Michael D. "Mike" Allen

Peter B. Ladig is a director at Bayard and co-chair of the litigation group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate governance and commercial litigation, business divorce, stockholder litigation, fiduciary duties, partnership and limited liability company disputes, and class action and derivative litigation.Pete represents stockholders and directors in corporate litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery in a wide range of matters, including advancement of legal fees and exp...

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...

Mr. Robinson’s practice focuses on corporate reorganizations and liquidations, creditors’ rights issues, and litigation arising in chapter 11 and chapter 7 bankruptcy cases. Mr. Robinson represents debtors, creditors’ committees, secured and unsecured creditors, plan administrators, trustees, purchasers of assets out of bankruptcy, and parties in adversary proceedings. He was recognized every year from 2008 to 2010 as a New Jersey Rising Star; every year from 2012 to 2015 as...

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 ...

Nathan Emeritz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law. Nathan, who practices law in Wilmington, Delaware, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nathan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. O'Neill has extensive experience in all aspects of bankruptcy work, including representation of debtors, unsecured creditors, and creditors' committees in chapter 11 cases. Mr. O'Neill served on the panel of chapter 7 trustees for the districts of Delaware, New Jersey, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Mr. O'Neill is a former member of the board of directors of the Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that provides pro bono legal s...

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...

Ericka F. Johnson is the chair of the restructuring and reorganization practice at Bayard. She advises companies and creditors to maximize the value of assets/recoveries whether it is through an in-court or out-of-court financial restructuring or dissolution. Ericka also helps buyers navigate the purchase of distressed assets and directors and officers in understanding fiduciary duties in an insolvency setting. She is a top advocate with a diverse practice spanning a wide range of industries....

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.

Stephen W. Spence is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Stephen W., who practices law in Lewes, Delaware, has been recognized since 1997. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.