Denise J. Wachholz

SHAREHOLDER

PRACTICE AREAS

Construction Litigation (Firm Practice Group Chair)

Professional Liability

Appeals

Real Estate Litigation

EDUCATION

Arizona State University, J.D., cum laude, 1987

Arizona State University, B.S., Business/Real Estate, magna cum laude, 1983: Beta Gamma Sigma

Phoenix College, A.A., Legal Assistant, with highest distinction, 1979

BAR ADMISSIONS

Arizona, 1987

U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, 1988

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

State Bar of Arizona

ALFA International: Steering Committee Member, Construction Law Practice Group, 2006-present

PUBLICATIONS

Co-Editor, "ALFA International 50 State Compendium of Construction Law Issues," 2007, available on request in print or on CD (update planned for 2009)

"An Irreverent Look at Highway Proximity Damage Decisions," Southwestern Legal Foundation Annual Institute on Planning, Zoning and Eminent Domain, 1993

Co-Author, "When Eminent Domain 'Working Rules' Don't Work," Appraisal Journal, 1991

PRESENTATIONS

“Recent Decisions Involving the Economic Loss Rule and Design Professionals,” Construction Section, Maricopa County Bar Association, November 2009

“Common Law and Statutory Indemnity,” ALFA International Construction Practice Group Seminar, July 2008

“Architect/Engineer Liability,” Lorman Seminars, January 2008

“Common Law Indemnity in Construction Defect Litigation,” Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, September 2007

Course book materials available on request

REPORTED DECISIONS

Flagstaff Affordable House v. Design Alliance, Arizona Supreme Court, No. CV 09-0117-PR (2010)

Maxfield v. Martin, 173 P.3d 476 (Ariz. App. 2007)

Schwarz v. City of Glendale, 950 P.2d 167 (Ariz. App. 1997)

City of Phoenix v. Mangum, 912 P.2d 35 (Ariz. App. 1996)

City of Phoenix v. Leroy's Liquors, Inc., 868 P.2d 958 (Ariz. App. 1993)

HONORS AND AWARDS

“Best of the Best: Top Lawyers,” Arizona Business, 2009

AWAY FROM THE OFFICE

Denise is married to David Wachholz, an appraiser for the Maricopa County Assessor. They have a seven-year old daughter. Denise also has two grown children, a 26-year-old son – an Army veteran who served in Iraq from 2003 to 2004 – and a 24-year-old daughter in college. Denise is a member of Christ Church Lutheran, and serves on its school board. Outside of practicing law and taking good care of her clients, Denise’s passions are her family, hiking and reading.