Best Lawyers in Wilmington, Delaware

Michele brings extensive experience to her practice which has resulted in recognitions and honors including being named by her peers in Delaware Today Magazine as a Top Lawyer in the area of Labor & Employment Law.While with Wier & Allen, P.A., Michele contributed to the firm being recognized by U.S. News and World Report with a Best Law Firm designation in the area of Employment and Labor Law. Michele was also recently honored by being selected by Speaker Pete Schwartzkopft to be a m...

Kristen Bennett is passionate about the law and enjoys helping her clients navigate potentially confusing areas of estate planning, as well as estate and trust administration, with care, understanding and compassion. She keeps abreast of the ever-changing laws that affect her clients so that she can give them the most up-to-date information possible. Practicing in the firm’s Greater Wilmington, Delaware office, Kristen also provides counsel on taxation and tax planning for individuals a...

Curtis P. Bounds is a director at Bayard and is the senior attorney in its Family Law Group. He has practiced law at Bayard since he graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1990. Curtis is experienced in all areas of domestic relations law –adoption, alimony, child support, custody, dependency/neglect, divorce, equitable distribution of property, petitions for protection from abuse, prenuptial agreements, separation agreements, termination of parental rights and visit...

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 ...

John T. Carroll, III has substantial experience representing a broad spectrum of clients, including secured lenders, trustees, creditors’ committees, and debtors-in-possession In bankruptcy proceedings and commercial loan workouts. John has a substantial practice in representing trustees in bankruptcy and currently represents trustees in the notable bankruptcy cases of American Business Financial Services, Inc., Fenwick Automotive Products Limited, Hospital Partners of America, Inc., HR...

Anthony W. Clark heads Skadden’s corporate restructuring and bankruptcy litigation practice in Wilmington, Del., and represents debtors, creditors and acquirers. He also handles corporate, securities and general litigation matters. Mr. Clark’s Chapter 11 debtor representations include: Refco Inc.; Accuride Corporation; Central European Distribution Corporation (named as the “Chapter 11 Reorganization of the Year (Over $1 Billion)” for 2013 by The M&A Advisor); Exid...

Kevin’s clients have included trade creditors, lien claimants, asset purchasers, landlords, utilities, lenders, trustees, preference and fraudulent transfer defendants, and other interested parties in bankruptcy reorganization and liquidation proceedings. He has participated in many large and complex commercial restructurings across a broad array of industries, including retail, healthcare, manufacturing and energy, both in Delaware and across the country. In 2018, Kevin was recognized ...

Mr. Dalton has been in private practice since 1987. In 2000, he founded Dalton & Associates, P.A. specializing in the areas of Personal Injury, Plaintiff Medical Malpractice, Product Liability, Clergy Sex Abuse, Mass Tort and General Litigation. In 2004, Mr. Dalton became a fellow the American College of Trail Lawyers. Since 2009, he has served as ACTL’s Regent for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. He has been named to Best Lawyers in Delaware for 20 straight years and was name...

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 ...

Mark is a member of the firm, practicing in the Bankruptcy, Insolvency, & Restructuring Practice Group. He is the managing partner of the Wilmington office and co-chair of his practice group. Mark has a broad commercial practice, focusing in the areas of Chapter 11 reorganization and general insolvency law. He has represented all constituencies in corporate restructurings both in and out of Chapter 11, including debtors, unsecured creditors' committees, plan trustees, secured creditors, t...

Dennis D. Ferri, Of Counsel to the Wilmington, Delaware office of Reger Rizzo & Darnall, has been an active trial lawyer for 43 years. Over those years, he has tried to conclusion nearly 100 cases in Delaware’s State and Federal Courts, obtaining excellent results for his clients. Dennis has earned the respect of lawyers and Judges for his trial skills and his professionalism. His areas of practice have included general liability, personal injury (plaintiff and defense), product lia...

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...

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...

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...

A lifelong Delaware resident with more than 25 years of experience practicing family law, Carl W. Heckert is a respected and long-time practitioner of divorce litigation and mediation. His family law practice includes divorce, property division, custody, child support, alimony, protection from abuse, as well as grandparent and stepparent’s rights. He is also a Certified Family Law Mediator in Delaware following the state’s inaugural certification program by the Family Court of the...

