controls, data privacy (including CCPA), and delegation of authority.
  • Successfully resolved complex contract, products liability, and auto bodily injury claims through negotiation and mediation—avoiding litigation and preserving corporate interests.
  • Led internal legal strategy and execution for major corporate acquisitions, including due diligence, regulatory coordination, and integration planning.
  • Led and negotiated various logistics contracts, including broker-carrier agreements, load tenders, warehouse receipts, rate confirmations, charter party agreements, accessorial contracts, bills of lading, air waybills, and multimodal transport documents, all aimed at optimizing transportation efficiency, ensuring compliance, and aligning legal strategies with business objectives.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Director, Associate General Counsel (2019–2025)
  • Associate General Counsel, Logistics and Supply Chain Solutions, (2022–2023)
  • Senior Corporate Counsel, (2020–2022)     
  • Corporate Counsel, (2019–2020)
  • Contracts Attorney, (April 2019–Sept. 2019)

Education

  • Temple University Beasley School of Law, LLM, Trial Advocacy (2020)
  • Florida Coastal School of Law, JD, Dean's List (2017)
  • Johnson C. Smith University, BS, Business and Sports Management (2010)
    • Captain of Johnson C. Smith University’s Golf Team
    • Vice President, Alpha Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Admissions

  • North Carolina
  • District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina

Practice Areas

Industries

  • Associate of Corporate Counsel, Mecklenburg Bar Association
  • A Voteless People is a Hopeless People, Project Alpha, Go to High School, Go to College, and March of Dimes