Broad-Based and Diverse PracticeAs a full-service firm, we cover all aspects of legal practice on St. John and the USVI, to meet all the legal needs of our island residents, visitors and investors, including business and commercial law, real estate, land-use and environmental, VI government relations, litigation, trust/estate and probate, and many others, as detailed below.
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Business Law / Entities / Contracts
Our firm handles all aspects of legal work affecting businesses, including formation and management of business entities (corporations, partnerships, LLCs and others), contracts and commercial arrangements of all types, purchase and sale of business entities or their assets (particularly if located or doing business in the VI), and many others.
Real Estate Law
Muilenburg Law LLC has extensive experience in all aspects of real estate law and litigation. We represent and provide advice to owners and developers of vacant land, commercial property and residential real estate throughout the Virgin Islands, particularly on St. John, and in other areas through our network of associated counsel. Our broad-based practice includes substantial work in the following areas, among others:
- Property sale and acquisition: negotiation and structuring of transactions, including purchase agreements and all related documents, resolution of title issues, due diligence / evaluation of feasibility
- Structuring business relationships for property purchases, including
- Project development: negotiation of permits, entitlements and agreements of all kinds with government agencies, consultants, adjacent landowners and other interested parties
- Title problems / easement issues / encroachments, including all matters involving title insurance coverage and claims
- Formation and management of homeowner associations: structuring of reciprocal easement arrangements, resolution of covenant and assessment issues
- Transfer of real estate between generations (probate, trust and estates)
- Real estate litigation in USVI Superior Court and other local courts including as to purchase contracts, land use issues, prosecution and defense of foreclosures, and many others
Land Use/Land Development and Environmental
We handle all types of environmental issues, particularly those involving land and development. Since we have been involved with many different kinds of development matters on St. John, both in support of and in opposition to various projects, we understand all sides of the development equation and the many considerations in play at different levels.
- Land use: focusing on appropriate use of property, including permitting, compliance and alleged violations of VI law and other restrictions including deeds and covenants; advocacy for project entitlements with all VI government agencies
- Sustainable Development: promoting and advocating for development that respects the landscape, environment, people and culture of St. John, helping achieve the best long-term outcomes for both project developers and the community
- Environmental law in all areas: particularly property and natural resource damage and development issues affecting neighboring lands as well as planning-related matters
- Protection of real property: safeguarding Virgin Islands family property and landowners’ investment in their property in the islands; conservation planning and other long-term arrangements
- Homeowner association law: issues involving covenants or restrictions and other requirements on title and subdivision-related land-use issues
- Boundary disputes: matters involving encroachments / neighbors / use of adjacent properties
VI Government Relations
We have deep relationships and long experience working with all Virgin Islands government agencies, including among others:
- Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) / Coastal Zone Management (CZM)
- Cadastral / Public Surveyor, Department of Public Works (DPW)
- Internal Revenue Bureau (IRB) and related business and personal tax issues
- Department of Labor (DOL) for employment-related issues
- Office of the Lieutenant Governor (LGO) for property tax and assessment matters, corporate entity registration / compliance, document recordation and others.
Other Specialty Areas
We also focus on and bring substantial experience to bear in the following areas:
- Relocation Legal Services for Individuals, Families and Businesses: helping make transitions to the islands as smooth as possible from a legal standpoint, as well as resolving government issues for new businesses
- Maritime Law: substantial experience in many areas working with marine businesses including transactions and litigation involving Admiralty issues
- Trusts and Estates: wills and living trusts / powers of attorney, structuring of estate plans to avoid the need for probate
- Probate: resolving inheritance issues through the USVI Superior Court / transfer of property among family members
- Family Law: divorce, property settlement, child custody
- Insurance Claims and Disputes: including coverage issues and appropriate compensation amounts for claims made
- Labor and Employment, including resolution of VI Department of Labor matters/contested labor hearings before ALJ or Superior Court
- Immigration: obtaining legal residency in the US based on employment and/or investment, including through our network of associated counsel
- Foreclosures on real property, with substantial experience representing both lenders and borrowers
- Creditor/Debtor representation
- Tax Structuring: for businesses and individuals, through associated counsel in the VI
- Litigation: land use and real estate, business, torts, personal injury, family, other