Julie C. Mendoza

Competent on trade matters, but communication could improve

I engaged Julie Mendoza at Morris, Manning & Martin to assist my small import business with a compliance review related to new tariff classifications. Her background in international trade and finance law, including the recognition she's received in that field, was immediately apparent. She efficiently identified several potential pitfalls in our supply chain documentation. Her analysis was thorough and grounded in her decades of experience since graduating from the University of Chicago. However, the experience was somewhat mixed. While the legal work itself was solid, there were periods where communication lagged. Responses to follow-up emails sometimes took several business days, which created anxiety during time-sensitive phases of our project. The billing was as expected for a firm of this caliber in DC, but I didn't always feel proactively updated on progress. For straightforward trade advisory work, she is certainly knowledgeable. Yet, for clients who prioritize consistent, proactive communication, there may be a gap between her clear expertise and the client service experience. She resolved our immediate issue competently, but the process felt more transactional than collaborative.