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Overview

When a development project hits a snag, clients rely on Denyse’s litigation skills to get it back on track or see it come to fruition.

Denyse takes pride in using her legal skills to advance the revival and growth of neighborhoods. She focuses her practice on business litigation for property owners, developers, political subdivisions, title insurers, taxpayers, and commercial lenders and lessors. She counsels clients on land use matters, litigating on behalf of projects in danger of losing momentum midstream. She also advises clients on conditional use permits, development disputes, title claims, rent disputes, creditors’ rights litigation and premises liability.

In addition, Denyse represents plaintiffs and defendants in commercial litigation matters, including complex breach of contract, lender liability, fraud and product liability. Denyse is adept at all phases of litigation and has served as lead counsel in court and arbitration forums.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • Missouri Lawyers Weekly, Women's Justice Awards, Litigation Practitioner, 2020
  • Missouri Bar Pro Bono Wall of Fame, 2012, 2014-2020

Education

  • J.D., Tulane University Law School
    • cum laude
  • B.S.B.A., Saint Louis University
    • Accounting
    • cum laude

Admissions

  • Missouri
  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Alumni
  • State Bar of Missouri
  • State Bar of Texas 
  • St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative, Alumni
  • Urban Land Institute (ULI)
  • Leadership St. Louis

Clerkship

The Hon. Duane Benton, Missouri Supreme Court, 2001-2002



*Contact Denyse to set up an in-person consultation by appointment in the St. Louis office.
2024 Pro Bono Contributor
Featured Experience

Quick Action Ensures Upgrades to Hockey Arena

After the St. Louis Board of Aldermen authorized a $65 million bond issuance for renovations to the Scottrade (now Enterprise) Center, home venue for the St. Louis Blues hockey team, the St. Louis comptroller refused to sign the agreement. An alderwoman and other taxpayers joined the attempt to block the legislation by filing a declaratory judgment action in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis. The owners of the St. Louis Blues turned to Husch Blackwell to take quick action.

Less than four months later, Denyse and the litigation team successfully obtained an order of mandamus requiring the comptroller to sign the paperwork. A rigorous motion and discovery practice led to the dismissal of several claims, as well as several rulings unfavorable to the comptroller and other plaintiffs. With the trial on the declaratory judgment looming, the taxpayer group folded and signed a termination of litigation.


Additional Experience
  • Obtained dismissal of federal lawsuit seeking to halt construction and operation of trolley car line on constitutional and procedural grounds. Decision affirmed on appeal.
  • After trial, obtained order of declaratory judgment and injunctive relief for developer of 58-acre tract in St. Louis County, Missouri, finding that developer's site development plan was consistent with indenture requirements and prohibiting alleged indenture trustees from interfering with development.
  • Secured dismissal in federal District Court of class action lawsuit against AgriBank, largest of five banks within National Farm Credit System, brought by Arkansas landowners to quiet title on mineral rights retained by AgriBank. U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, affirmed judgment, upholding AgriBank's right to retain mineral rights on acquired properties sold to private purchasers throughout central United States.
  • After evidentiary hearing, obtained order from Missouri Tax Commission finding nonprofit organization was entitled to charitable exemption from property taxes.
  • Won class action status for lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Corrections on behalf of inmates sentenced to life imprisonment as juveniles. Suit alleged that department ignored due diligence for inmates.
News Releases | March 31, 2020
Missouri Lawyers Weekly Chooses Two Husch Blackwell Litigators for 2020 Women's Justice Awards

Jones and Robinson are members of the firm’s Real Estate, Development & Construction industry group and Construction Litigation practice team.

Outside the Office

Denyse enjoys working out, especially weight training and kettle bell routines.

She is an avid reader and is obsessed with podcasts on a variety of subjects: long personality profiles, politics, sports, basketball and pop culture.

Community Leadership
  • Diversity Awareness Partnership, Board of Directors, 2015-present
  • United Way Allocation Panel, 2012-2016
  • Conflict Resolution Center, Board Member
Diversity Initiatives

Denyse chairs the firm’s Diversity Pipeline Subcommittee and leads outreach programs for high school and law school students. She directs Explore Law, a program in which high school students explore negotiation, contract writing, depositions and arguments. Denyse also leads panel discussions with law students about how to be successful students and lawyers in summer employment and beyond, and hosts coffee talks to answer students’ questions.