About Mr. Richard Scott Van
Mr. Richard Scott Van Dyke took a route that blended machines and statutes. He began his professional life in aeronautics and later turned to law. The switch shaped a practice informed by technical detail and courtroom procedure.
He earned a B.S. in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1985. A decade later he completed his legal training, receiving a J.D. from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 1996. Those credentials sit side by side on a résumé that spans aircraft systems, contracting and litigation.
His first notable role after law school returned him briefly to industry. In 1996 he worked as a contract administrator for Gulfstream Aerospace. The position exposed him to the commercial and regulatory sides of aviation. It also gave him practical insight into the kinds of disputes that often end up in court.
He moved into private practice soon after. In 1998 he became a partner at Lyne & Van Dyke, LLP. Two years later he founded Van Dyke & Associates, APLC and assumed the title of managing shareholder. That progression from partner to firm founder is reflected in a practice that balances management responsibilities and client work.
Van Dyke is admitted to practice in California and has standing before the Ninth Circuit. Those admissions allow him to handle matters in state courts as well as federal appellate proceedings when cases move beyond trial. He has kept a practice that draws on both his technical background and his courtroom experience.
Colleagues describe him as methodical. He approaches casework in a stepwise way. He reviews contracts line by line. He breaks complex technical issues into elements that a judge or jury can follow. The combination of an aeronautical degree and years in practice gives him a particular familiarity with disputes that touch on aircraft, contracts and regulatory compliance.
He leads Van Dyke & Associates, APLC, and oversees the firm’s daily operations while continuing to represent clients. He handles litigation and transactional matters that intersect with aviation and general civil practice. He currently practices at Van Dyke & Associates, APLC, where his work centers on civil litigation and matters that intersect with aviation law.
