*Articles may be reprinted only after first seeking written permission from Denise Farris of the Farris Law Firm LLC.  When requesting reprint permission, please identify the article by title. Requests can be made either via telephone:
(816) 842-0800 or email: dfarris@farrislawfirm.com.

Resume of Denise Farris, Esq.

Background Narrative:

Denise E. Farris is the founder and the Managing Member of the Farris Law Firm, L.L.C., where she practices general business law, commercial construction and equine law. Her firm provides legal services related to corporate consultation, formation and risk management and general contract litigation; government contracting, minority / women business enterprise certification, affirmative action compliance in government contracts; surety bonds, federal Miller Act and state bond disputes, prompt payment issues, and mechanics liens.  The firm is additionally one of only 47 firms in the United States offering equine business law services, providing its equine professionals legal assistance regarding compliance with state Equine Activity Liability Acts; business formations and structure; boarding, breeding, sales, training, lesson, liability waiver and syndication agreements; labor and immigration issues; zoning and land use; and personal injury defense.

Denise is a 1991 honors graduate of the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law, is a recipient of the law school’s prestigious “Decade Award”, and the University’s “Overcoming the Odds” award.  Denise has also been honored as one of the Kansas City Business Journal’s top 25 ‘Women Who Mean Business”; by Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes as a KC 150 Neighborhood Hero; by Kansas City Mayor Emanuel Cleaver as the first woman member of the City’s “Fairness in Construction Board”, as KPHN’s “Citizen of the Month” for her volunteer activities battling residential construction fraud. In 2007 Denise was recognized by Kansas City Business Magazine as one of the city's "50 1 Most Influential Businesswomen"; by the Small Business Administration as its regional Women in Business Champion; and by the national organization of WIPP (Women Impacting Public Policy) as its Public Policy Advocate of the Year.

Denise has also received several recognitions by the Missouri and American Bar Associations as one of the Bar’s most popular educational presenters. She is a past chairperson of the Missouri Bar’s Construction Law Committee, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association’s Construction Law Committee, and currently chairs  the national steering committee for Division 10, American Bar Association’s Forum on the Construction Industry.  Denise has authored several chapters in the Missouri Bar’s Construction Law Deskbook, as well as the Forum’s 2003 publication “Federal Contracting”, along with numerous seminar and publication articles on construction, business and equine law.  Denise is additionally a presenter for the prestigious annual Equine Law Practitioner’s Conference in Lexington, Kentucky. She is a member of the National Equine Law Practitioner’s Group, the American, Missouri and Kansas Horse Councils, USA Equestrian, the National Association of Trail Riders Conference, the Eastern Kansas Arabian Horse Association, the American Royal Board of Governors, a Board member of the Saddle & Sirloin Club, is a regular presenter for the Purina Mills Equine Educational Seminar Series, and has been a featured keynote speaker for both equine and construction law events on a national basis. Denise is additionally active in pending or proposed legislative review and lobbying for the general business, affirmative action/government contracting and equine law arenas.   

Education:
University of  Missouri - Kansas City School of Law

Juris Doctorate with Honors 1991

American Jurisprudence Award: Remedies 1991

National Ellison Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Team 1990

Assistant Research Editor, Urban Lawyer 1990

3rd Place, ABA Regional Negotiation Competition 1990

American Jurisprudence Award: Criminal Law 1989

University of Missouri- Kansas City

Bachelor Liberal Arts with Honors 1989

Employment:

Farris Law Firm, L.L.C.                      January 2004 - Present

Stilwell, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri
Attorney / Managing Member

Husch & Eppenberger, L.L.C.            June 2001 – January 2004

Kansas City, Missouri
Member, Construction Law Group
Member, Chairperson, Equine Law Group

Farris Law Firm, L.L.C.                     February 1996 – June 2001

Kansas City, Missouri
Attorney /Managing Member

Metropolitan Community Colleges    February 1996 - 1997

Longview Campus
Lees Summit, Kansas

Instructor - Adjunct Professor, Business Law

Lathrop & Norquist, L.C.                     December 1992 - February 1996

Overland Park, Kansas
Attorney-Associate

The Miller Law Firm                          May 1989 - December 1992

Kansas City, Missouri
Law Clerk / Associate

Professional Practice / Experience:

Areas of practice:

Construction Law, Business Litigation, Insurance Defense and Equine Law.

