Richard Rhyne headshot

Richard D. Rhyne

  • First Call, Board of Directors, 2010-present; Board Chair, 2019-2021; Volunteer of the Year (2013)
  • MS Society, Board of Directors (2000-2006), Vice Chair (2006)
  • City and state environmental commissions
  • Missouri
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, J.D., with distinction, 1974
  • University of Missouri-Columbia, B.S., Business Administration, 1969
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2011-2023; Lawyer of the Year – Kansas City, MO Litigation – Construction, 2013
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Rating, 2023
  • Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers, 2006-2007; 2010-2022
  • Construction Lawyers Society of America, Charter Fellow, 2017
  • U.S. Army, 1st Lt., 1969-71, awarded Combat Infantry Badge and two Bronze Stars during service in Vietnam War
  • Partner/Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution group chair, Lathrop GPM LLP, 2004-2023
  • Member, Craft Fridkin & Rhyne L.L.C., 1987-2003
  • Partner/Associate, Linde Thompson Fairchild Langworthy Kohn & Van Dyke, 1974-1987

Dick Rhyne has more than 40 years of experience representing clients in complex commercial law and business litigation matters in state and federal courts around the country and in arbitrations. He has built upon that experience and now focuses a large portion of his practice on alternative dispute resolution, where he has participated in over 150 arbitrations as either counsel or arbitrator and over 150 mediations as mediator.

A born problem solver, Dick is passionate about helping parties resolve disputes early and cost-effectively. His ADR experience includes construction disputes, business disputes, environmental issues and release of medical records disputes. Because of Dick’s background in construction law, he understands the intricacies of the relationships between owners, general contractors, and subcontractors, so he is particularly adept at getting construction and design related disputes resolved amicably.

professional affiliations

  • American Arbitration Association, Certified Arbitrator, Mediator
  • American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, Forum Committee on the Construction Industry, Association for Conflict Resolution
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA), Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Chair (2003); Committee Leadership Council (2003); Construction Law Committee, Chair (2001)
  • The Missouri Bar, Member of ADR Committee, Construction Law Committee
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Certified Neutral
  • First Call, Board of Directors, 2010-present; Board Chair, 2019-2021; Volunteer of the Year (2013)
  • MS Society, Board of Directors (2000-2006), Vice Chair (2006)
  • City and state environmental commissions
  • Missouri
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, J.D., with distinction, 1974
  • University of Missouri-Columbia, B.S., Business Administration, 1969
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 2011-2023; Lawyer of the Year – Kansas City, MO Litigation – Construction, 2013
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Rating, 2023
  • Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers, 2006-2007; 2010-2022
  • Construction Lawyers Society of America, Charter Fellow, 2017
  • U.S. Army, 1st Lt., 1969-71, awarded Combat Infantry Badge and two Bronze Stars during service in Vietnam War
  • Partner/Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution group chair, Lathrop GPM LLP, 2004-2023
  • Member, Craft Fridkin & Rhyne L.L.C., 1987-2003
  • Partner/Associate, Linde Thompson Fairchild Langworthy Kohn & Van Dyke, 1974-1987

Dick Rhyne has more than 40 years of experience representing clients in complex commercial law and business litigation matters in state and federal courts around the country and in arbitrations. He has built upon that experience and now focuses a large portion of his practice on alternative dispute resolution, where he has participated in over 150 arbitrations as either counsel or arbitrator and over 150 mediations as mediator.

A born problem solver, Dick is passionate about helping parties resolve disputes early and cost-effectively. His ADR experience includes construction disputes, business disputes, environmental issues and release of medical records disputes. Because of Dick’s background in construction law, he understands the intricacies of the relationships between owners, general contractors, and subcontractors, so he is particularly adept at getting construction and design related disputes resolved amicably.

professional affiliations

  • American Arbitration Association, Certified Arbitrator, Mediator
  • American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, Forum Committee on the Construction Industry, Association for Conflict Resolution
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA), Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Chair (2003); Committee Leadership Council (2003); Construction Law Committee, Chair (2001)
  • The Missouri Bar, Member of ADR Committee, Construction Law Committee
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Certified Neutral

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Dick is listed on the American Arbitration Association (AAA) Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators, is on the roster of neutrals for the Missouri Supreme Court Rule 17 and is a Certified Neutral with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Dick’s ADR training includes:

  • AAA/ICDR Panel Conference, March 23-25, 2023
  • Pepperdine University School of Law, Preventing Bad Settlement Decisions and Impasse, June 2016
  • Pepperdine University School of Law, Tools of Mindful Awareness Mediation & Assessment, June 2015
  • Pepperdine Law School, Mediating Complex Construction Disputes, June 2014
  • Pepperdine Law School, Advanced Mediation, June 2013
  • The Dispute Resolution Board Foundation, Dispute Review Board Administration and Practice Workshop, Boston, May 10, 2003
  • AAA Construction Arbitrator II Training, Denver, December 2002
  • AAA Arbitrator Update, 2001
  • University of Missouri at Columbia, Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution, Mediation of Civil Cases, August 2000
  • AAA Commercial Arbitrator Training, Kansas City, June 2000
  • AAA Construction Industry Mediator Workshop, May 1997

Dick has been a long-time contributor through presentations in ADR topics:

  • Panelist. “ACE 21 – Impartiality: Do You Know Where Your Biases Are?” American Arbitration Association, October 2021
  • Panelist, Best Practices for Arbitrating Cases, Sikich Forensics Academy CLE, February 2019
  • Use of the Case Management Order, Guided Choice and other innovative processes to ensure a successful Mediation, KCMBA Construction Law Committee, July 17, 2014
  • Alternate Dispute Resolution, Legal Symposium for the Construction Industry, September 2007
  • Home Construction Disputes, Association of MO Mediators, August 13, 2005
  • Recent ADR Developments, The Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 2002
  • Panelist, Attorney’s ADR Toolbox, Missouri Bar Annual Meeting, 2001
  • The Big Debate, Joint Sessions and Private Caucuses – Association of Missouri Mediators, 2000
  • Dispute Resolution: Practical Solutions, The Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 2000

Dick has been a long-time contributor through publications in ADR topics:

  • Resolving Public Sector Disputes: A Road of Politics and Potholes, a chapter published in the AAA Handbook on Construction Arbitration and ADR-Third Edition, Spring 2014
  • Understanding ADR, chapter in Preparing for Alternative Dispute Resolution Cases, December 2007
  • Resolving Public Sector Disputes: A Road of Politics and Potholes, Dispute Resolution Journal, February-April, 2003
  • Construction Law Arbitration, The Missouri Bar ADR Committee Newsletter, Fall 2001
  • Construction Law Mediation, The Missouri Bar ADR Committee Newsletter, Fall 2001

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