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John is a partner at Coppersmith Brockelman. He has almost four decades of experience in complex commercial litigation, including handling numerous trials, hearings, and other matters before state and federal courts and administrative agencies in the areas of contracts, business torts, trade secrets, real estate, securities, intellectual property, professional malpractice, officer and director liability, and products. He has represented large multi-national clients, regional and local businesses, and individuals in a variety of business disputes. John has achieved multi-million-dollar jury verdicts and arbitration decisions.
John is repeatedly recognized as one of the Southwest’s finest litigators. He has been honored by The Best Lawyers in America© in the areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation (2009 to present), Commercial Litigation (2007 to present), Litigation – Securities (2011 – present), and Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants (2023 to present). Moreover, the same publication named him Litigation – Securities “Lawyer of the Year” in 2018 and Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in 2025. Additionally, not only has Southwest Super Lawyers recognized him for Business Litigation (since 2007), Securities Litigation (2011 to 2016), and Professional Liability Defense (2011 to 2016), but has also honored John as one of Arizona’s Top 50 Lawyers every year since 2011 . Chambers USA has ranked John as a top General Commercial Litigator since 2014. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society limited to 3,500 Fellows, representing less than one-half of one percent of American Lawyers.
Phoenix-area media likewise recognize John’s talents, with AZ Business Magazine including him on its list of Arizona’s Top 100 Lawyers on numerous occasions, and AZ Big Media featuring him as an Arizona Business Leader. In 2014, Phoenix Business Journal wrote, “John DeWulf is the one other attorneys call when they need representation.”
Representative Matters
- Won summary judgment for a national REIT with respect to commercial property rights.
- Achieved total dismissal of restrictive covenant claims against doctor group.
- Obtained a multi-million-dollar securities fraud jury verdict involving the purchase of LLC interests holding real estate in Arizona and New Mexico.
- Successfully defended numerous nationally prominent law firms on allegations of malpractice and other wrongdoing.
- 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 multi-million-dollar arbitration award from a three-member panel on behalf of an Arizona water company against two large real estate developers.
Awards & Recognitions
- Chambers USA: Litigation: General Commercial (2014 – present)
- Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (May 2024)
- Arizona’s Top 100 Lawyers, AzBusiness magazine (2015 – present)
- AzBusiness Leaders, AZ Big Media (2016 – present)
- Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education: Top Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona (2013, 2023)
- Volunteer Lawyers Program: Home Protection Attorney of the Year (2023)
- The Best Lawyers in America©: Commercial Litigation (2007 – present); Litigation – Securities (2011 – present); Bet-the-Company Litigation (2009 – present); Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants (2023 – present)
- Southwest Super Lawyers: Business Litigation (2007 – 2024); Securities Litigation (2011 – 2016); Professional Liability: Defense (2011 – 2016)
- Southwest Super Lawyers: Top 50 Arizona Lawyers (2011 – 2024)
- Best Lawyers®: 2025 Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Phoenix
- Best Lawyers®: 2018 Litigation-Securities “Lawyer of the Year” in Phoenix
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Bar and Judiciary rated
- Sustaining Lawyer, Arizona’s Finest Lawyers Foundation (2011 – present)
- Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
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
- Administrative & Criminal Prosecution of Securities Fraud Cases, Maricopa County Bar Association
- Regular Presenter, State Bar of Arizona Course on Professionalism
- Chair, Environmental Litigation, Arizona State Bar
- Chair, Innovative Trial Techniques, Arizona State Bar Convention
- Chair, Proving and Calculating Lost Profits, Arizona State Bar
Activities & Memberships
- Chairman, State Bar of Arizona Trial Practice Section (1990 – 1991)
- American Bar Association Section on Litigation, Committee on Business Torts
- American Bar Association Business Law Section, Committee on Corporate Counsel
- Maricopa County Bar Association
- State Bar of California
- Member, Valley Leadership Class X
- Former Chairman, Youth Partners Foundation
- Former Advisory Board Member, Canyon State Academy
- Former Executive Committee Member and Board Member, Social Venture Partners
- Executive Committee Member and Board Member, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy
Education & Admissions
- J.D., University of Arizona College of Law, 1981; Member, The Order of Barristers
- B.A., University of Nebraska, 1978; with Honors
- Admitted in Arizona, 1981
- Admitted in California, 1982
- Admitted in Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 2000
- Admitted in U.S. Court Central District of California, 2001