Construction Law:  Ms. Farris’s emphasis in the area of construction law and complex business litigation includes consultation and litigation services related to general business litigation, contract and tort actions; indefinite delivery indefinite quantity or task/job order contracting; state and federal lien laws; prompt payment act; surety bond litigation; administrative agency contract disputes; and minority / women business enterprise certification and utilization compliance in government/public contracts. She is a regular author and presenter on a variety of construction law topics, and additionally serves on the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Construction Industry Steering Committee.

Equine Law:  Building on the firm’s contract law background and Ms. Farris’s personal experience in the equine industry, in 1997 Ms. Farris’s firm became one of only 47 firms nationwide to list a practice area focusing in equine law, including breeding, boarding, lesson, and training contracts, liability waivers and release, and risk management packages emphasizing the statutory prerequisites for protection under Missouri and Kansas’ Equine Activity Liability Limitation Acts.  The firm’s equine law practice additionally provides business planning, corporate formation and administrative law representation. Ms. Farris is a popular national speaker, including presentations for the University of Kentucky Annual Equine Law Practitioner’s Conference, North American Trail Ride Conference; Kansas Quarter Horse Racing Association, the American Farrier’s Association, William Woods College Equine Sciences Curriculum, Missouri Celebration of the Horse, Missouri Equine Council; Kansas Equi-Fest, American Royal, Eastern Kansas Arabian Horse Association, and Clemson University, SC “National Multiple Trail User Conflict Symposium”.

Admitted:

State courts of Missouri and Kansas; the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the United States District Court, District of Kansas;  8th and 10th Circuit Court of Appeals; and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

PUBLICATIONS:

Construction Publications:

