Dean J. Zipser is a recognized leader in the Orange County legal community, having served as President of the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) and the Association of Business Trial Lawyers – Orange County Chapter, and as chairperson of the Orange County Bar’s Masters Division (serving those in practice 25 years or more), among many professional leadership positions.  Dean was named as the 2017 recipient of the OCBA’s Franklin G. West Award – presented annually to an outstanding attorney or judge whose lifetime achievements have advanced justice and the law.  In 2003, Dean received the Jurisprudence Award given by the Anti-Defamation League, which recognizes individual commitment to the highest ideals of the legal profession and dedicated service to the community.  He has been listed for several years as one of the “Best Lawyers in America®” in the fields of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Banking and Finance Litigation, and Real Estate Litigation. Dean was named Best Lawyers’ Orange County Bet-the-Company Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in 2022 and 2014, and Orange County Intellectual Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in 2017.  In addition, he has been chosen as a “Super Lawyer” since 2005, an honor limited to only 5% of Southern California lawyers. Dean is also named Super Lawyers Top 50 Orange County Lawyer and Top 100 Southern California Lawyer.

Dean is known for his handling of large, complex, and “bet-the-company” cases, from pre-trial consulting, through pre-trial, trial, and appeal.  His civil business litigation practice includes complex matters in intellectual property, consumer class actions, contract, business torts, fiduciary duty, real estate, construction, environmental, and lender liability.  He also advises clients on techniques to avoid or minimize the risks of litigation and has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution procedures.  In addition, Dean has been trained as a mediator, and has been called upon to assist parties in settling disputes.

Dean serves a list of premier industry leaders and Fortune 1000 companies, as well as a host of other companies and individuals.  Some of his cases have included: representing leading computer manufacturers in various consumer class actions; commercial litigation matters for national retailers; handling disputes involving real estate, construction, contract, and class-actions on behalf of large residential real estate developers; and litigating intellectual property matters for a variety of clients in a host of different industries, including retail, restaurants, toy manufacturing, and charitable organizations.

Dean was honored to be named as one of the 176 lawyers nationwide on the BTI Consulting 2009 Client All-Star Team. The survey was the result of interviews with more than 270 general counsels at Fortune 1000 and other companies. BTI sought the attorneys who stand for leveraging knowledge of their clients’ businesses to deliver strategic advice, who keep their clients’ interests top of mind through the efficient use of time and resources, and who provide responsive and timely answers to clients’ most precious needs.

A committed advocate for those who are less fortunate, Dean regularly works on cases on a pro bono basis and has served on the Board of the Public Law Center.   Prior to joining Umberg/Zipser, Dean was a partner with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP (co-chair of the firm’s Class Actions and Financial Services Litigation practice groups), and before that was the managing partner and head of the Litigation Department at the Orange County office of Morrison & Foerster LLP.