David Del Vecchio runs an architectural, interior design, and expert witness practice, servicing two distinct yet related clients in the building design and construction industry. In his expert witness practice, Dave works mainly with architects, the insurance companies who insure them, and the attorneys who defend them, to provide the support they need to successfully settle or litigate claims made against the architect. Besides serving fellow architects, past expert witness clients have included Interior Designers, Building Owners / Landlords, Homeowners, Contractors, and Municipalities. Dave believes in the importance of maintaining a design practice while providing expert witness services.“Being a great designer makes you a better expert witness. Being a great expert witness make you and even better designer.”2020 is bringing some big changes to his practice. After three decades of practice, Dave’s new focus is on training and mentoring a whole new generation of architects to become better expert witnesses. Dave says, “It’s time to share what I was taught by my mentor, my Dad.” David believes that the Architects Expert Academy (sm) will be unique among firms that provide training in forensics in that we are architects focused on mentoring architects to be successful expert witnesses; we’re not led by accountants, and we’re not targeting medical experts. Dave is a licensed architect in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Florida; a Certified Interior Designer in New Jersey; a licensed RCS Building Inspector; a LEED© Accredited Professional; and, an NCARB certificate holder. David is a Past President of AIA Newark and Suburban Architects, a Past President of AIA New Jersey, served on the AIA Board of Directors as the Regional Director representing New Jersey, and served as the Chair of AIA New Jersey’s Legislative and Government Affairs Committee for over a dozen years. He currently Chairs the highly successful New Jersey Architects Political Action Committee and a member of the AIA State and Local Government Network.