Albert E. Dotson, Jr.

Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner

305-350-2411

adotson@bilzin.com

Hablo Español

Area of Focus: Public-Private Partnerships, Government Contracts

"He is a major force in the community. When he gets involved, it makes a difference."
- Chambers USA source

GET TO KNOW AL

Al Dotson serves as Bilzin Sumberg's Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner. In his role, he oversees the Firm's operations. By leveraging innovative technology and focusing on a multidisciplinary approach, Al leads the Firm's attorneys and professionals to provide a client experience that represents Bilzin Sumberg's pillars of trust, collaboration, preeminence, engagement, and community-mindedness.

In addition to his role as Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner, Al is nationally recognized for his work on public-private partnerships (P3). His experience includes rail and transit facilities, airports, marinas, sports stadiums, convention centers, healthcare/life sciences facilities, educational institutions, water and sewer facilities, and parking structures.

Al is known throughout Florida for his work representing local, national, and international clients in responding to government contract solicitations and defending against, or prosecuting, quasi-judicial and judicial bid protests.

In 2021, Al was selected to be a member of the newly formed CEO Ambassador program, which is part of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's RENEW305, an economic development plan intended to spark business investment and job growth across the county.

Q & A

What is an important issue to your practice area?

Public-private partnerships are often mentioned as a preferred procurement and delivery methodology. However, there still remains an underappreciation for the importance of political will to efficiently complete the procurement with minimal political interference. Also, structuring and financing successful P3s turn on government's deliberate and thorough preplanning that results in clearly defined objectives. Traditional procurement methodologies, restrictions, and concepts, for example, are not well-suited for complex P3 projects, as they often lack the flexibility, forethought, and certainty that justify the millions of dollars that the private sector must invest in pursuing the opportunity. The more that the public and private sectors learn about how to implement these types of partnerships successfully, the more P3s can maximize its benefits.

Why is being a mentor important to you?

I believe that the success of today's leaders is not just measured by their past or current achievements but must be viewed through the prism of sustainable progress fueled by their commitment to mentor and coach the next generations of leaders. Our community earns recurring dividends when we collectively invest in our human capital through mentorship.

As a first-generation attorney, I would not be where I am today without a great number of mentors and coaches who gave me a better understanding of the legal profession and an appreciation for my responsibility to use my law degree to serve the community as well. By the time I became a partner at Bilzin Sumberg, I was able to draw from my many mentors and pay it forward through my involvement in organizations such as 100 Black Men of America and the Overtown Youth Center, as well as in Bilzin Sumberg's own mentorship program for young associates and lateral hires.

EXPERIENCE

INSIGHTS

CREDENTIALS

Education

Vanderbilt University, J.D., 1987

Dartmouth College, A.B., 1982
Involvement

Judicial Nominating Commission of Florida
Appointed by Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio, 2009 - Present

Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt Law School, Board of Advisors, Member, 2023 - 2026

Florida Council of 100
Board Member, 2022 - Present
Member, 2019 - Present

President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans
Appointed by President Barack Obama, 2014 - 2018

Miami Dade Beacon Council
Board of Directors, Executive Committee, 2021 - Present

Leadership Florida
Strategic Planning Committee Member, 2018
Board Member, 2019 - 2021

Alonzo Mourning Charities
Board Member, 1997 - 2012

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
President, Theta Zeta Chapter , 1979 - Present

Ransom Everglades School
Board Member, 2008 - 2017

The Orange Bowl Committee
President and Board Chairman, 2006 - 2007
Board Member, 1993 - Present

Super Bowl
XLI Host Committee, Co-Chair

The Mourning Family Foundation
Board Member

National Bar Association
Member

United Way Miami
Trustee, 2011 - Present

Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association
1987 - Present

100 Black Men of America
Chairman Emeritus, 2012 - Present
Chairman, 2004 - 2012
Board Member, 2004 - Present

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
Member, 2023 - Present

Miami Dade College Foundation
Board Chairman, 2005 - 2006
Member, 2003 - 2008

South Florida Sports Foundation, Inc.
Board Member, 2016 - Present

Overtown Youth Center
Board Chairman, 2000 - 2010
Member, 2000 - Present

U.S. Department of Defense
Joint Civilian Orientation Conference JCOC, Selected by the U.S. Secretary of Defense to participate, 1997
Bar Admissions

Florida

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

U.S. Supreme Court
Awards/Honors

Eminent Practitioner, Chambers USA, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use, 2007 - present

Chambers USA, Construction, 2023 - present

South Florida Business Journal, Power Leaders in Professional Services, 2024

Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Alumni Hall of Fame, 2023

YWCA South Florida, First But Not The Last Inductee, 2023

YWCA South Florida, Jason Jenkins Man-Kind Award, 2023

South Florida Business Journal, Top 250 Power Leaders of South Florida, 2022

Florida Trend, Miami-Dade People to Know, May 2022

American Jewish Committee, Judge Learned Hand Award, 2022

Florida Trend's Florida 500 - Florida's Most Influential Business Leaders, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023

Lawyers of Color, Law Firm Leaders, 2022

Daily Business Review, Attorney of the Year, 2017, Finalist, 2021

South Florida Business Journal, Diversity & Inclusion Honoree, 2021

The Best Lawyers in America, Land Use & Zoning Law, Government Relations Practice, 2011 – present

The Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year, Government Relations Practice, 2014, 2024

Florida Super Lawyers, 2007, 2009 - present

South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyers, 2001 - present

Florida Trend, Legal Elite, 2019

Dade County Bar Association, Legal Luminaries - Lobbying & Government Relations, 2016

Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Salute to Miami's Leaders Award - Legal/Law, 2015

Daily Business Review, Most Effective Lawyers - Government Relations winner, 2015; Public Interest finalist, 2015; Real Estate winner, 2009, 2016

Daily Business Review, Top Dealmakers of the Year - Office finalist, 2014; Mixed-Use finalist, 2014

Women Works Media Group, Law and Justice Award, 2017

Legacy Miami Magazine, South Florida's Most Powerful Black Professionals in Business and Industry, 2014

Miami Today, Best in Miami, Giving Back, 2014

South Florida Business Journal, Heavy Hitters in Commercial Real Estate, 2013

National Black MBA Association President & CEO Award for Community and Social Justice Leadership, 2013

The Miami Herald, Legacy Award, 2013

The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Spirit of Democracy Award, 2012

The Education Fund, Public School Alumni Achievement Award, 2012

The Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association & Legacy Miami Magazine, Legacy Legal Leader, 2012

Miami Chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Silver Medallion Award, 2011

Ebony Magazine, Power 150: Most Influential Blacks in America, 2005 - 2009

Miami Today, Hall of Fame for Greater Miami, Civic Organizations, 2007

Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, National Business Leader of the Year, 2005
Languages

Spanish

PRACTICES