Denise C. Puente serves as the firm’s Managing Partner and is a commercial litigator practicing primarily in the areas of construction and surety law. She also represents contractors and property owners in the preparation and negotiation of construction contracts for condominiums, hotels, apartment buildings, parking garages, industrial facilities, mixed use facilities and other projects. Denise has litigated numerous public bid disputes cases, represented many contractors before the Louisiana Licensing Board of Contractors, and appeared before various other board and agencies throughout Louisiana on behalf of the firm’s clients. Denise also represents plaintiffs and defendants in commercial litigation involving redhibition, employment, copyright and trademark matters in state and federal court.
Denise is a frequent lecturer on construction and surety-related matters and has conducted numerous in-house training seminars for companies and public bodies on Title VII employment issues. In 1997, Denise received the Sam Dalton Capital Defense Award from the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Counsel. She is fluent in Spanish.
Practice Areas
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- J.D., Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, 1987
- B.A., Louisiana State University, 1983
Memberships
- Member, Federal Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association (ABA), Forum Committee on Construction, Tort and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), and Fidelity and Surety Committee of TIPS
- Member, Louisiana State Bar Association
- Chairman, DRI Fidelity and Surety Committee, 2010—2012
- ABA Young Lawyer Division Observer, Louisiana State Law Institute Council, 1991—1992
Publications
Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, “Ethical Issues Arising in Joint Venture Representation and Damages Presentation”, American College of Construction Lawyers 30th Annual Conference, St. Petersburg, Florida, February 22, 2019
- Speaker, “Time Element Damages,” ABA Fidelity & Surety Committee, Mid-Year Meeting, January 2018
- Speaker, “Public Contracts and Procurement,” National Business Institute, New Orleans, Louisiana, December 2017
- Speaker, “Louisiana Public Bid Law,“ Construction Law Seminar sponsored by Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 30, 2016
- Speaker, “Recent Developments in Construction Law,” Legal Panel sponsored by Louisiana Association of General Contractors, San Destin, Florida, July 2016, 2017 and 2018
- Speaker, “Damage Clauses in Construction Contracts,” ABA Forum on Construction Law, Regional Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, February 26, 2016
- Speaker and panel paper presentation, “Structural Steel (Manufacturing and Erection),” ABA Fidelity & Surety Committee, Mid-Year Meeting, New York, New York, January 2016
- Speaker, and co-author, “The Performing Surety’s Mitigation of Loss,” Bond Default Manual, 4th Ed. (Tort and Insurance Practice Section, 2015), ABA Fidelity & Surety Committee Meeting, La Jolla, California, Spring 2015,
- Speaker and paper presentation, “Attorney-Client Communications and Work Product for the Tendered Defense,” ABA Fidelity and Surety Committee Meeting, Louisville, Kentucky, Spring 2014
- Speaker, “Sexual Harassment Law,” Presentation to Board Members of the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, 2013 and 2015
- Speaker, “Recent Developments in Construction Law,” Legal Panel, Louisiana AGC Summer Conference, San Destin, Florida, July 2013
- Speaker, “Recent Developments in Construction Law,” Legal Panel, Louisiana AGC Conference, San Destin, Florida, July 2012
- Speaker, “Surety Bonds,” Construction Insurance Program: Know Your Risk, Know Your Options, ABA Forum on Construction Industry, Santa Monica, California, May 24, 2012
- Speaker, “Payment Bonds,” Construction Insurance Program sponsored by the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, Chicago, Illinois, September 22, 2011
- Speaker, “Recent Developments in Louisiana Construction Law,” Critical Issues Summit sponsored by Louisiana Association of General Contractors, New Orleans, Louisiana, January 14, 2011
- Speaker, “Public Bid Law,” Construction Law in Louisiana Seminar, LSU Law Center, September 24, 2010
- Speaker, “Preparing for Mediation, Construction Mediations and Arbitrations,” CLE sponsored by the New Orleans Bar Association, June 22, 2010
- Speaker, “New Uniform Public Bid Law,” Critical Issues Summit sponsored by Louisiana Associated General Contractors, New Orleans, Louisiana, January 14, 2010
Professional Recognition
- American College of Construction Lawyers
- Best Lawyers in America – Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
- Chambers USA
- Super Lawyers – Construction Litigation
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- New Orleans Magazine “Top Lawyers List,” Construction Law, 2021, 2023
Community Involvement
- Chairman, Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board Hearing Committee, 1999—2004
- Board of Directors, Capital Post-Conviction Project of Louisiana, 2001—2015
- City of New Orleans Zoning Adjustments, 2011—2015
- Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity Women Build Project