On December 20, 2017, the President nominated Maryellen Noreika and Colm F. Connolly to serve as judges on the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. When confirmed, they will fill the vacancies created by Judge Robinson’s retirement and Judge Sleet taking senior status... Continue Reading

Litigation in Delaware in 2017 has somewhat turned on its head the long-held expectation that “every public deal draws a lawsuit” but “private company stockholders rarely sue.” Early indications that public company deal litigation would decrease in Delaware courts have proven to be accurate through 2017. Yet the Delaware Court of Chancery has been busier than ever — so much that Chief... Continue Reading

Delaware enacted a major overhaul of its unclaimed property statute on February 2, 2017 as Senate Bill 13, which was later amended by Senate Substitute No. 1 for Senate Bill 79 on June 29, 2017 (the “New Act”). The New Act affects companies currently under audit, companies in the Delaware voluntary disclosure program (a “VDA”) and any other companies that have unclaimed property reporting... Continue Reading

On August 30, 2017, Delaware Governor John Carney signed House Bill 169 into law (“Trust Act 2017”), which provides settlors, beneficiaries and fiduciaries of Delaware trusts with more tools and greater flexibility to confidently accomplish their various objectives... Continue Reading

In its last session, the Delaware Legislature passed a number of amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the ‘‘DGCL’’) and the Delaware ‘‘alternative entity’’ statutes—the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the ‘‘DLLCA’’), the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (‘‘DRULPA’’) and the Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership Act... Continue Reading

On June 21, 2017, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed a landmark decision by the Delaware Court of Chancery (the “Court”) that found an “adviser,” within the meaning of 12 Del. C. § 3313, liable for breach of his fiduciary duties.  This decision is especially noteworthy because it provides significant insight into the Court’s views with respect to the willful misconduct and bad faith... Continue Reading

On July 2, 2017, Delaware Governor John Carney signed into law House Bill No. 16, as amended, repealing Delaware’s estate tax for decedents who die after December 31, 2017.  The repeal of Delaware’s estate tax will provide a substantial benefit to not only Delaware residents with taxable estates but also the estates of many nonresidents who die owning real or tangible personal property... Continue Reading

For the better part of three decades, an apocryphal tale has circulated on the Internet about a man who leaps from a terminal height off a building only to be mortally wounded by a shotgun blast as he hurtles past an open window on the way down.  This dark fable then asks whether the medical examiner should conclude that the death of this man, who was imminently going to perish by his own hand,... Continue Reading

A Q&A guide to responding to a complaint in a trial court of general jurisdiction in Delaware. This Q&A addresses the time to respond, extending the time to respond, pre-answer motions, answers, replies to the answer, counterclaims, crossclaims, third-party claims (also known as impleader) and defensive interpleader. Answers to questions can be compared across a number of jurisdictions... Continue Reading