Patrick J. Collins

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...

Laura Simon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Laura, who practices law in Wilmington, Delaware, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Laura is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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

Benjamin A. Schwartz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Benjamin A., who practices law in Dover, Delaware, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

William E. Chipman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. William E., 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 William E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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 ...

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

Heather A. Long is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. Heather A., who practices law in Odessa, Delaware, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Heather A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Neil B. Glassman is a member of the firm’s bankruptcy group. Neil focuses his practice on commercial transactions, bankruptcy and insolvency law, and insurance and entity law. He joined Bayard in 1986. Neil regularly represents debtors, official committees of unsecured creditors or equity holders, secured lenders, banks and insurance companies, financial institutions and publicly and privately held businesses in large bankruptcy cases and other insolvency proceedings including insurance...

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 ...