• “Ten Rules for Staying Out of Court”, KC Small Business Monthly (July 2006)
• “Nuts and Bolts of Missouri / Kansas Mechanics Lien Laws”, KC Small Business Monthly (April 2006)
• “Is MBE/WBE/DBE Certification Really Worth the Hassle?”, KC Small Business
• Monthly (June 2005)
• “ADR – A Cost Efficient Alternative to Litigation”, KC Small Business Monthly (April
• 2005)
• “Risk Management Through Corporate Documentation”, KC Small Business Monthly
• (February 2005)
• “Missouri’s Affirmative Action Program Under Attack!”, KC Small Business Monthly (February 2005)
• “Managing Risk in Business Communications”, Small Business Monthly (November
• 2004)
• “Avoiding Legal Landmines in Tenant Liens”, Small Business Monthly (July 2004)
• “Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contracts”, Missouri Bar Construction Law Deskbook (2004)
• “50 State Indemnification Statute Summary”, American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry (ABA Publishing February 2003)
• “Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contracts” and “Socio-Economic Issues in Government Contracting: The A, B, C’s of Affirmative Action Compliance”, Federal Government Construction Contracts, (ABA Forum on the Construction Industry 2003)
• “Promoting Women Owned Businesses in Public Sector Contracting”, NAWIC Plumblines (December 2002)
• “Differing Site Conditions”, Husch Breakfast Seminar Series (Kansas City 9/19/02)
• “Checking your IDIQ IQ”, 22 Construction Lawyer 24 (Fall 2002)
• “Developing Issues on Lead Paint in Construction”, Husch Breakfast Seminar Series (Kansas City 6/13/02)
• “Power in Prompt Payment Statutes”, Kansas City and St. Louis Business Journals (Apr. 29-May 3, 2002)
• “Choosing the Right Business Structure”, Kansas City Small Business Monthly (April 2002)
• “The Power of Mentoring”, Kaufmann Foundation WWMB Journal (March 2002)
• “Learning the ABC’s of MBE Certification”, Small Business Monthly (Jan. 2002)
•  “Testing your IDIQ IQ: Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contracts”, Modern Builder (Oct 2001)
• “Alice in Preference Land: A Review of Affirmative Action in Public Construction”, The Construction Lawyer, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry (Vol. 21, No. 4 Fall 2001)
•  “When Funny Isn’t Funny Anymore: Internet Liabilities in the Workplace”, Modern Builder Vol. 54, Issue 4 (Jul.-Aug. 2001)
• “Lead Based Paint:  Developing Theories of Liability”, Kansas City Construction Safety Group (June 2001)
•  “Construction Risk Management”, Turner Construction Company Construction Management Course (Kansas City March 2001)
• “Construction Contracting Tips”, Minority Contractors Association (Kansas City February 01)
• “Understanding and Using Indefinite Delivery Contracts: An Application Analysis”, Missouri Bar Construction Law Deskbook (Nov. 2000)
• “Building Regulations”, Missouri Bar Construction Law Deskbook (Nov. 2000)
• “Recent Developments in Lead Based Paint Abatement”, Construction Lawyer, Vol. 20, Iss. 4 (October 2000)
• “Job Order Contracting”, Law Seminars International (Kansas City, MO  4/13/00)
• “Understanding & Applying Federal and State Prompt Payment Acts”, Lorman Seminars (Kansas City 3/28/00)
• Construction Contracting and the Three Blind Mice: Prompt Payment, Indemnification, and Pay if Paid Clauses, RIMS Association (Kansas City 4/00)
• “Contract Law for Paralegals”, Kansas City Paralegal Assn. (KCMo 9/99)
• “Understanding the Federal, Missouri and Kansas Prompt Payment Acts”, Lorman Seminars (KC Mo 5/99)
• “Defending Construction Claims”, Law Seminars International (KC Mo 4/99)
• “Contracts and the Law”, Construction Management Training Program, Turner Construction Company (3/24/99)
• “Construction Disputes and Prompt Payment Acts: A Risk and Benefit Analysis”, Builders Association of Greater Kansas City Seminar (2/24/98).
• “Missouri’s Prompt Pay Act: A Roll of the Dice”, Modern Builder (2/98)
• “Risk Management Through Contract Negotiation and Written Communication: Or How To Create a Most Excellent Paper Trail”, Mo-Kan Environmental Balancing Board Recertification Seminar (9/26/97)
• “The Supreme Court’s Impact on Affirmative Action in Public Contracting: What’s Going On Here?”, MBE/WBE/DBE Construction & Design Contracting (MoBar 1997)
• “City of Kansas City, Missouri Affirmative Action Technical Compliance Manual”, Rev. 11/1/96.
• “Building Regulations”, Chapter 6, Missouri Construction Law Practice Handbook Update, (MoBar 1996)
• “Introducing 960063: Kansas City, Missouri’s New Affirmative Action Ordinance”, Modern Builder (July/August 1996)
• “KC’s  New Affirmative Action Ordinance”, Plumblines, Vol. 32, Issue 8 (May ’96)
• "Supreme Court Alters Playing Field for Affirmative Action," Modern Builder (July/August, l995) (S. Botts / D. Farris)
• "Beware of Front Companies," Modern Builder (May/June, l995) (S. Botts/ D. Farris)
• “Supervision, Rehabilitation and Liquidation of Troubled Insurance Companies”, Chapter 2, Missouri Insurance Practice Deskbook, 4th Edition (1994) (coauthor)
• Subsequent Remedial Measures: An Analytical Model for Product Liability Cases, 26 TORT & INS. L.J. 74 (Fall, 1990) (coauthor)
• Casenote: City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson, 21 URB. LAW. 385 (Spring, 1989)

Equine Publications:

