John E. DeWulf

John E. DeWulf


Coppersmith Brockelman PLC

Recognized since 2007

Phoenix, Arizona

Practice Areas

Bet-the-Company Litigation

Commercial Litigation

Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants

Litigation - Securities

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Litigation - Securities
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John has extensive experience in complex commercial litigation, including handling numerous trials, hearings and other matters before state and federal courts in the areas of contracts, business torts, trade secrets, real estate, securities, intellectual property, partnership and products. He has represented large multi-national clients, as well as regional and local businesses and individuals in a variety of business disputes.

In light of this diverse experience in litigating business issues, John has developed a practice in business counseling, aiding companies in overcoming challenges and leveraging opportunities to ultimately become more profitable and achieve business goals.

Representative Matters

  • Successfully defended numerous nationally prominent law firms on allegations of malpractice and other wrongdoing.
    • Obtained a multimillion dollar securities fraud jury verdict involving the purchase of LLC interests holding real estate in Arizona and New Mexico.

    • Achieved a significant jury verdict on behalf of an investor against an accountant and his firm for professional malpractice.

    • Represented a large international hotel company in the successful pre-litigation negotiation of a multi-million dollar real estate contract dispute over a multi-acre resort property in Paradise Valley.

    • Defended one of Arizona’s largest utilities in a class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in New Mexico, achieving a complete dismissal of all claims.

    • Obtained efficient and favorable settlement on behalf of a large group of doctor investors in a significant commercial building transaction, after performing an exhaustive factual investigation and explaining the group’s legal claims through a detailed demand letter.

    • Achieved favorable settlement on behalf of a racetrack owner against local government officials after achieving favorable rulings from state appellate court on issues involving violations of due process in attempted revocation of racetrack owner’s use permit.

    • Received multimillion dollar arbitration award from a three-member panel on behalf of an Arizona water company against two large real estate developers.

      Awards & Recognitions

      • Chambers U.S.A. Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers (2014 - 2015)
        • Martindale-Hubbell with AV® Preeminent Peer Rated

        • Best Lawyers® in America for Commercial Litigation, Securities Litigation (2007 - present)

        • Best Lawyers® in America for Bet-the-Company Litigation (2009 – present)

        • Super Lawyers (Southwest) for Business Litigation (2007 – present)

        • Super Lawyers (Southwest) for Securities Litigation, Professional Liability: Defense (2011 – present)

        • Arizona’s Top 50 Lawyers by Super Lawyers (Southwest) (2011 – present)

        • Arizona’s Finest Lawyers (2011 – present)

        • AZ Business Magazine’s Arizona Business Leader for Business and Commercial

        • Litigation (2016)

        • AZ Business Magazine’s Top Lawyers (Corporate Law, 2015)

        • Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America

        • Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education: Top Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona (2013)

          Publications & Speeches

          • Presenter: Conducting an Effective Cross-Examination, Lorman Education Services
            • Presenter: Business Litigation in Arizona: From Prefiling Concerns Through Closing Arguments at Trial, Sterling Education Services, LLC

            • Presenter: Ethics of Changing Firms, Arizona State Bar Convention

            • Chair/Presenter: Trial and Transactional Ethics, Arizona State Bar

            • Chair/Presenter: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow: Litigating Against Former Employees, Arizona State Bar

            • Chair: Environmental Litigation, Arizona State Bar

            • Chair: Innovative Trial Techniques, Arizona State Bar Convention

            • Chair: Proving and Calculating Lost Profits, Arizona State Bar

            • Administrative & Criminal Prosecution of Securities Fraud Cases, Maricopa County Bar Association

Contact & Links
Location
  • 2800 North Central Avenue, Suite 1900
    Phoenix, AZ 85004
Education
  • The University of Arizona, Law, graduated 1981
  • The University of Arizona, J.D., graduated 1981
Bar Admissions
  • California, The State Bar of California
  • United States, State Bar of Arizona
  • Arizona, State Bar of Arizona
Affiliations
  • American Bar Association: Section of Litigation, Committee on Business Torts - Member
  • Canyon State Academy - Advisory Board Member
  • Maricopa County Bar Association - Member
  • Social Venture Partners of Arizona - Executive Committee and Board Member
  • State Bar of Arizona - Trial Practice Section, Chairman (1990-1991)
  • State Bar of Arizona Course on Professionalism - Regular Presenter
  • State Bar of California - Member
  • Valley Leadership Class X - Member
  • Youth Partner Foundation - Former Chairman

Coppersmith Brockelman PLC
Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona

16 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

3 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

Best Law Firms Badge Visit Website View Firm Profile

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Litigation - Securities
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants, Phoenix (2025)
  • Litigation - Securities, Phoenix (2018)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
  • Litigation - Securities
Special Focus:
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Business Disputes
  • Civil Litigation
  • Complex Litigation
  • Contract Disputes
  • Fraud
  • Securities
  • Trade Secrets
Awards:
  • Super Lawyers (Southwest) for Business Litigation (2007-present), and Securities Litigation, Professional Liability: Defense (2011-present)
  • Arizona’s Finest Lawyers (2011 to present)
  • AZ Business Magazine's Arizona Business Leader for Business and Commercial Litigation (2016)
  • Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education: Top Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona (2013)
  • Martindale-Hubbell with AV Preeminent Peer Rated
  • Best Lawyers in America for Bet-the-Company Litigation (2009-present)
  • Chambers U.S.A. Guide to America's Leading Lawyers (2014-2015)
  • AZ Business Magazine's Top Lawyers (Corporate Law, 2015)
  • Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
  • Arizona's Top 50 Lawyers by Super Lawyers (Southwest) (2011 to present)
  • Chambers USA: Litigation: General Commercial (2014 - present)
  • Best Lawyers®: 2018 Litigation-Securities “Lawyer of the Year” in Phoenix
  • Az Business Leaders, Az Big Media (2016 - present)
  • Arizona’s Top 100 Lawyers, Az Business magazine (2015 - present)
  • The Best Lawyers in America©: Commercial Litigation (2007 - present); Litigation – Securities (2011 - present); Bet-the-Company Litigation (2009 – present)
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Trade Secrets Law

Publications

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