Christopher T. Dawson Attorney At Law


Christopher T. Dawson - Attorney at Law

Shareholder/Government Affairs Advisor

Orlando/Tampa

T 407.843.8880
F 407.244.5690
Orlando 301 East Pine Street Suite 1400 Orlando, Florida 32801

T 813.273.5000
F 813.273.5145
Tampa 101 East Kennedy Blvd. Suite 4000 Tampa, Florida 33602

Chris is an attorney and professional lobbyist in the firm’s Orlando and Tampa offices, licensed to practice law in Florida and Alabama. He primarily focuses on lobbying and government affairs for public and private sector clients at the executive and legislative levels of state government, as well as before political subdivisions of the state, including counties, cities, airport authorities, transportation authorities, port authorities, school districts, and water management districts. Chris also holds two degrees in civil engineering and has experience in construction litigation and design professional malpractice defense.

Chris is a sixth-generation Floridian. He was born in Pensacola, Florida, and raised in nearby Santa Rosa County. Chris graduated from Pace High School, where he served as student body president. Five years later, he received his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from the University of Florida. Upon graduation, he passed the fundamentals of engineering exam and received the Engineer in Training (EIT) designation from the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.

In 2013, Chris graduated magna cum laude from the University of Alabama School of Law. He pursued a joint degree at UA, also obtaining his master’s degree in civil engineering with a focus on construction methods and management. In the spring of 2012, Chris served as a legal intern in the D.C. office of Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart. Additionally, he was a summer associate in the Legal Services Bureau of the Alabama Department of Transportation. Chris also worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Alabama College of Engineering. Though a Gator at heart, he has occasionally been known to utter "Roll Tide!"  

Chris was recently appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to serve on the Board of Professional Engineers.