• “When Bad Things Happen – Planning for Business Succession in the Face of Disaster”, Equine Veterinary Management (Winter 2006)
• “All Settled – The Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Equine Malpractice Cases”, Equine Veterinary Management (Spring 2006)
• “Internet Protocol”, Equine Veterinary Management (Summer 2006)
• “Missouri’s Equine Activity Liability Act: An Update”, Hoofbeats, (Missouri Equine Council Aug. 2005)
• “The Compounding Conundrums: What You Need to Know About Pharmaceutical Drug Compounding”, Equine Veterinary Management (Summer 2005)
• “Diagnosing your Business Requirements”,  Equine Veterinary Management (Winter 2005)
• “Managing Veterinary Malpractice”, Equine Veterinarian Management (Spring 2005)
• “The Horrors of Hauling, or Are You Really Insured?”, Purina Checkerboard (Winter 2004)
• “Diagnosing Your Business Requirements”, Equine Practice Management, Vol. 1, Issue 1 (December 2004).
• “ADR in Equine Disputes”, Purina Checkerboard (Fall 2004)
• “No Horseplay! An Overview of Equine Law”, @Law, Vol. 53, Issue 2 (Fall 2004)

·         “Volunteer Protection Act”, Purina Checkerboard (Summer 2004)

·         “Breeding Boondoggles”, Purina Checkerboard (Spring 2004)

·         “Regulated to Death: Humane Equine Euthanasia Regulations”, Purina Checkerboard (Winter 2003)

·         “Is Export Really an Option?”, Purina Checkerboard, Vol. 4, Issue 2 (Spring 2003)

·         “Equine Activity Liability Acts: How They Affect Associations and Sponsors”, Equisure (March 2003)

·         “Horses, Homeowner Associations and Liability”, The Missouri Equine Council Masthead (February 2003)

·         “Volunteer Protection Act: Statutory Protection for Equestrian Volunteers”, Kansas City Dressage Society (May 2002)

·         “Stallion Syndication: A Worthwhile Structure for the High Dollar Horse”, Hoofbeats (TN April 2002)

·         “Choosing the Right Business Structure”, Hoofbeats (TN April 2002)

·         “Tax and Business Issues for the Equine Professional:”, William Woods College (Columbia, MO April 16, 2002)

·         “ABC’s of Equine Contracting”, Purina Mills Equine Seminar Series (February 2002)

·         “Equine Law Seminar”, Purina Mills/Saddle & Sirloin Club (KC, MO February 9, 2002)

·         “Equine Law”, MoKan Carriage & Driving Society, (January 19, 2002)

·         “Equine Law & Business Seminar”, Tennessee Horse Council (TN Jan. 19, 2002)

·         “Forbidden Substance, But Who Knows the Rules”, Purina Checkerboard (January 2002)

·         “Show Me The Money: How To Collect Those Equine Bills”, Hoofbeats (TN January 2002)

·         “Equine Sales & Disclosure Laws: The Effect of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy”,  Hoofbeats (TN Aug. 2002)

·         “Legal Implications for the Equestrian Trail User”, Central Exchange Horse Lovers Group (Nov. 16, 2001)

·         “Equine Activity Liability Acts”, Hoofbeats (TN Aug. 2001)

·         “Developing Liability Issues for the Equine Service Industry-Farrier and Veterinarian”, American Farriers Association National Convention (Kansas City 3/2/01)

·         An Equine Business Health Check-Up”, Horse Professional Magazine (February 2000)

·         “Equine Activity Liability Act”,  Kansas Equifest (February 1999)

·         “Legislative Liability Limitations for the Equine Industry”, National Symposium on Multiple Trail User Conflicts, Clemson, SC (Oct. 1998).

·         “So Sue Me-Just Hope My Liability Waiver is Working”, Cutting Horse World Web (June 1998)

·         “Volunteers Enjoy New Protection under Volunteer Protection Act”, Equi-Law Journal (June 1998)(D Farris / M Beethe, coauthors)

·         Stallion Syndication: A Worthwhile Structure for the High Dollar Horse!”, Equi-Law Journal (June 1998)

·         “Horse Sales & Disclosure Laws: How Much Is Enough”, Equi-Law Journal (Jan. 1998)

·         “Powerful Tools for Fee Collection”, Equi-Law Journal (September 1997)(D. Farris/M. Beethe, co-authors)

PRESENTATIONS:

Presenter, “Fundamentals of Construction Law”, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry (Kansas City, Missouri  11/2/06)

