The lawyers of Richards, Layton & Finger are leaders in the profession both in Delaware and nationally. The 2008 edition of Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business awarded four of the firm’s practice areas with its top ranking and recognized 23 of the firm’s attorneys for their legal ability, professional conduct and other qualities most valued by clients. Many members of the firm are listed in the Delaware section of The Best Lawyers in America in their respective areas of practice. Members of the firm include Fellows of the American College of Tax Counsel, the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, the American College of Mortgage Attorneys, the American College of Trial Lawyers, and have served as President of the Delaware State Bar Association, as President of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, on the Board of Governors of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and on the Board of Directors of the American Judicature Society, among other professional organizations.
Many of the firm's lawyers are also members of American and Delaware State Bar Association committees, including those which involve corporation, limited partnerships, tax, trust and estate and other business laws. Members of the firm have chaired the Corporate, Commercial, Statutory Trust, Employment, Environmental, Tax, Trust and Estates and Real Property Sections of the Delaware State Bar Association. Firm lawyers helped to draft and continue to work to refine Delaware's General Corporation Law, Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, Limited Liability Company Act, Statutory Trust Act, Trust Law, Probate Code and Tax Law, as well as many of the state and local real estate laws.
The firm's lawyers have written extensively in learned journals and professional publications and have published numerous works. Among these are the five-volume treatise, "The Delaware Law of Corporations and Business Organizations," one of the standard reference works on Delaware corporate law, and "Delaware Limited Partnerships," a leading authoritative text on Delaware limited partnership law. The firm, in cooperation with the Delaware Economic Development Office, has published a general guide to Delaware business law entitled "Delaware – Laws and Programs Affecting Business." In addition, firm members are frequent speakers on continuing legal education programs around the country.
Members of the firm have held high-level positions in the public sector. A recently retired member served as a United States Congressman, Governor of Delaware and 1988 candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination. A current member served as Delaware Secretary of State and head of Delaware's Division of Corporations. Currently, an associate of the firm serves as a member of the Delaware General Assembly. Richards Layton lawyers have also become state and federal judges, law professors and cabinet members in the state government. Members of the firm also serve in leadership roles in various civic, social, religious and charitable institutions.