About
John T. Van Geffen represents clients in a wide spectrum of legal areas including commercial and business transactions, litigation and regulatory compliance. His clients include startups, land developers, insurance carriers, airlines and charter companies, management companies, claims petitioners and high net-worth individuals.
John has extensive experience helping entrepreneurs start new businesses, everything from assisting in entity formations to designing ownership structures, capital investments, setting up operating accounts and putting in place equity incentive plans to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of high responsibility.
John is a highly active member of the aviation community. He is on the Board of Directors for the Oakland Aviation Museum. He is the Western-Pacific Regional Vice President of the International Air & Transportation Safety Bar Association (previously the National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association). Additionally, he is a panel attorney with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s legal services plan and an active member of both the International Society of Air Safety Investigators and the Northern California Business Aviation Association.
John addresses all issues relating to aviation law, including liabilities and obligations arising out of the manufacture, ownership, maintenance and use of aircraft; accident litigation; coverage afforded by insurance policies; and legal issues arising from the growing commercialization of space.
Specialties: Litigation, Commercial Transactions, Purchasing, Leasing, Trusts, Business Entity Formation, Aviation Law, Insurance Coverage, Trademark, Liens, Contract Negotiation, Operating Agreements, Regulatory Compliance, Equity Incentive Plans, Stock Options.
Work history
International Air and Transportation Safety Bar Association, Western-Pacific Regional Vice President
Founded in 1984, the IATS Bar Association is comprised of attorneys that practice before the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Department of Transportation (DOT). While the main focus of the group is the representation of pilots and aviation businesses in regulatory, certification, and enforcement actions, many members practice in other areas of the law as well, such as air crash litigation, aviation insurance defense, taxation, and business law.
Oakland Aviation Museum, Board of Trustees
The Oakland Aviation Museum was founded in 1981 as a non-profit organization under IRS Code 501 C (3) under the name of Western Aerospace Museum. The museum's first home was a small room at Hangar 5 at Oakland International Airport's historic North Field. In 1988, the Museum was granted use of the historic Boeing School of Aeronautics hangar built in 1939. The hangar serves as the primary facility of the Museum, providing indoor and outdoor exhibition space, an education room, a History Flicks room, a research library and aircraft restoration work areas. In 2007, Western Aerospace Museum was renamed Oakland Aviation Museum with the historical mission refocused on the important legacy of flight at North Field and the surrounding area.
Michael L. Dworkin and Associates, 8th year Associate Attorney
Michael L. Dworkin and Associates is a legal services provider specializing in
civil litigation, commercial transactions and aviation law. Based in San Francisco, we provide a wide range of legal services to airlines, insurance carriers, commercial operators, management companies, developers, fixed-base operators, manufactures, MRO facilities, and other business and high net-worth individuals who own and operate aircraft.
Because aviation frequently involves national and international legal issues, the firm routinely represent clients across the United States and throughout the world, including Africa, Asia, E.U., and the Middle East.
Our firm has been rated among the Top 100 Aviation Law Firms by the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s Aviation Counsel, and been given the highest “A-V” ratings by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest rating given by the publication.
As a small firm, we are very flexible. We pride ourselves in the high quality of our work, in making ourselves available to and being responsive to our clients and in the results that we achieve on their behalf.
Michael L. Dworkin and Associates, Legal Experience
Civil Litigation, Transactional Business and Regulatory Compliance
Work product examples:
- In-depth knowledge of insurance coverage, representing both plaintiffs and insurance defense. In addition to standard litigation experience (discovery, law and motion), defense of FAA, DOT and TSA Enforcement Actions involving investigation response, informal hearings, and appeals before the NTSB.
- Asset management experience includes representation in the acquisition and disposition (sales/leasing/financing) of various business assets with a combined value exceeding 100 million ($US). Asset protection includes lien enforcement, prosecution and defense of writs of possession and slander of title actions. Trust Formations to register Foreign-Owned aircraft in U.S.
- Company risk management experience includes the design and implementation of Emergency Response Plans for scheduled service providers.
- Business formation experience includes drafting and negotiating management agreements, operating agreements, fractional ownership, though-the-fence agreements, and stock option plans. International consulting and market analysis experience--e.g. African MRO facility creation; UAV/Drone importers/manufacturers; Bay Area "Startups"; and experimental aircraft certification.
Education and qualifications
Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, California
J.D. Class of 2006
Concentration: International Law and Global Policy
Law Journal: Santa Clara Computer & High Tech Law Journal, Technical Editor
Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity: One year as President and two years as founding Vice President.
Publications
Published Works
• "How to Draft Non-Disclosure Agreements" UpCounsel Blog, published June 17, 2013, http://blog.upcounsel.com/how-to-draft-non-disclosure-agreements/
• "Regulatory Compliance: The Do's and Dont's of Responding to FAA Investigations and Enforcement Actions", http://NorCalBAA.org/Articles.html
• "U.S. Registration of Aircraft in the Name of Owner Trustees", NTSBBA Newsletter, Summer 2011
• "New Pilot Bill of Rights", NTSBBA Newsletter, Summer 2011
• "Coming to America: A guide for Non-US Citizens who wish to Register a US Aircraft", FlyCorporate Magazine, Issue 08, 2010
• "What You Need to Know when Buying a Pre-owned Aircraft", FlyCorporate Magazine, Issue 01, 2010
• "Views from the Bar… Industry Impacts, The Colgan Air Crash", NTSBBA Newsletter, Spring, 2010
• "Disclosing Depression", NTSBBA Newsletter, July, 2010
Speaking Engagements
John was the keynote speaker at the March 2012 NCBAA Hayward Airport event. He gave a presentation to 200 industry professionals on the "Dos and Don'ts of Responding to FAA Enforcement Actions" at the Hayward Airport.
John has given multiple presentations to Northern California AOPA members on FAA enforcement.