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/...

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....

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. ...

Jason C. Jowers is a director at Bayard and co-chair of the firm's litigation group. He concentrates his practice on corporate, alternative entity, and commercial litigation. He primarily represents members and managers of LLCs, officers and directors of corporations, and companies in high-stakes litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery, Delaware Superior Court, Delaware Supreme Court, and United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Additionally, Jason handles arbitrations ...

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...

Allison Land has a diverse corporate practice, concentrating in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, securities, and Delaware corporate and alternative entity law. In mergers and acquisitions, Ms. Land has represented clients in both public and private transactions, including mergers, leveraged buyouts, sales and acquisitions of subsidiaries and divisions, recapitalizations, spin-offs and asset sales in connection with bankruptcy proceedings. She has advised Wilmington Trust...

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...

Brett M. McCartney is chairman of the Board of Directors of Bayard and a director in the firm's litigation group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate governance and complex commercial litigation, stockholder litigation, fiduciary duties, alternative entity disputes, class action, and derivative litigation. Brett is also a member of Bayard’s Executive Committee. Brett represents stockholders, directors and officers in litigation in the Court of Chancery in a variety of...

For more than two decades, Edward B. Micheletti has successfully represented clients in significant business litigation matters at both the trial court and appellate levels in Delaware. A former head of the litigation practice in Skadden’s Wilmington office, he is a senior litigator with a vast breadth of experience in M&A litigation. Mr. Micheletti repeatedly has been selected for inclusion in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business , The Best Lawyers in America ...

Gigi’s trial experience includes representing a leading U.S. supplier of coated optical fibers in a successful trial before the International Trade Commission, the leading accrediting organization for wholesale drug distributors in a successful injunctive proceeding in federal court in New Jersey, a global heart valve maker in winning a $394 million dollar patent jury trial in federal court in Delaware, and an Internet search patentee in a multi-million dollar jury trial in federal cour...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Shawn Tucker is an accomplished and well-respected real-estate attorney who has successfully quarterbacked some of Delaware’s largest development projects – from negotiating complex purchase agreements to obtaining final land use approvals in short order. In fact, Shawn’s unique background makes him a natural choice for developers and business leaders looking to expand in Delaware. Prior to entering private practice, Shawn served as New Castle County’s First Assistant ...

Chris Viceconte defends complex commercial, business tort, and product liability claims. Resident in the firm’s Wilmington, Delaware office, Mr. Viceconte also regularly serves as Delaware counsel for the firm’s clients, as well as for out-of-state law firms, in a wide range of matters before Delaware’s state and federal courts.

Steven D. Adler (Steve) is an associate at Bayard. Steve concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate bankruptcy and restructuring. Steve has represented corporate debtors, official committees, creditors, lenders, asset purchasers, and other significant parties in interest in various bankruptcy court proceedings and out-of-court restructurings. Steve also has experience handling commercial and corporate litigation matters. Prior to joining Bayard, Steve pursued his practice for several...

Sarah T. Andrade is an associate in Bayard’s Litigation Department. Sarah focuses primarily on litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery and the Delaware Supreme Court involving corporate governance, corporate control, fiduciary duties, contractual disputes, and other commercial disputes. Sarah graduated cum laude in 2015 from Temple University Law School. While in law school, Sarah interned for the Honorable Sherry R. Fallon, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. She was...

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 ...

William Burton learned the value of connecting and developing relationships early on, from observing that about his father’s hands-on management style with clients. Both naturally competitive and approachable, William brings his honesty, integrity and a strong work ethic to his business litigation clients – in advising on virtually all aspects of Delaware General Corporation Law, and the governance of Delaware business entities. William regularly litigates issues related to breach...

Harrison S. Carpenter focuses his practice on litigating corporate and commercial disputes in the Delaware Court of Chancery. He represents directors, officers and corporations in appraisal actions, contests for control, books and records proceedings, and derivative suits. Harrison’s practice also includes advising corporations and their boards of directors in connection with mergers and acquisitions, asset sales, corporate elections and equity issuances. Read full biography: https://ww...