Dean Aldrich received his law degree, cum laude, from Tulane University, and received his undergraduate degree in civil engineering, with high scholarship, from Oregon State University. During college, Dean worked in heavy highway construction and building construction. After graduating from college, Dean was a project manager for an international building construction company based out of Portland, Oregon. Dean then traveled to New Orleans to attend law school at Tulane. In addition to graduating with honors, Dean was a member of the Tulane National Moot Court team that swept the southeast regional tournament, and advanced to the finals in New York City.

After graduating from law school, Dean focused his legal career on complex litigation. Dean has successfully handled complex trials and arbitrations involving a variety of claims (environmental, trade secrets, construction payment disputes, product liability, construction defect, insurance coverage), and has been involved in significant construction defect cases in Oregon, negotiating multi-million dollar settlements, as well as obtaining an $11.8 million dollar jury verdict in a construction defect trial in Multnomah County and a $5.9 million jury verdict in Washington County (along with Chris Grady and Dan Goldstein). Dean also prevailed in a complex insurance coverage trial that has significant impacts for all construction defect cases in Oregon. Further, Dean has regularly handled traditional breach of contract/construction payment disputes from all sides (owner, architect, contractor, supplier) throughout his career, for claims large and small, complex and straightforward, and during boom and bust cycles.

With regard to product liability cases, Dean has successfully defended domestic and foreign manufacturers and distributors in a variety of complex product liability cases in state and federal court involving building products, motor vehicles, automobiles, ATVs, engines, and machinery.

Dean also has served as general counsel for several companies, and has resolved all manner of business disputes. Dean has also drafted and negotiated complex business and construction contracts nationwide.

Dean is an AV Peer Review Rated attorney according to the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Ability and General Ethics Standards Rating system, which is a century-long tradition for rating lawyers. Based on the confidential opinions of lawyers and judges, Dean is recognized as pre-eminent in construction litigation, and has reached the height of professional excellence and the highest levels of skill and integrity.

Dean is a member of numerous legal organizations and construction/engineering organizations, and is a frequent speaker on construction litigation. Dean is active in the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and has testified before the Oregon Legislature on construction law issues. Dean is also often sought out as a construction law expert by the local news media.