Chancery
USA Guide 2024 : Delaware
Band 2
Contact number
+1 302 252 4465About
Provided by Ballard Spahr LLP
Ballard Spahr's Delaware Chancery Court group has a national reputation for advising businesses and litigating business entity disputes in the Delaware Chancery Court and other fora. We advise companies and their officers and directors on every type of securities and corporate governance claim—from derivative actions, shareholder class actions, and special committee representations to the more arcane issues falling under Delaware’s corporate and business entity statues. We represent clients during challenges to mergers, acquisitions, and financing transactions as well as takeover battles, proxy contests, and changes of control.
Our team has the experience to understand the nuances of Delaware law and to anticipate how Chancery Court judges will react to claims, defences, fact patterns and tactical decisions. That insight is integral for Delaware entities and translatable to non-Delaware matters. Our attorneys have played a leading role in state court cases involving cutting-edge corporate governance issues.
Our group is particularly known for litigating complex disputes involving business entity valuation. The team regularly represents the fund that pioneered the investment strategy known as “appraisal arbitrage” - buying into targets of announced mergers in order to pursue the statutory right receive “fair value” as determined by the Court in lieu of the merger consideration.
Chambers Review
Ballard Spahr has an experienced group with significant depth in M&A and corporate governance issues. Its clients come from a range of industries including pharmaceuticals, banking and energy. The firm is able to represent both defendants and plaintiffs in derivative suits and class actions.
Work Highlights
- Ballard Spahr served as co-counsel representing half the board of directors of Aerojet Rocktdyne, who were aligned with the Chief Executive Officer, in a proxy fight against a faction consisting of the other half of the board.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Our attorneys were available at hours and on weekends."
"They are very experienced in Delaware and provide very quick responses."
"Our attorneys were available at hours and on weekends."
"They are very experienced in Delaware and provide very quick responses."
Notable Practitioners
David Margules represents clients involved a range of contentious issues, including contract disputes, appraisal litigation and indemnification claims.
"David is a great litigator who knows the Delaware Bench very well."
Elizabeth Sloan has extensive experience in shareholder disputes and fiduciary duty breaches.
"Elizabeth has been nothing short of stellar - she's knowledgeable, insightful, responsive and understands business issues. She has been superior in both service and responsiveness."