Overview
During his career, he has represented clients including individuals, corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, trusts and estates, shareholders of closely held corporations, and members of limited liability companies.
Dean advocates for clients in negotiation hearings, bench trials, jury trials, arbitrations, and mediations and in state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Dean advises a wide range of clients such as financial and investment institutions, investors, title companies, securities brokers, trustees, physician practice groups, contractors, builders, manufacturers, and service providers. He has represented national clients within industries such as waste management, telecoms, petroleum, retail supply, and manufacturing.
Dean’s experience encompasses the practice of business and commercial litigation, in such areas as:
- Construction
- Tax
- Commercial and contract disputes
- Loan transactions
- Probate and trust litigation and counseling
- Professional and lender liability
- Discrimination claims
- Employment disputes
- Unfair competition
- Securities and fraud claims
- Business torts
- Non-competition agreements
- Trade secrets
- Breach of fiduciary duties
- Corporate governance disputes
- Conditional land use issues
- Investment disputes
- Securities FINRA arbitrations and litigation
- Civil racketeering
- ERISA disputes
- Shareholder disputes
- Director and officer liability
- Copyright infringement
- Environmental claims
- Litigation exposure
Representative Experience
- Represents individuals, corporations, partnerships, shareholders of closely held corporations, and limited liability companies in contract and tort disputes at the state and federal levels.
- Represents financial and investment institutions, investors, title companies, securities brokers, trustees, and trusts and estates.
- Represents nursing homes and physician practice groups.
- Represents contractors and builders.
- Represents a national waste disposal company, cellular telephone companies, a national oil and gas company, a national lifting technologies company, metal fabricators, uniform supply companies, and a national retail supplier of consumer goods.
Education & Admissions
Education
- Cleveland State University College of Law, J.D., 1983
- Corpus Juris Secundum Award, Recipient (1984)
- Chief Justice Samuel H. Silbert Award, Recipient (1983)
- Cleveland State Law Review, Managing Editor (1982-1983)
- Cleveland State University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1976
Bar and Court Admissions
- State of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Tax Court
- Supreme Court of the U.S.
Involvement
Professional Affiliations
- Ohio State Bar Association, Member
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
- Business Mediation Panel of Cuyahoga County, Member
- Judicial Conference of Eighth Judicial District, Life Member
- Federal Bar Association, Member
- Westshore Bar Association, Member
Community Involvement
- Options for Families and Youth, Board Member, President (1992 – 1999)
Awards & Honors
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America® in Commercial Litigation and Litigation-Trusts and Estates (2017 – Present)
- Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list (2011 – Present)
- Listed as AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Publications
- “Close Corporation Fiduciary Duties,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (July 2021)
- “Standard of Proof in Proceedings To Terminate Parental Rights,” 31 Clev. St. L. Rev. 679 (1982)
Presentations & Lectures
- “What’s So Privileged About Attorney-Client Privilege?” Association of Corporate Counsel, Cleveland, OH (August 2021)
Media Coverage
- Mentioned in, “Lawyers, Firms Receive Recognition,” Cleveland Jewish News (January 2021)
Representative Experience
- Represents individuals, corporations, partnerships, shareholders of closely held corporations, and limited liability companies in contract and tort disputes at the state and federal levels.
- Represents financial and investment institutions, investors, title companies, securities brokers, trustees, and trusts and estates.
- Represents nursing homes and physician practice groups.
- Represents contractors and builders.
- Represents a national waste disposal company, cellular telephone companies, a national oil and gas company, a national lifting technologies company, metal fabricators, uniform supply companies, and a national retail supplier of consumer goods.
Education & Admissions
Education
- Cleveland State University College of Law, J.D., 1983
- Corpus Juris Secundum Award, Recipient (1984)
- Chief Justice Samuel H. Silbert Award, Recipient (1983)
- Cleveland State Law Review, Managing Editor (1982-1983)
- Cleveland State University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1976
Bar and Court Admissions
- State of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Tax Court
- Supreme Court of the U.S.
Involvement
Professional Affiliations
- Ohio State Bar Association, Member
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
- Business Mediation Panel of Cuyahoga County, Member
- Judicial Conference of Eighth Judicial District, Life Member
- Federal Bar Association, Member
- Westshore Bar Association, Member
Community Involvement
- Options for Families and Youth, Board Member, President (1992 – 1999)
Awards & Honors
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America® in Commercial Litigation and Litigation-Trusts and Estates (2017 – Present)
- Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list (2011 – Present)
- Listed as AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Publications
- “Close Corporation Fiduciary Duties,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (July 2021)
- “Standard of Proof in Proceedings To Terminate Parental Rights,” 31 Clev. St. L. Rev. 679 (1982)
Presentations & Lectures
- “What’s So Privileged About Attorney-Client Privilege?” Association of Corporate Counsel, Cleveland, OH (August 2021)
Media Coverage
- Mentioned in, “Lawyers, Firms Receive Recognition,” Cleveland Jewish News (January 2021)
