James H. Van Dyke

James Van Dyke is Managing Partner of Downing Van Dyke, New England’s Premier Landlord Tenant Law Firm. James has spent the bulk of his legal career focusing on the representation of landlords and property management companies.

James received a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Northeastern University in 2005 and received his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School in 2009. Prior to joining Downing Van Dyke, Attorney Van Dyke worked at firms that specialized in complex civil litigation, including class action litigation.

He is co-author of Discrimination Issues In Housing, contained in Residential & Commercial Landlord Tenant Practice in Massachusetts, published by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.

James was recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022. This honor is reserved for fewer than 2.5 percent of all lawyers practicing in the state. In 2020, Attorney Van Dyke was named the exclusive recommended attorney in Boston, Massachusetts by Premier Real Estate Lawyers.

He frequently conducts training for clients and for industry organizations such as the New England Affordable Housing Management Association.

Over the years, representing landlords, we have come to realize that this area is one of those deceptively simple ones, with a small number of applicable statutes, rules, and cases.

Many landlords do not realize how much is not contained in those statutes or rules, the day-to-day practices and policies that have been formed by the courts and the lawyers over the years. Without knowing why, these landlords end up in a legal morass, trapped in a conflict between the rules and the practices of the courts, with the end result being frustration as well as a loss of money and time.

We encourage landlords to talk to us both before and after they rent out property. We believe in a full service approach to our clients, working with you to prevent litigation by counseling you on best practices as well as helping you to build strong cases in the event litigation is needed in order to enforce your rights.