Denise C. Puente

Partner, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn,  LLP (1995-present)

Associate, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP (1987-1995)

American College of Construction Lawyers, Fellow 2015 – present

American Bar Foundation, Fellow

Louisiana Bar Foundation, Fellow

American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry, Tort and Insurance Practice Section, Fidelity and Surety Law Committee

Louisiana State Bar Association, Fidelity, Surety and Construction Section

Defense Research Institute, Fidelity and Surety Committee Chair (2010-2012); Vice-Chair (2005-2010); SteeringCommittee member (1999-2010)

New Orleans Bar Association, Construction Section

Associated General Contractors of Louisiana

ABA Forum Committee on the Construction Industry,ABA Section of Tort Insurance Practice, Associated General Contractors

Speaker, Structural Steel (manufacturing and erection) panel, AABA Fidelity and Surety Law Committee Construction Division Mid-Winter Program, January 2016

Speaker and paper presentation, “Attorney-Client Communications and Work Product for the Tendered Defense” presented with Sarah Wilson and Guy Harrison, at ABA Fidelity and Surety Committee Meeting Spring 2014 – Louisville, Kentucky

Speaker, “Sexual Harassment Law”, Presentation to Board members of  Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, 2015-2013

Speaker, “Recent Developments in Construction Law”, Legal Panel, Louisiana AGC Summer Conference, San Destin, Fl, July 2014, 2013, 2012

Speaker, “Surety Bonds” Construction Insurance Program: Know Your Risk, Know Your Options, ABA Forum on Construction Industry, Santa Monica, CA, May 24, 2012

Speaker, “Payment Bonds”, Construction Insurance Program, sponsored by ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, Chicago,  September 22, 2011

Speaker, “Recent Developments in Louisiana Construction Law”, Critical Issues Summit, sponsored by Louisiana Association of General Contractors, New Orleans, 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”, June 22, 2010, CLE sponsored by New Orleans Bar Association.

Speaker, “New Uniform Public Bid Law”, Critical Issues Summit, sponsored by Louisiana Associated General Contractors, New Orleans, January 14, 2010.

Speaker, “Litigation Issues”, ABA Fidelity and Surety Meeting, La Jolla, California, May 22, 2009.

Contributing Author, The Law of Performance Bonds, Second Edition (Tort and Insurance Practice Section, 2009).

Contributing Author, The Surety’s Indemnity Agreement: Law and Practice, Second Edition (Tort Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association, 2008).

Author, “Signed, Sealed and Delivered….Not Exactly. Is Actual Delivery of a Bond Required for Coverage?”, For the Defense Magazine, March, 2007.

Speaker, “Bonding and Surety Considerations”, Construction Law Seminar DRI, Scottsdale, Arizona, September 9, 2004.

Speaker, “Louisiana Private and Public Lien Law”, Construction Financial Manager’s Association, New Orleans Chapter, March 17, 2004.

Speaker, “Accounts Receivable Financing – Bank or Bonding Company: Who Bears the Risk then the Deal Goes Bad?”  American Bar Association, TIPS Fidelity & Surety Law Division, Mid-Winter Meeting, San Francisco, CA,  January 2004

Speaker, “Louisiana Private Works Act”, Construction Lien Law in Louisiana Seminar, Lorman Education Services, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 20, 2002.

Speaker, “Federal Government Projects”, Construction Lien Law in Louisiana Seminar, Lorman Education Services, Hotel Inter-Continental, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 20, 200l.

Speaker, “Public Bid Law”, The Fundamentals of Louisiana Construction Law, Louisiana State Bar Association, Fidelity,  Surety and Construction Law Section, New Orleans, November 10, 2000.

Speaker, “Multiple Sureties and their Respective Liabilities”, Surety Claims Institute Annual Meeting, Hershey, Pennsylvania, July 2000.

Program Chair, DRI Surety Round Table Meeting, “Pre-Default Avoidance Techniques”, Chicago, Illinois, June 2, 2000.

Speaker, “Litigation Issues”, American Bar Association, TIPS Fidelity & Surety Law Division, Mid-Winter Meeting, San Francisco, California, January 28, 2000.

Contributing Author – The Law of Performance Bonds (Tort Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association, 1999).

Speaker, “Lien Laws in Louisiana and Texas”, Louisiana Construction Financial Managers Association (CFMA) Meeting, October 1999.

Speaker, “Sexual Harassment”, American Society of Plumbing Engineers, Louisiana Chapter, November 12, 1998.

Speaker, “Legal Issues For Project Managers: An Overview of Construction Law, Delay Claims and the New A-201 Document”, Association of General Contractors 79th Annual National Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 14, 1998

Contributing Author – The Law of Payment Bonds (Tort Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association, 1998)

Speaker, “Jurisdiction, Venue and Forum Selection Clauses under the Miller Act”, ABA, TIPS  Fidelity & Surety Law Division, Mid-Winter Meeting, San Francisco, California, January 30, 1998

Speaker, “Sexual Harassment Claims – Not Just a Problem for The President”, Louisiana Association of General Contractors, Summer Conference, Sandestin Beach Hilton, Destin, Florida, July 1997

Contributing Author – Louisiana Construction Law Manual (Lawyers Cooperative Publishing,

Louisiana State Courts

United States District Court for Eastern, Western and Middle District of Louisiana

U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

U.S. Supreme Court

Board of Directors, Capital Post Conviction Project of Louisiana (2000- present)

Commissioner, City of New Orleans Board of Zoning Adjustments (2010- 2015) Chair, 2014.