J. Zachary Haupt

Kara M. Swasey is a director at Bayard. She concentrates her practice in the area of family law, including divorce, custody, child support, adoption, guardianship and protection from abuse. She provides litigation support to Bayard’s bankruptcy, corporate and commercial law practices. Kara also represents landlords in commercial and residential landlord-tenant matters in Justice of the Peace courts throughout the state of Delaware. Kara is a member of the Executive Committee of the Mels...

Tom Hanson represents large and mid-sized companies in the resolution of complex business disputes. Tom pursues and defends claims involving breaches of fiduciary duty, corporate governance, breach of contract, purchase and sale agreements, limited liability company agreements, trade secret protection and restrictive covenants. Tom frequently appears before the Delaware Court of Chancery, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, and the Complex Commercial Litigation Division of t...

Nathan E. Barnett focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, corporate finance and securities, and Delaware corporate and alternative entity laws. He also advises boards of directors, special committees and equity holders on fiduciary duties and other corporate governance matters related to Delaware corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies and statutory trusts, including in connection with conflict transactions. He has experience ...

Steven R. Director (Steve) is senior counsel at Bayard. Steve has over 40 years of experience in private practice in the areas of business transactions, tax, trust planning and administration (both personal and corporate), estate planning and administration, and business succession planning. Through a “hands-on” approach, Steve develops effective strategies and follow-through steps to assist his entity and individual clients form, acquire, and sell businesses, resolve significant ...

Stephen B. Brauerman (Steve) is a director at Bayard and member of the firm’s litigation group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate, commercial and intellectual property litigation in Delaware’s state and federal Courts. He has litigated a wide array of cases involving fiduciary duty claims, corporate and alternative entity control disputes, advancement/ indemnification, breach of contract, antitrust, securities, patent infringement, copyright infringement, and ...

David Carickhoff is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. David, who practices law in Wilmington, Delaware, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Sandler is a member of the firm's Management Committee and Long-term Planning Committee and co-chair of the firm’s Creditors’ Committee Practice Group. He has substantial experience representing debtors, committees, acquirers, fiduciaries (including receivers and trustees), and other significant parties in interest in complex reorganizations and financially distressed situations, both in and out of court. Mr. Sandler’s recent committee representations include Ditech Hold...

Jonathan I. Lessner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Jonathan I., who practices law in Wilmington, Delaware, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan I. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Laura Davis Jones is a name partner, a member of the firm's managing committee, and the managing partner of the firm's Delaware office. She gained national recognition as debtor's counsel in the Continental Airlines bankruptcy case, and has represented numerous debtors, creditors' committees, bank groups, acquirers, and other significant constituencies in chapter 11 cases and workout proceedings. She lectures at national bankruptcy and litigation seminars, and has authored numerous articles. ...

Faiz Ahmad is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Faiz, who practices law in Wilmington, Delaware, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Faiz is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.