Presenter, “Equine Insurance and Liability Issues”, co-sponsored with Agririsk Insurance Services, Inc., Saddle & Sirloin Club “Horsin Around” Equine Seminar Series (6/7/04)

Presenter, “Contracts and the Law”, Turner Construction Company Construction Management Course, March1998 - 2006 & “Most Popular Presenter Award ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, and ‘04”(Kansas City, MO)

Presenter, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry “Construction Law Basics”, St. Louis University School of Law (November 2003)

Presenter, “50 State Equine Liability Law Summary”, Purina National VIP Seminar, St. Louis, MO (June 2003)

Panelist, ‘Women Business Owner Symposium”, sponsored by the Honorable Christopher Bond, St. Louis, Missouri (October 2002)

Presenter, “Missouri WBE Utilization & Issues”, for National Association of Women Business Owners before the Honorable Catherine Hanaway, Missouri House of Representatives ( Dec. 5, 2001)

Presenter, National Business Institute, “Ethical Considerations for the Construction Lawyer - Advanced Construction Law”, December 4, 2001 (Kansas City, MO)

Presenter, Lorman Seminars, “Can This Job Be Saved: Creative Strategies for Project Completion and Litigation Avoidance in Kansas & Missouri”, October 5, 2001 (Kansas City, MO)

Presenter, Developing Issues with Lead Based Paint, Kansas City Construction Safety Group, June 2001 (Kansas City, MO)

Presenter, “Alice in Contracting Land: Affirmative Action in Government Contracting”, American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry Spring Conference, April 26/27, 2001 (New Orleans, LA)

Presenter, Minority Contractors Association Spring Meeting (Kansas City 2/01)

Presenter, Law Seminars International, Inc., “Task Order Contracting”, April 13, 2000 (Kansas City, Missouri)

Presenter, Lorman Seminars, “Protecting Your Construction Receivables-The Federal, Missouri and Kansas Prompt Payment Acts”, March 28, 2000 & April 24, 1999 (Kansas City, MO)

Presenter, National Lead Paint Symposium,  “Developing Issues in Lead Paint Litigation”, May 17, 1999 (St. Louis, MO)

Presenter, “Construction Disputes and Prompt Payment Acts”, Builder’s Association Seminar, February 24, 1998 (Kansas City, MO)

Presenter, “Risk Management Through Contract Negotiation & Written Communication, or How To Create A Most Excellent Paper Trail”, MO-KAN Environmental Balancing Board Re-Certification Seminar; September 26, 1997 (Kansas City, MO)

Presenter, “Impact of Croson and Adarand”, MBE/WBE/DBE Construction and Design Contracting Seminar, Missouri Bar Association, March 7 (St. Louis, MO) and March 21, 1997 (Kansas City, MO).

Commencement Speaker, Longview Community College  May 1996

Seminar Moderator: "Prequalification Criteria", Minority Enterprise Development Week, Kansas City, MO (October 5, 1995)

Seminar Moderator: "After Adarand" Kansas City, MO (September 22, l995 )

Keynote speaker, Kansas City Women's Consortium Political Caucus, Central Exchange (March, 1995)

Keynote speaker, Longview Community College, 25th Anniversary Celebration (1994)

Awards:

• Kansas City Business Magazine "50 1 Most Influential Businesswomen" (2007)
• Small Business Administration Regional Women in Business Champion of the Year (2007)
• WIPP (Women Impacting Public Policy) Public Policy Advocate of the Year (2007)
• Time Warner Cable / Oxygen Channel / Flourish Magazine "She Did What?" National Award Winner (2007)
• Judge, KC Small Business Monthly “25 Under 25 Awards” (2003 through 2006)
• University of Missouri Alumni Association “Overcoming the Odds” Award (October 2003)
• Outstanding Teacher, Turner Construction Management Course (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005)
• Judge, Kansas City Business Journal, Kaufmann Foundation & Guardian Insurance Women Who Mean Business award (June 2001)
• University of Missouri School of Law Decade Award (June 2001)
• Recipient, Kansas City Business Journal, Kaufmann Foundation & Guardian Insurance, First Class of Women Who  Mean Business Award (July 2000)
• KC Neighborhood Alliance & Honorable Kay Barnes “KC 150 Neighborhood Hero Volunteer Award” (May 2000)
• KCUR Kansas City Citizen of the Month  April 1999
• 1995 Missouri Community College Association Distinguished Alumni of the Year

