Dean C. Colson has been recognized as a “Senior Statesman” in the field of General Commercial Litigation by Chambers USA and Partners. 

He joined the firm in 1981 after serving as a law clerk for then Justice William H. Rehnquist on the Supreme Court of the United States. Prior to that clerkship, Mr. Colson clerked for the Honorable Peter T. Fay on the United States Court of Appeals.

His legal career had many notable victories. Along with his colleagues, he achieved significant legal wins in various high-profile cases, including a win on behalf of 42 families who lost loved ones in an AeroPeru airplane crash. The international case was originally filed in U.S. federal court and later arbitrated in Chile, resulting in one of the highest compensations ever awarded for an aviation accident in South America. Mr. Colson also served as trial counsel in the Premium Sales case, representing investors who were defrauded in a Ponzi scheme. The case settled for $170 million shortly after the trial commenced. He also defended a Miami-area newspaper in a libel case and handled large personal injury cases involving professional malpractice, aviation accidents, and product liability.

In addition, Mr. Colson has been an esteemed member of the legal community.  U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts appointed Mr. Colson to the prestigious Standing Rules Committee of the Federal Courts where he served for two terms. He. is a proud Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Society of Barristers. Mr. Colson has also been actively involved in serving the citizens of Florida, having been a member of the Florida Commission on Ethics and the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission, which he chaired. He previously served as President of the Dade County Bar Association and as a distinguished member of the Florida Bar Board of Governors.

Mr. Colson has a longstanding commitment to education. Over the past 20 years, he is the only person to have chaired the State University System in Florida, the Board of Trustees of Florida International University, and the Board of Trustees of the University of Miami. More specifically, Mr. Colson served on the University of Miami Board of Trustees for 18 years, with the last eight years as Chair of the Executive Committee or Chair of the Board. In 2009, he was appointed to the Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida, which oversees the public universities in the state, and served a seven-year term, including two years as Chair of the Board of Governors. In 2017,  Mr. Colson was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Florida International University and served as chair of Florida International University Board of Trustees from 2020-2023.

He has a long history of community service, including notable leadership roles such as chairing the 1995 Super Bowl XXIX Host Committee and serving as President of the Orange Bowl Committee in 2003. Mr. Colson has also been actively involved as a board member in various charitable organizations in South Florida, including the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami. His commitment to giving back to his community is reflective of his values and dedication to making a positive impact beyond his legal practice.

Mr. Colson has received numerous awards for his outstanding community service, including “Citizen of the Year” by the Mayor of Miami, “Sportsman of the Year” by the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Miami, and the James W. McLamore Outstanding Volunteer Award. He has also been honored with an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from Florida International University and the Jurisprudence Award from the Anti-Defamation League, highlighting his exceptional commitment to his community and philanthropic endeavors.