Dean E. Richardson

Whether navigating a high-stakes dispute or advising on litigation risks tied to a business decision, Dean Richardson focuses on helping clients resolve legal issues efficiently—so they can get back to running their business. He works with companies of all sizes, across a wide range of industries, and tailors his approach to each client’s goals, risk tolerance, and long-term objectives.

Dean represents clients in complex commercial litigation, with experience spanning across cannabis, hemp, title insurance, technology, real estate, and a wide variety of commercial disputes. A generalist by design, he’s built a practice around solving virtually any legal problem a business might face—from shareholder disputes and breach of fiduciary duty claims to trade secret matters and real estate conflicts involving ownership, easements, and title insurance defense. He thrives in the adversarial process and takes pride in crafting sound strategies that drive successful resolution.

Dean is also a frequent speaker on topics related to commercial litigation, cannabis law, and emerging legal issues in real estate and regulated industries. He regularly presents to legal, business, and industry groups, offering insight on evolving trends and practical strategies for navigating complex disputes.

Recognized nationally for his work, Dean has been ranked by Chambers USA since 2021 as a leading nationwide Cannabis Law attorney, Band 2. He has been named a Benchmark Litigation Local Litigation Star in both General Commercial and Real Estate Litigation (2021–2025), recognized by Best Lawyers in Commercial Litigation (2022–2025), and selected for Colorado Super Lawyers in Business Litigation (2020–2025), after appearing as a Rising Star from 2012 to 2016. He also holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and was named a National Law Journal Trailblazer in Cannabis Law in 2018.

Before joining Gould & Ratner, Dean was a partner at an Am Law 200 firm.