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Warren Dean, Jr.

Partner

Washington, D.C.
202 585 6908 202 585 6908 direct


Warren Dean practices in the field of federal regulation of transportation services, both domestic and international. He represents several of the nation's largest transportation and energy interests before the courts, federal agencies, and Congress in Washington, D.C.

He chaired the firm's Federal practice, which is one of the most prominent practices of its kind in the nation. He founded and co-chairs the firm's Supreme Court practice area. He served on the Management Committee of the firm from 2000-2013.

He has years of appellate experience in cases before the U.S. Courts of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. His cases have focused on controversies involving the relationship between federal and state regulation of commerce, and include several landmark decisions of the Supreme Court in this area. While in government, he drafted the brief of the United States in Japan Line, Ltd. v. County of Los Angeles, which set aside state taxation of shipping containers moving in foreign commerce. He represented the U.S. airline industry through the Air Transport Association of America in EL AL Israel Airlines, Ltd. v. Tsui Yuan Tseng, affirming the supremacy of the rules of the Warsaw Convention over state law claims against airlines. He successfully argued Federal Maritime Commission v. South Carolina State Ports Authority, upholding the sovereign immunity of state instrumentalities from private complaints before federal administrative tribunals.

Mr. Dean also served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law Center for 30 years. He received the Charles Fahy Distinguished Adjunct Professor Award in 2008.

U.S. Supreme Court

Franchise Tax Board v. Hyatt (Amicus) 2015

Northwest, Inc. v. Ginsberg (Amicus), 572 U.S. 273 (2014)

Amalgamated Transit Union v. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (Respondent), 556 U.S. 1289 (2009)

Amalgamated Transit Union v. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (Respondent), 556 U.S. 1289 (2009)

United Airlines v. Hosaka (Amicus), 537 U.S. 1227 (2003)

Metropolitan Transportation Authority v. Greene (Amicus), 538 U.S. 1031 (2003)

Federal Maritime Commission v. South Carolina State Ports Authority (Argued on behalf of Respondent), 535 U.S. 743 (2002)

Federal Express Corporation v. Fujitsu (Petitioner), 534 U.S. 891 (2001)

El Al v. Tseng (Amicus), 525 U.S. 155 (1999)

Wardair Canada v. Florida Department of Revenue (Amicus), 477 U.S. 1 (1986)

Japan Line Ltd. v. County of Los Angeles (Amicus), 441 U.S. 434 (1979)

U.S. Courts of Appeals

Federal Express Corporation v. Mineta (D. C. Circuit), 373 F.3d 112 (2004)

Lloyd v. American Airlines (8th Circuit), 291 F.3d 503 (2002)

South Carolina State Ports Authority v. FMC (4th Circuit), 243 F.3d 165 (2001)

United States v. Tucor International (9th Circuit), 189 F.3d 834 (1999)

Rohm & Haas v. International Trade Commission (U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals), 554 F.2d 462 (1977)

Thompson Coburn Publications

Supreme Court to decide limits of attorney client privilege: Why the Ninth Circuit decision spells disaster for the sanctity of legal advice

Publications

"The Important Questions In High Court's CFPB Funding Case,"
Law360, June 6, 2023

"Shippers, are you ready for SOLAS’ verified container weight mandate?"
April 4, 2016

Co-Author, "Financing Vessels with the Capital Construction Fund Program";
ELT Magazine, March-April 2011

"Alliances, Immunity, and the Future of Aviation";
The Air and Space Lawyer, January 2010

”Disecting the Jones Act,” 143 Cong. Rec. S2795-02, 143 Cong. Rec. S2795-02 (1997)
Congressional Record - Senate, Proceedings and Debates of the 105th Congress, First Session April 7, 1997

Presentations

AAPA Port Administration and Legal Issues Seminar
Boston, MA August 2, 2013

"Cross-Border Investment in International Airlines";
Air & Space Law Annual Meeting, Global Skies: Working Towards an Open Global Aviation System, August 4, 2000

"Global Warming and the Transportation Industry";
Panel Presentation for the Federal Bar Association at the Department of Transportation, March 15, 2000