  • Recognition
    • Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, 2021-2024
      • Administrative / Regulatory Law
      • Construction Law
      • Government Relations
      • Land Use and Zoning Law
    • The News Service of Florida, 40 Under 40: Rising Stars, 2024
    • City & State Florida, Florida Construction Power 100, 2023
    • Florida Politics, 30 Under 30 Rising Star, 2016
    • Orlando Business Journal, 40 Under 40, 2019
  • Insights
    • "Legislative Update," Construction Law Institute 2024 Legal Conference, March 22, 2024
    • "2024 Legislative Priorities Emerge," Florida Roofing Magazine, February 2024
    • "Tallahassee Tidbits," Florida Roofing Magazine, November 2023
    • "Florida 2023 - Building Safety and Property Insurance - Update," ICRI Florida West Coast, October 4, 2023
    • "Special Elections Preview 2024 Campaign Season," Florida Roofing Magazine, August 2023
    • "2023 GrayRobinson Florida Legislation Session Wrap-Up," Clay County Utility Authority, July 18, 2023
    • "2023 GrayRobinson Florida Legislation Session Wrap-Up," ABC Planning Conference, July 14, 2023
    • "GrayRobinson Government Affairs and Lobbying Section: Effects of SB 1718 as Passed by Florida Legislature," GrayRobinson Insight, June 20, 2023
    • "Governor DeSantis Lands Long-Sought Immigration Reform Bill," Florida Roofing Magazine, June 2023
    • "2023 GrayRobinson Florida Legislation Session Wrap-Up," NAIOP Northwest Florida Chapter, June 7, 2023
    • "2023 GrayRobinson Florida Legislation Session Wrap-Up," NAIOP, June 6, 2023
    • Panelist, "Builders' Breakfast Legislative Session Impacts," Associated Builders and Contractors Central Florida, June 6, 2023
    • “2023 GrayRobinson Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Tampa, May 23, 2023
    • “2023 GrayRobinson Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Orlando, May 16, 2023
    • GrayRobinson Government Affairs and Lobbying and Real Estate and Land Use Sections Insight: What Developers and Local Governments Should Know About New Affordable Housing Law,” GrayRobinson Insight, April 27, 2023 
    • "Introduction to the Legislative Process," 2023 Northwest Florida Days, April 3, 2023
    • "Legislative Update," 2023 Roofing Day in Tallahassee, Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association, March 15, 2023
    • "Legislative Update," 2023 Legislative Conference, Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida, March 8, 2023
    • "Property Insurance Special Session," Florida Roofing, February 2023
    • "As Florida Reels from Ian, Elections March Forward," Florida Roofing, November 2022
    • "Midterm Election Recap and 2023 Legislative Session Preview," ABC North Florida Chapter (Tallahassee), November 16, 2022
    • "Construction Defect Legislation Overview and 2023 Legislative Session Preview," ABC North Florida Chapter (Pensacola), November 15, 2022
    • "2022 Midterm Election Wrap-up," GrayRobinson Webinar, November 14, 2022
    • "As Florida Reels from Ian, Elections March Forward - November 2022," Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Contractors Association, Inc., November 7, 2022
    • "Primary Election Sends Dozens of Legislators to Tallahassee," Florida Roofing, October 2022
    • "Meet the Candidates 2022," Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce, October 11, 2022
    • "Legislative Update and Election Analysis," Leadership Seminole, September 9, 2022
    • "2022 Session Wrap-Up," Associated Builders and Contractors Florida First Coast Chapter, August 26, 2022
    • “2022 GrayRobinson Special Session Wrap-Up: Property Protection in Florida,” Webinar, June 16, 2022
    • "Happy 100! Gubernatorial Appointments and Special Session," Florida Roofing, June 2022
    • "2022 Legislative Session Wrap-Up," City of Belle Isle City Council, May 3, 2022
    • "2022 Legislative Session At-A-Glance," Florida Roofing, May 2022
    • “2022 GrayRobinson Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Orlando, April 20, 2022
    • “2022 GrayRobinson Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Miami, April 14, 2022
    • “2022 GrayRobinson Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Fort Lauderdale, April 13, 2022
    • "Legislature Approves "Tool Time" and Other Sales Tax Holidays," Florida Roofing, April 2022
    • "2022 Legislative Session Wrap-Up," Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association Government Affairs Committee and Board of Directors, April 22, 2022
    • "Legislative Update," Central Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Association, February 24, 2022
    • Florida Blue Key, Gator Day at the Florida Capitol, February 15, 2022 
    • Florida State University College Republicans General Body Meeting, February 8, 2022
    • Guest Speaker, "Key Issues Legislature is Working to Solve," The Chamber Connection with Todd Thompson, February 7, 2022
    • "2022 Legislative Session: The Top Five Issues," Florida Roofing, February 2022
    • "Session Update," Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association Government Affairs Committee, January 26, 2022
    • "2022 Florida Legislative Session Overview," Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida Legislative Conference, January 18, 2022
    • "Governor DeSantis' Session Priorities," Florida Roofing, January 2022
    • "2022 Florida Legislative Session Update," FRSA Self Insurers Fund Board of Directors, December 4, 2021
    • "Legislative Update," Florida Surety Association Quarterly Meeting, November 18, 2021
    • "Popcorn and Politics," Leadership Seminole Government Day, September 10, 2021
    • GrayRobinson Construction E-lert: Environmental Constitutional Amendments Proposed as 2022 Ballot Initiatives, September 1, 2021
    • "Florida Legislative Session: 2021 Recap and 2022 Preview," Clay County Utility Authority Board of Directors Meeting, August 17, 2021
    • "Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up," Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida Legislative Planning Conference, July 23, 2021
    • "Impact Fee Reform Legislation Signed Into Law," Florida Roofing, July 2021
    • "SB76 Changes," Central Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Association Member Meeting, June 23, 2021
    • "Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up," City of Belle Isle City Council Meeting, June 1, 2021
    • "Florida Legislative Session by the Numbers," Florida Roofing, June 2021
    • "Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up," Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association, Inc. Webinar, May 26, 2021
    • "2021 GrayRobinson Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up," Webinar, May 18, 2021
    • "2021 GrayRobinson Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up," Pensacola Chamber of Commerce Webinar, May 18, 2021
    • "2021 Session Update: First Bills Across the Finish Line," Florida Roofing, May 2021
