Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Wilmington-based M&A litigation team represents defendants facing suits from the pre- to post-closing phases of mergers, including in stockholder derivative disputes and securities class actions. Paul Lockwood heads the firm’s Wilmington office and is frequently tasked with defending clients facing, inter alia, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud suits in the Court of Chancery. He is currently representing Dupont de Nemours, Inc. and Corteva, Inc. in relation to alleged fraudulent transfers tied to the former’s spinoff of The Chemours Company and Dupont’s subsequent merger with Dow Chemical. On this matter Lockwood worked alongside Cliff Gardner, who both advises board of directors on their fiduciary duties and represents them where shareholder accuse them of failing to keep to those standards. Edward Micheletti is sought after for his experience in representing client against activist shareholders and in the event of hostile takeovers and busted deals. In 2024 he represented Activision after a stockholder accused it of violating the Delaware General Corporation Law in its merger with Microsoft.
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Accolades

Client satisfaction

Key clients

  • Activision Blizzard Inc.
  • Anaplan, Inc.
  • Rithm Capital Corp.
  • The Special Committee of EngageSmart, Inc.’s board of directors
  • Dupont de Nemours, Inc. and Corteva, Inc.
  • Elon Musk/Twitter/X Holdings Corp.
  • The special committee of the board of directors of R1 RCM Inc.
  • JOMA Management, LLC
  • SeeCubic, Inc.
  • ASA Gold and Precious Metals Ltd

Work highlights

  • Represented Activision Blizzard in litigation relating to its $75bn acquisition by Microsoft Corporation.
  • Defended Rithm Capital in navigating through two motions seeking to enjoin its $720m acquisition of Sculptor Capital Management.
  • Represented Dupont de Nemours, Inc. and Corteva, Inc. in connection with a dispute in the Delaware Court of Chancery regarding alleged fraudulent transfers in connection with E.I. du Pont de Nemours’ spin-off of The Chemours Company and merger with The Dow Chemical Company.

Lawyers

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Edward Micheletti

Next generation partners

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Cliff Gardner

Practice head

James Carroll; Scott Musoff; Susan Saltzstein; Paul Lockwood

Other key lawyers

Edward Micheletti; Cliff Gardner