Albert E. Dotson, Jr.
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 infrastructure and public-private partnerships (P3). His experience includes rail and transit facilities, airports, marinas, sports stadiums, public utilities, 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.
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.
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Vanderbilt University, J.D., 1987Dartmouth College, A.B., 1982
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Judicial Nominating Commission of FloridaAppointed by Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio, 2009 - PresentUniversity of MiamiBoard of Trustees, Member, 2024 - PresentVanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt Law School, Board of Advisors, Member, 2023 - 2026Florida Council of 100
Board Member, 2022 - Present
Member, 2019 - PresentFIFA World CupFIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee, Board of DirectorsPresident's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African AmericansAppointed by President Barack Obama, 2014 - 2018Miami Dade Beacon CouncilBoard of Directors, Executive Committee, 2021 - PresentRansom Everglades SchoolBoard Member, 2008 - 2017, 2024 - PresentLeadership FloridaStrategic Planning Committee Member, 2018
Board Member, 2019 - 2021Alonzo Mourning CharitiesBoard Member, 1997 - 2012Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.President, Theta Zeta Chapter , 1979 - PresentThe Orange Bowl CommitteePresident and Board Chairman, 2006 - 2007
Board Member, 1993 - PresentSuper BowlXLI Host Committee, Co-ChairThe Mourning Family FoundationBoard MemberNational Bar AssociationMemberUnited Way MiamiTrustee, 2011 - PresentWilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association1987 - Present100 Black Men of AmericaChairman Emeritus, 2012 - Present
Chairman, 2004 - 2012
Board Member, 2004 - PresentLeadership Council on Legal DiversityMember, 2023 - PresentMiami Dade College FoundationBoard Chairman, 2005 - 2006
Member, 2003 - 2008South Florida Sports Foundation, Inc.Board Member, 2016 - PresentOvertown Youth CenterBoard Chairman, 2000 - 2010
Member, 2000 - PresentU.S. Department of DefenseJoint Civilian Orientation Conference JCOC, Selected by the U.S. Secretary of Defense to participate, 1997 -
Florida
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U.S. District Court, Southern District of FloridaU.S. Supreme Court
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Eminent Practitioner, Chambers USA, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use, 2007 - present
Chambers USA, Construction, 2023 - present
Florida Trend’s Notable Managing Partners, 2024
South Florida Business Journal, Power Leaders 250, Professional Services, 2021 - 2025
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, 2024Lawyers of Color, Law Firm Leaders, 2022
Daily Business Review, Attorney of the Year, 2017, Finalist, 2021
South Florida Business Journal, Diversity & Inclusion Honoree, 2021The 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 - presentSouth 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
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