Partner
Bilzin Sumberg
Albert E. Dotson, Jr., Land Development & Government Relations Practice Group Leader, handles federal and local government procurement contracts and compliance. He also represents real estate developers in securing land use, zoning and other government approvals and permits for large-scale real estate developments. Al routinely negotiates economic development incentive programs on behalf of major U.S. corporate clients.
Al's work includes representing developers and contractors in complying with the government procurement procedures of various agencies of the Federal government, State of Florida, Miami-Dade County and the cities of Miami, Coral Gables and Miami Beach. This representation includes responding to procurement solicitations through defending against or prosecuting quasi-judicial bid protests. He represents commercial, industrial, residential and mixed-use developers throughout the land development process, including development permit challenges, zoning, concurrency, platting and permitting. Al's work also includes representing developers in Public-Private Partnerships (P3) that have included the redevelopment of municipal property by a private developer with the infrastructure, other public improvements and tax abatement provided by the local governing body.
In 2009, Al was chosen as a member of the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission, a statewide panel charged with selecting finalists for presidential appointments to district judgeships, U.S. attorneys and U.S. marshals, and was reappointed in 2013 to a third, two-year term. In 2014, Al was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans, to advise the President and the Secretary of Education on ways to advance federal programs that improve educational opportunities for African Americans, increase participation of the African American community in federal agency programs and engage stakeholders in a national dialogue on the mission.
Al has been consistently recognized by Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers in America for his work in land use and zoning law. In 2014, he was named "Miami Lawyer of the Year" in Government Relations Law by The Best Lawyers in America. Al has also been honored for his involvement in civic and charitable organizations; in 2013, he received the National Black MBA Association President & CEO Award for Community and Social Justice Leadership.
