by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
Dan Bean, who has been with Holland & Knight for just over a year, is serving his second term on The Jacksonville Bar Association’s Board of Governors.
After graduating from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1994, Bean transferred to Jacksonville where he served as a legal assistance attorney for the military.
“I helped sailors and their lawful dependents with civil legal problems such as estate planning, divorces or contract disputes,” said Bean. “I fought from San Diego to move back. The legal community in Jacksonville is special. I really enjoy the opportunity to give back. There are lots of JBA programs that benefit the community and I enjoy the opportunity to do that.”
He then transferred to the criminal defense division where he defended sailors charged with criminal violations. In 1996, he switched to the prosecution side.
After 11 years of active duty, Bean went to work for 18 months for Marks Gray, specializing in insurance defense.
He left private practice, working for U.S. District Court judges Ralph Nimmons and Harvey Schlesinger. He later served as a law clerk for Senior U.S. District Judge John Moore before returning to private practice for a couple of reasons.
“The financial opportunity as well as the growth,” said Bean. “Although being a law clerk may have been the best job I had, there’s greater professional and financial growth in the private sector. I’ve got to create funds for my children to go to college.”
Bean specializes in “all types of commercial litigation, including breaches of contract, insurance and re-insurance disputes. Basically, it’s businesses having disputes with other businesses. I like helping people. I think that’s one of the reasons why we’re here in this world.”
Born in Alexandria, Va., Bean was writing for the local newspaper while he was still in high school. (He still enjoys writing: he collaborates with Rob Devine on a sports column which runs monthly in the Bar Bulletin.) He received a full scholarship with the Navy to Vanderbilt University in Tennessee where he earned his bachelor’s degree.
He then received his commission in the U.S. Navy from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. Bean served two years on a warship in Mayport and another two in San Diego.
“My primary duty was to drive the ship,” he said.
In 1991 Bean transferred to become a Navy instructor at the Surface Warfare Officer School and was selected for the Navy Law Education Program, which awarded him a full scholarship to law school.
Bean and his wife Cindy, a CPA, reside in Mandarin with their daughter Kaylee and son Riley. They have a cat named Sonoma — “She wakes me up every morning at 5:30 to feed her” — and a dog named Commodore.
Bean insists Commodore would like to be renamed “Gator” or “Seminole,” but he just reassures her to stick it out for now.
He is a member of the the American Bar Association Legal Assistance for Military Personnel Committee, the Florida Rules and Civil Procedure Committee and Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Bean is also a commander select in the Reserves.
In his spare time, Bean “enjoys watching my children participate in athletic events.” He is an assistant coach for his children’s baseball, basketball and soccer teams. He also relishes working in the yard, running, golf and people watching. Bean prefers to listen to relaxing music when he is at work. His favorite book is “The Giving Tree” and his favorite movie is “Fletch.” Bean says Ruth’s Chris is his preferred dining spot.
So what does he enjoy most about working at Holland & Knight?
“The people,” he said. “They’re great people to work with here.”