James Meissler

Mr. Seidl has represented debtors, creditors' committees, creditors, and asset purchasers in chapter 11 reorganizations and liquidations and in related adversary proceedings. He is a graduate of James Madison University and received a Ph.D. from the University of Delaware. While still writing his Ph.D. dissertation, he enrolled in law school, and later graduated from Georgetown University Law Center, where he served as managing editor of the Journal of Law and Policy in International Business...

Paul J. Lockwood engages in securities litigation in Delaware and throughout the country. He defends corporations, their directors or their advisers in derivative and class action lawsuits relating to accounting issues, mortgage-backed securities, proxy contests, public offerings, and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Lockwood also has litigated disputes concerning bond indentures, partnerships, joint ventures, trusts and LLCs. A few of the cases that Mr. Lockwood has participated in have include...

Luke W. Mette is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Luke W., who practices law in Lewes, Delaware, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Luke W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David R. Hurst focuses his practice on complex business reorganizations, debt restructurings and insolvency matters. He represents public and private companies in out-of-court restructurings, prepackaged bankruptcies and traditional Chapter 11 cases. His debtor-side representations have spanned a wide variety of industries, including biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, chemicals, communications, healthcare, hedge funds, manufacturing and retail. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/...

Benjamin Strauss is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Benjamin, 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 Benjamin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ann L. Martino Frazier prepares complex estate plans for high net worth individuals. With her extensive background in corporate law and international tax, as well as all aspects of Delaware and Pennsylvania trusts and estate law, she offers a comprehensive approach to estate planning that is unique in her field. Ann is also well recognized for the compassion she brings to her work. Having suffered the sudden loss of her spouse while still a young mother, she understands the financial and emot...

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 ...

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...

Chad Stover represents clients in Delaware’s federal and state courts, and in courts across the country. He is a frequent first-chair trial attorney with a knack for making complex technical and factual problems understandable to juries, judges, and clients. Chad has successfully resolved patent and trademark claims, as well as breach of contract, fraud and other general commercial litigation claims, often involving licensing disputes. Known for building focused and persuasive arguments...

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...