Gould + Ratner

Dean

Richardson

Partner

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.


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Credentials

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Education

  • University of Denver Sturm College of Law, J.D., Order of St. Ives; University of Denver Law Review
  • The George Washington University, B.B.A., Men’s Swimming Team; Student-Athlete Advisory Counsel

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado
  • Maryland

Affiliations

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  • American Bar Association
  • Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program, Mentor
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • Denver Bar Association
  • Downtown Denver Partnership Leadership Program, 2016
  • International Association of Defense Counsel, Member
  • Mile High Business Alliance, Former Board Member
  • Montgomery County, Maryland Chapter of American Inns of Court, Former Member

Presentations

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  • Panelist, “What are the concerns and needs of cannabis industry arbitration users and how can they be better served in arbitrations?”, Cannabis Arbitration Summit, Colorado Bar Association, October 1, 2024
  • Panelist, “Litigation Issues and Challenges in the Cannabis Sector,” 7th Annual Cannabis Symposium, Colorado Bar Association, February 2023
  • Author, “Why Don’t Banks Accept Cannabis Funds?,” Marijuana Venture, November 2021
  • Panelist, “Series 301: Business Entity Litigation for Cannabis Businesses,” International Cannabis Bar Association, June 2021
  • Speaker, “Birds of a Feather – Trends in Cannabis Litigation,” 2021 Ally Law Annual General Meeting, May 2021
  • Panelist, “The Future of Cannabis Law,” Colorado Bar Association, March 2021
  • Moderator, “The Proliferation of Cannabis Litigation: Recent Developments and Top Issues Trending in the World of Cannabis Litigation,” CBA-CLE Colorado Litigators’ Summit, September 2020
  • Co-Author, “How the Cannabis Industry Can Be a Leader,” Marijuana Venture, March 2020
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As a member of Gould & Ratner’s Litigation Practice, Dean Richardson has extensive experience representing a variety of clients in commercial, cannabis, trade secret, real estate, and franchise disputes.