The Delaware Court of Chancery is internationally renowned for its docket of corporate, commercial and other fiduciary cases. It is also a unique forum with specialized procedures and a small number of judicial officers and Delaware lawyers who regularly practice in the Court. At SKJ, this is what we do.
Each of the firm’s litigation partners has substantial expertise litigating and trying to judgment, cases involving corporate and alternative entity transactions and governance. Whether we are serving as lead counsel or working in tandem with other firms, SKJ lawyers blend their deep substantive knowledge of Delaware corporate and alternative entity law, with the kind of practical experience that can only be obtained by handling these types of cases every day.
SKJ lawyers regularly represent both plaintiffs and defendants in matters involving stockholder derivative and class action challenges to corporate transactions and corporate actions. We also represent officers, directors, managers, members, partners, companies and stockholders in matters involving governance and transactional disputes, mergers and acquisitions, asset and stock purchases, appraisal proceedings, rights plans, dissolution and liquidation, executive compensation, special litigation committees, and indemnification and advancement of litigation expenses. We have assisted clients with significant other matters as well, including covenant not to compete and trade secret issues.
SKJ lawyers are focused intently on advancing our clients’ goals; we understand how to achieve successful results and work with our clients and co-counsel to achieve them. As a boutique firm, we use our experience and technology to operate efficiently toward achieving success. We dig in early to conduct in-depth case analyses and then follow through with a focused attention to detail.
Partners practicing in the Court of Chancery are recognized for their expertise, rated AV by Martindale Hubble® and recognized as Best Lawyers®.
Two of our partners are active members of the Alternative Entity Section and the Council of the Corporate Law Section of the Delaware State Bar Association. These committees meet regularly and have responsibility for monitoring and updating the Delaware corporate and alternative entity statutes. Their hands-on experience in formulating the statutes provides the lawyers of SKJ with insight on the intent of changes to the statutes and how they will impact businesses going forward.
Obtained a multi-million dollar judgment on behalf of a minority shareholder in a privately held company, in which the Court of Chancery also ordered a forensic accounting of the subject company, repayment by the company’s management and majority shareholders of their improper compensation, dissolution of the company and distribution of its assets to its shareholders
Obtained a favorable declaratory judgment regarding board control issue for national restaurant franchisee group against parent company, after trial in Delaware Court of Chancery
Obtained a settlement resolution on the first day of trial in the Delaware Court of Chancery, in a matter involving control of a Delaware LLC acting as the parent entity for operating companies throughout South America
Obtained dismissal on ground of no personal jurisdiction with respect to declaratory judgment action concerning buy-sell provision of limited liability company agreement.
Lead trial counsel in successful Court of Chancery trial against largest class member that refused to pay its share of attorneys’ fees.
In January 2016, the Court of Chancery approved a $4.6 million settlement obtained on behalf of a class of common stockholders of Trados, Inc. In re Trados Inc. Shareholder Litigation, Del. Ch., C.A. No. 1512, Laster, V.C. (February 8, 2016). That settlement followed the frequently-cited post-trial decision in July 2013, In re Trados Inc. Shareholder Litig., Del. Ch., 73 A.3d 17, Laster, V.C. (2013). Rob took or defended most of the depositions in the matter and tried the matter on a team of three attorneys.
Obtained an injunction of a merger in Chen v. Howard-Anderson (involving Occam Networks). Largely successful on motion for summary judgment. 87 A.3d 648 (Del. Ch. 2014).
Represented plaintiff in a conflict over the proper composition of board of directors resulting in a favorable settlement. Hardy v. Jacobs and Acorn BioMedical, Inc., C.A. No. 5734-VCS (Del. Ch. 2010)
Represented plaintiff in an action for indemnification and advancement resulting in a favorable settlement. Gay v. The Howard Hughes Corp., C.A. No. 4072 (Del. Ch. 2009)
Tried, on behalf of plaintiffs, two breach of fiduciary duty cases. Gentile v. Rossetti, A. No. 20213-VCN, 2010 WL 2171613 (Del. Ch. May 28, 2010) and In re Trados Incorporated Shareholders Litigation (73 A.3d 17 (Del. Ch. 2013). In Gentile, to get to trial, needed to overturn in Delaware Supreme Court an adverse decision on summary judgment. 906 A.2d 91 (Del. 2006).
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