Civic, Bar and Related Activities:

American Bar Association

-  Construction Law Section (l992 - Current)

-  Tort and Insurance Practice Section (1992 - Current)

-  National Steering Committee for the Forum on the Construction Industry

Chairperson, Div. 10, Environmental & Legislative (2004-Present)

Chair, Annual Program 2007

Technology Liaison  (1999-2004)

National Membership Committee (2001-2004)

The Missouri Bar Association

-  Insurance Law Committee (1992- 1998)

-  Construction Law Committee (1992- Current)

-    Vice-Chair, Construction Law Committee (1997 - 1999)

-    Chairperson, Construction Law Committee (1999-2001)

Kansas Bar Association

-  Construction Law Section (1995 - Current)

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association

-  Chairman, Construction Law Committee (1998 - 1999)

-  Vice Chair, Construction Law Committee (1997-1998)

-  Construction Law Committee (1993 - current)

-  Law School Committee (1991-1993)

American Arbitration Association

-  Regional Advisory Council   Board Member (2000-2002)

Kansas City Architectural Foundation Board of Directors (2001 – 2002)

Central Missouri State University

-  Board Member, CMSU Construction Technology Management Advisory Board (1998-2002)

National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)

-    Board Member, Public Policy Chairperson (2006 – Current)

Women Impacting Public Policy

-    Member (2001 – Present)

-    National Partner (2006)

-    Instant Impact Team: Kansas Leader (2006 - Current)

University of Missouri - Kansas City  School of Law

-  Law Foundation Nominating Committee (2001)

-  Alumni Association Board of Directors (1994-1997; 2001 - 2004)

-  Vice President , Alumni Association Board of Directors (1995 –1996)

-  Chairperson, Law School Liaison Committee (1995-1996)

-  Chairperson, Membership Committee (1996-1997)

University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Arts and Sciences

-  Alumni Board of Directors (1992- 1994)

-    Secretary, Board of Directors (1994)

-    Alumni Services Board of Directors (2000 – 2003)

University of Missouri – Kansas City Women’s Council

-    Board Member (1999 – 2004)

-    Executive Committee (2000-2004)

-    Secretary (2000 – 2001)

Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City

-  Member (1993- 1996)

-  Board of Directors (1994)

The Central Exchange

-  Member (1995 - Present)

-  Committee Member, Women in Politics (1996-Current)

National Association of Women in Construction

 -  Member (1994- Current)

 -  National Speakers' Bureau (1994 - Current)

-   WBO/WBE/MBE/DBE Council (1995-Current)

Women Construction Owners and Executives

-     Member (1994- Current)

Advisory Board Panelist, Athena PowerLink (2002-Current)

Small Business Monthly Advisory Board (2001 – Current)

Girls Scouts of America Capital Campaign Board of Directors (2001 – Current)

Fundraising Committee, Longview Horse Park (2002-2004)

Board of Directors, Saddle & Sirloin Club Kansas City, MO  (2002 – present)

Jenny Mitchell Kellogg Circle Legal Assn.

-  Member (1995-1999)

National Education Center for Women in Business

 - Member (1995 -1997)

City of Kansas City, Missouri, Fairness in Construction Board

-  Board Member (March 1994 - April 1996)

City of Kansas City, Missouri, Small Business Bonding Task Force Committee

-  Board Member (1994 -1995)

-  Co Chair, (1995)

Builders Association of Greater Kansas City, MO

-     Member (1996 – Current)

-     Presenter (1996 – Current)

Association of General Contractors

-     Associate Member (1996 - Current)

Girls to Women

-     Member, Advisory Board, Expansion Team (1998-1999)

Association of Women Lawyers

-     Member (2000 – Current)

Kansas City Women’s  Business Owners Council  (2001 - Current)