He handles matters involving construction, banking and consumer finance, corporate freeze out, partnership disputes, international trade, employment, intellectual property, and general commercial matters. As a Special Assistant Attorney General, he has successfully recovered $7.5 million for the State of Mississippi. Dorsey has represented numerous developers, owners, general contractors, subcontractors, sureties, architects and engineers within the construction industry.
In 2010, the Mississippi Business Journal recognized Dorsey as one of Mississippi's 50 Leaders in Law. Since 2010, Chambers USA has recognized Dorsey as a “Leader in their Field” in the area of Construction Litigation. In 2011, Dorsey was recognized as a Mid-South SuperLawyer "Rising Star." In 2012, Dorsey was selected as one of PORTICO jackson’s PORTICO 10, the top 10 up-and-coming lawyers in the Jackson area. Dorsey was included in The Best Lawyers in America 2013 for his work in Construction Law. He was selected as a Truman National Security Project Partner, and is an active participant in the White House Business Council.
Dorsey attended Mississippi State University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree, graduating magna cum laude. He received his J.D. from the University of Georgia where he served as Vice-President of the Student Bar Association as well as Articles Editor for the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law. While in law school, Dorsey also attended the London Law Consortium at the University of London, where he interned with Queen’s Counsel Jerome Lynch of the Middle Temple.
Dorsey is admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, the Southern District of Illinois, the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Federal Claims Court.
Dorsey has held memberships with the Mock Trial Board, Blue Key, Who’s Who: American Law Students and Outstanding Young Men of America. He is currently a member of the Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas and American Bar Associations, where he serves on a steering committee for the Forum on the Construction Industry, and the Association of General Contractors, Associated Builders & Contractors, American Subcontractors Association, Construction Specifications Institute and Lawyers Club of Atlanta.
Dorsey has published the following articles and chapters:
- Mississippi Construction Law Update (2011-12, 2012-13), ABA Forum on Construction Law.
- Georgia Construction Law Update (2012-2013), ABA Forum on Construction Law.
- Federal Construction Law Update (2010-2011), ABA Forum on Construction Law.
- "Getting Paid in a Tough Economy: Innovative Strategies and Techniques," ABA Forum on Construction Law 2010 Fall Meeting.
- "Challenges and Contractual Issues With Sub-Subcontractors," 200.9
- Mississippi Practitioner’s Foreclosure Manual, University of Mississippi Press, 2009, 1999, Chapter co-author.
- “Entering Into Construction Contracts and Subcontracts,” Construction Law For Architects, Engineers, and Contractors, HalfMoon, LLC, 2008.
- “Contract Disputes,” Inside the Minds: Contract Dispute Resolution, Aspatore, 2008.
- “Construction Delay Claims,” Lorman Education Services, 2006.
- “Mississippi Construction Law”, State Public Construction Law, CCH Incorporated, 2002, Chapter co-author.
- “Construction Claims in Georgia,” Lorman Education Services, 2001.
- “Mississippi: No Damages For Delay,” Common Sense Contracting, Vol. 15, No. 1 (2001).
- “Construction Lien and Public Contract Bond Law,” Lorman Education Services, 2000-01.
- “Is Hot Weather An Excusable Delay?,” Common Sense Contracting, Vol. 14, No. 1 (2000).
- “Pass Through Delay Claims,” Common Sense Contracting, Vol. 13, No. 3 (1999).
- “Remembering Dean Rusk,” Summer 1996, Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law.
He handles matters involving construction, banking and consumer finance, corporate freeze out, partnership disputes, international trade, employment, intellectual property, and general commercial matters. As a Special Assistant Attorney General, he has successfully recovered $7.5 million for the State of Mississippi. Dorsey has represented numerous developers, owners, general contractors, subcontractors, sureties, architects and engineers within the construction industry.
In 2010, the Mississippi Business Journal recognized Dorsey as one of Mississippi's 50 Leaders in Law. Since 2010, Chambers USA has recognized Dorsey as a “Leader in their Field” in the area of Construction Litigation. In 2011, Dorsey was recognized as a Mid-South SuperLawyer "Rising Star." In 2012, Dorsey was selected as one of PORTICO jackson’s PORTICO 10, the top 10 up-and-coming lawyers in the Jackson area. Dorsey was included in The B...
Personal Q&A
What is your favorite thing about the law?
I enjoy working directly with my clients, learning about their businesses, and then helping them find solutions and resolve their problems. On those occasions where there is no resolution without full litigation, I really enjoy the strategy and old fashioned story-telling associated with presenting that case to a judge or jury.
What community projects are you involved in?
March of Dimes Mississippi Chapter: Current Board Member and 2012 Chair of Fund the Mission.
Meals on Wheels: My wife and I cook and deliver meals to inner-city elderly on the first Saturday every other month.
Stewpot Community Services: Provide pro bono legal assistance and serve meals at this inner-city homeless soup kitchen.
Habitat for Humanity: Work on the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. “Peace House” with members of various faiths (Protestant, Ca...
What is your favorite thing about the law?
I enjoy working directly with my clients, learning about their businesses, and then helping them find solutions and resolve their problems. On those occasions where there is no resolution without full litigation, I really enjoy the strategy and old fashioned story-telling associated with presenting that case to a judge or jury.
What community projects are you involved in?
March of Dimes Mississippi Chapter: Current Board Member and 2012 Chair of Fund the Mission.
Meals on Wheels: My wife and I cook and deliver meals to inner-city elderly on the first Saturday every other month.
Stewpot Community Services: Provide pro bono legal assistance and serve meals at this inner-city homeless soup kitchen.
Habitat for Humanity: Work on the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. “Peace House” with members of various faiths (Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu).
What was your first job?
I had my own yard cutting venture when I was in seventh grade. I borrowed money from the bank to purchase my first lawn mower, and then paid it off by the end of that summer.
My first employment was a summer job at a water park named Waterland, U.S.A. when I was fourteen years old. I went from cooking and park cleanup that first summer to bumper boats and water slides the next. By the third summer, I had obtained the coveted spot of wavepool lifeguard.
What are your hobbies?
Travel, kayaking, sailing, mountain hiking, scuba diving, music, art.
What advice would you give to a young student in law school?
The practice of law is a marathon, not a sprint.
How do you define a “good day?”
Am I still alive? If so, then God has given me another good day.
How do you spend your weekend?
In the spring and summer, I try to spend as much time as possible outdoors—preferably sailing on the Reservoir, lounging by the pool, or kayaking down a river. The fall is for football and Mississippi State tailgating.