About Denise Farris

Denise is a trained mediator and arbitrator through the American Arbitration Association. Her past experience as both a trial and transactional lawyer brings a layer of broad expertise and practical knowledge of the law, and the time/money/emotional costs of litigation often helpful in driving diverse opponents towards a mutual compromise.

Denise recently retired from an active law practice, where she served as the Managing Member of the Farris Law Firm, L.L.C., and in an “of counsel” role with the law firm of Perry & Trent LLC. Her experience includes general business, commercial construction and equine / animal health law. Named the first female representative to Kansas City’s Fairness in Construction Board in 1994, Denise has worked on legislation impacting M/W/DBE programs with Kansas City, MO; Unified Government Wyandotte County, States of Missouri and Kansas and the federal Women’s Equity in Contracting Act. Her practice emphasized small business training, risk management, government contracting and minority / women business certification issues; IDIQ (indefinite delivery indefinite quantity) Job and Task Order contracts; Federal Acquisition Regulations, surety bonds, Miller Act and state bond disputes, prompt payment issues, and mechanics liens.

In addition, as a life long equestrian, Denise added an equine law practice niche in 1991, becoming one of only 47 firms in the nation focusing on equine and veterinary law. Areas of practice included business formations and disputes, employment agreements, immigration, environmental, risk management through boarding/training/breeding/ and sales contracts, liability waivers, Equine Liability Act compliance, insurance defense, and pharmaceutical compounding. “AV” rated by Martindale Hubbell, representing the highest peer review ratings in expertise and ethics, Denise has received various awards including the national Preeminent Women Lawyers, KC Business Journal “Best of the Bar”, Corporate Vision Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in America”; KC Magazine “Top 100 Attorneys MO/KS” and “Top 50 Female Attorneys MO/KS”, Enterprising Women’s National Small Business Owner Award; WIPP National Member of the Year and Public Policy Advocate of the Year; Kansas City Business Magazines “Most Influential Women”, Kansas Woman Business Advocate of the Year, and the SBA’s Regional Woman Business Champion of the Year. She is a regular presenter for the AAEP, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Merial, Zoetis, and additional is a contributing author to Equus Magazine, Stable Management and Veterinary Management Magazines. She was named Equus Magazines’ Leaders in Equine Law in 2018.