Honoring UM’s Top Legal Eagle

When Dennis O. Lynch took the reins of the University of Miami School of Law in 1999, he was hailed as “an experienced academic leader” who would “bring his considerable talent and experience to bear as dean.” A Harvard law graduate who is a nationally recognized expert on Latin American law, Lynch didn’t disappoint, as almost a decade later the school has added endowed chairs and distinguished professorships, increased its endowment by almost 93 percent, and achieved a top-ten ranking nine out of the last ten years on Hispanic Business Magazine’s list of top schools of law for Hispanics.

In a gala paying tribute to his nine years of leadership and scholarship, almost 400 faculty members, alumni, friends, students, and colleagues gathered at Coral Gables’ historic Biltmore Hotel on May 8 to honor Lynch, who has stepped as dean. Above, several members of the UM Law Alumni Association present Lynch with a portrait of himself that they commissioned for the occasion. Lynch plans to rejoin the faculty after a yearlong sabbatical.