Morris Nichols Partner A. Gilchrist Sparks, III Elected to American Academy of Appellate Lawyers

 
Wilmington, DE – August 8, 2008 – Morris Nichols is pleased to announce that A. Gilchrist Sparks, III was elected to membership in the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers.  Gil’s practice is concentrated in litigation and counseling arising from mergers and acquisitions and disputes relating to the governance of Delaware corporations.

The American Academy of Appellate Lawyers was founded in 1990 to recognize outstanding appellate lawyers and promote the improvement of appellate advocacy and the administration of the appellate courts.  Academy membership is open only to a person who possesses a reputation of recognized distinction as an appellate lawyer.  Academy membership is limited to 500 members in the United States.

Described as the "dean of the [Chancery] bar" by Chambers USA:  America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Gil’s appellate efforts include the successful appeal in the Delaware Supreme Court's landmark decision in Unocal v. Mesa Petroleum establishing the standard of review for director defensive actions in a takeover, and In re The Walt Disney Company Derivative Litigation where, along with partner S. Mark Hurd, he successfully represented defendants Roy E. Disney and Stanley P. Gold, former directors of The Walt Disney Company in an appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court, from a judgment in favor of the defendants.  The case was highly publicized and followed not only for its Hollywood connections, but also because it was premised upon the evolving concept of “good faith” under Delaware’s corporation law.