Biography
Having served as a general counsel for nearly twenty-five years, Dean has extensive executive-level legal experience supporting complex engineering and construction enterprises, including public and privately held international organizations that provide engineering, procurement, and construction services across the refining, chemical, petrochemical, midstream, power, infrastructure, and pulp and paper industries, as well as governmental entities.
Dean has also overseen enterprise-wide legal and risk functions, including corporate governance and secretarial matters, contracts, real estate, litigation management, insurance, and broader risk management initiatives. His responsibilities have also included leadership of compliance, government relations, and human resources functions.
Dean serves as a Panel Member on the American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Arbitrators, presiding over disputes in the areas of Construction, Engineering and Procurement, Commercial Contracts, Insurance and Surety Bonds, and Corporate Governance, including shareholder, partnership, and compliance matters.
Earlier in his career, he served as senior counsel for a global engineering and construction company, where his practice focused primarily on international transactions in the chemical, processing, and refining industries. Before moving in-house, he practiced as a trial lawyer for about 12 years, handling domestic and international litigation and arbitration, with an emphasis on construction, professional malpractice, and complex commercial disputes.
Education
- Texas Tech University School of Law – J.D., 1985
- Texas Tech University – B.B.A. Finance, 1982
Recognitions & Distinctions
- Texas Tech University School of Law Distinguished Service Award
- AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating possible
Memberships & Affiliations
- Panelist – American Arbitration Association Roster of Arbitrators
- Texas Bar Foundation, Sustaining Life Fellow
- Houston Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
- American Leadership Forum, Senior Fellow
Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
Community Involvement
- William A. Brookshire Foundation – Director
- The Council on Recovery Houston
- Board of Trustees (2009–2015, 2019–2021) – Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary
- Foundation Board (2015–2019, 2021–current) – Chair, Vice Chair
- Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business – Advisory Council
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon – Chair, National Committee on Risk Management; Faculty Member – National Leadership Training School
- Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and St. Michael the Archangel Parish – Instituted Acolyte