C Stephen Bigler

Practice Areas

Career

“Definitely a key practitioner in the Delaware corporate bar” (Chambers USA), Steve Bigler has served as Delaware counsel on many of the transactions that have shaped Delaware corporate law. Throughout his more than 35 years practicing with Richards Layton, Steve has provided counsel on the complex Delaware corporate law matters—including fiduciary duty, governance, and control issues and disputes—that arise throughout a corporation’s existence, from formation and early-stage financing to initial public offering or sale of the company. Steve’s clients include private and public corporations of all sizes and stages and their directors, board committees, significant stockholders, and investors, as well as the prominent law firms that also represent them.

Clients consider Steve “a top-notch corporate lawyer,” noting that “he is excellent and truly a pleasure to work with” (Chambers USA). Steve has considerable experience analyzing and drafting preferred stock terms, merger and investment agreement terms, and other corporate documents governed by Delaware law. He had a lead role in drafting provisions implementing a number of innovative changes to the Delaware General Corporation Law, including Sections 204 and 205, permitting ratification of defective corporate acts (adopted in 2013); Section 122(17), permitting advance waivers of corporate opportunities (adopted in 2000); and Section 251(g), permitting holding company reorganizations without a stockholder vote (adopted in 1995)

Steve was one of the original group of venture capital lawyers who drafted the NVCA model venture financing documents, and he currently serves on the National Venture Capital Association GC Advisory Board and participates in updating those documents annually. While a member of the ABA Corporate Laws Committee, Steve was involved in drafting several additions to the MBCA, including provisions adding a statutory ratification procedure and provisions permitting the formation of public benefit corporations. He was also involved in drafting several new sections of the 7th edition of the Corporate Directors Guidebook.

Steve served as president of Richards Layton from 2008-2011. He was a member of the ABA Corporate Laws Committee from 2014-2020, and currently is a member of the Tri-bar Legal Opinion Committee. Steve is a frequent speaker on DGCL developments and practice issues.

Professional Memberships

Publications