    • "GrayRobinson Florida Legislative Session Weekly Roundup," April 16, 2021
    • "Construction Defects Reform Legislation Takes Shape," Florida Roofing, March 2021
    • "Session Preview," Greater Orlando Young Republicans, February 16, 2021
    • "2021 Legislative Preview," Greater Pensacola Chamber, February 11, 2021
    • "Session 2021 Preview: COVID-19 Liability Protections, Rioting and Public Safety Reforms," Florida Roofing, February 2021
    • "2021 Legislative Update," ABC of Florida Legislator of the Year Program, January 14, 2021
    • "Session is Coming! 2021 Construction Policy Proposals Take Shape," Florida Roofing, January 2021
    • "2020 Election Recap," Florida Roofing, December 2020
    • "The Winners Circle: Covering Florida’s Election Results," November 4, 2020
    • "Goodbye, Election! What Comes Next in the Florida Legislative Process," Florida Roofing, November 2020
    • Moderator, "Purple State Politics: Discussing Florida's Unique Geographical and Political Diversity," October 8, 2020
    • "Upset Alert! Incumbent Losses During the 2020 Primary Election," Florida Roofing, October 2020
    • "Legislative Update," Florida Surety Association Quarterly Meeting, September 1, 2020
    • "Where Are They Now? Tracked Bills of the 2020 Session," Florida Roofing, September 2020
    • "Who's in and Who's Out?" Post-Election Pop-Up Forum, August 19, 2020
    • Moderator, "Current State of the Construction Industry," GrayRobinson Virtual Community Leader Forum, August 13, 2020
    • Emcee, Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Seminole Hob Nob, July 31, 2020
    • "2020 Florida Election Overview," Greater Pensacola Chamber, July 28, 2020
    • "From Curves to Cones: Hurricane Season in the COVID-19 World," Florida Roofing, June 2020
    • "Keeping Roofing ‘Essential’," Florida Roofing, May 2020
    • "Update on Federal COVID-19 Employment and Business Programs," Seminole County Chamber and the Apopka Area Chamber, April 15, 2020
    • "2020 Virtual Legislative Wrap-Up," Greater Pensacola Chamber, April 14, 2020
    • "2020 Virtual Legislative Session Wrap-Up," Oviedo Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce, April 9, 2020
    • Greater Orlando Builders Association webinar, April 6, 2020
    • Northwest Florida Days Business Leader’s Breakfast, February 25, 2020
    • "Local Government Contracting Bills on the Move!" Florida Roofing, February 2020
    • Moderator, Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce Legislative Preview Breakfast, January 9, 2020
    • Keynote Speaker, "2020 Legislative Session and Elections Update," Southwest Florida Roofing Contractors Association Annual Meeting, January 8, 2020
    • "Legislative Session Preview," Florida Roofing, January 2020
    • "Tricks and Treats in Tallahassee," Florida Roofing, November 2019
    • Host, UF Community Speaker Series, Orlando, FL, October 1, 2019
    • Florida Surety Association 3rd Quarter Meeting, Tampa, FL, August 15, 2019
    • Moderator, Lake County 2019 Post Session Town Hall Meeting, Tavares, FL, August 13, 2019
    • Moderator, Oviedo Winter Springs Chamber Monthly Luncheon, Winter Springs, FL, July 11, 2019
    • Public Risk Management of Florida 2019 Educational Conference, Naples, FL, June 19-21, 2019
    • Pensacola Chamber of Commerce's Gopher Club Meeting, June 2, 2019
    • “2019 GrayRobinson Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Fort Lauderdale, May 22, 2019
    • “2019 GrayRobinson Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up,” Orlando, May 15, 2019
    • "Session 2019: A Mixed (Plastic!) Bag for Florida Environmental Policy," GrayRobinson Government Relations and Lobbying Insight, 2019
    • Moderator, "Legislative Preview Panel," Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce, January 14, 2019
    • North Florida Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, October 2, 2018
    • "State Economic and Customer Building Trends," 2018 Florida Natural Gas Association Operations and Marketing Conference and Tradeshow, September 19, 2018
  • Media
  • Affiliations
    • Alabama State Bar
      • Executive Council, Non-Resident Lawyers Section
    • City of Edgewood Charter Review Commission, Chair
    • The Florida Bar
      • Governmental and Public Policy Advocacy Committee
    • Florida Board of Professional Engineers, Licensed Engineer in Training (EIT)
    • Florida House on Capitol Hill
      • Young Ambassadors Council
    • Greater Orlando Builders Association, Political Action Committee
    • Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, 2018-2021
    • Associated Industries of Florida
      • Association Advisory Group
      • Environmental Sustainability and Agriculture Council
      • Workers’ Comp Coalition
    • Central Florida Dance Marathon, Founder
      • Co-Overall Chair, 2018
      • Chair, 2015-2017
    • Central Florida Partnership
      • Young Professionals Advisory Council, 2016-2017
    • Central Florida Political Leadership Institute Class of 2021
    • Children's Movement of Florida, Board of Advisors
    • Connect Florida
      • Leadership Institute, Class VI
      • East Central Regional Committee, 2016
    • Florida Chamber Political Institute
    • Florida Farm Bureau
    • Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports)
      • NFL Pro Bowl Local Organizing Committee, 2019
      • Monster Jam World Finals XX Local Organizing Committee, 2019
      • MLS All-Star Game Local Organizing Committee, 2019
    • Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce
    • James Madison Institute
      • Central Florida Board of Advisors
      • Leaders Fellowship, 2015-2016
    • Leadership Florida
      • Special Council on Equity, Equality and Justice
      • East Regional Council
      • Team London Task Force
      • Selection Committee, 2020-2021
      • Annual Meeting Committee, 2019, 2022
    • Leadership Orlando, Class 93
    • Leadership Seminole, Class 29
    • Leadership Tampa, 2024
    • Orange County Young Republicans
    • Pensacola Young Professionals
    • Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida
    • University of Alabama Farrah Law Alumni Society
    • University of Alabama Capstone Engineering Society
  • Credentials
    • J.D./M.S. Eng., University of Alabama School of Law, civil engineering, 2013, magna cum laude
      • Journal of the Legal Profession, Executive Editor
      • Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society
      • UA College of Engineering, Graduate Assistant
    • B.S., University of Florida, civil engineering, 2010
      • Honors Program Graduate
      • Florida Blue Key
      • Tau Kappa Epsilon, International Board of Directors and UF Chapter President
  • Admissions
    • Florida
    • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
    • Alabama
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama