As a former New York City resident, Cornell University graduate, and practitioner of family law for over a decade, it comes as no surprise that fast paced work environments and high-level, extremely complex family law matters are two things that Scarlett Van Syoc is uniquely capable of managing.
After receiving her B.A. in English from Cornell University in 2004 and working as a paralegal at one of the largest corporate law firms in the country, Scarlett made the decision to pursue a law degree from Brooklyn Law School. There, she focused her course work on family law and divorce mediation, and graduated with her J.D. in 2010. After law school, Scarlett went on to work at a small family law firm in Manhattan for nearly 9 years, before accepting a job position with one of New York City’s most prominent law firms, where she gained experience representing celebrity clientele, and practicing high conflict and high net worth litigation. Upon relocating to Portland, Scarlett found that the skills she honed in Manhattan applied perfectly to litigation in Oregon and that her dedication, skills and aggressiveness are rarely matched in opposing counsel.
When asked what drew her to family law, Scarlett explains that this career path afforded her the opportunity to work with and care about individuals, rather than just facts or numbers. According to Scarlett, “There is a unique reward in being able to make clients feel that they have someone in their corner who will fight for them until the end. That makes a huge difference when going through a divorce or custody battle and having one’s life upended, especially for those who don’t have a significant support system—sometimes all a person has is their lawyer.”
An East Coast native who grew up in Haddonfield, New Jersey, and lived in New York for 16 years, Scarlett and her wife decided it was time for a change of scenery in late 2019. Eager to flee the stressful lifestyle of the concrete jungle, they made the decision to move to the West Coast and now reside in Portland with their beloved rescue cats and dog.
When not working, Scarlett enjoys slow mornings, hiking, exploring new restaurants, traveling, and reading. An avid swimmer who never misses out on an opportunity to feel enlivened by a brisk dip, Scarlett is finding herself at home amongst Oregon’s ocean, lakes, and waterfalls. Despite the many warnings she received of the infamous rainy weather that awaited her, Scarlett has found her new home and the endless greenery to be nothing short of revitalizing, and is looking forward to many more years spent exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Bar Admissions
- Oregon
- New York Supreme Court (State Court)
Education
- Cornell University, B.A.
- Brooklyn Law School, J.D.