Overview
Greg Williams is “a prominent figure, absolutely one of the top lawyers in the state bar” (Chambers USA).
Greg’s practice has involved advising Delaware corporations, their directors, and officers and representing them in litigation. Described as an “encyclopedia of knowledge on Delaware law” with a “stellar reputation,” his “analytical skills and judgment are among the best virtually anywhere” (Chambers USA).
Greg currently assists and advises other Richards Layton directors as they represent the firm’s clients. He also uses his extraordinary expertise to serve as an arbitrator.
Joining Richards, Layton & Finger in 1982, Greg became a director in 1988 and went on to serve as president of the firm and chair of the firm’s Corporate Department. Greg has been featured in articles published in Super Lawyers and Lawdragon, including his recognition as a Lawdragon Legend, awarded to signify his 10 consecutive years of inclusion in the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America. Greg was also named in The Legal 500 Hall of Fame.
PRACTICES
Arbitration & Mediation
Corporate & Chancery Litigation
Corporate Transactions
Corporate Governance
Mergers & Acquisitions
Commercial Litigation
Select Experience
Recent Representations
- Dell in appraisal litigation appeal to Delaware Supreme Court, successfully argued appeal
- Tribune Media in litigation with Sinclair Broadcast Group
- Petsmart, Inc. in appraisal litigation
- Theranos and its founder Elizabeth Holmes in litigation brought by a Theranos investor
- Alcoa in litigation involving a dispute with a joint venture partner
- Mattel and its directors in stockholder derivative litigation
- Coty in stockholder litigation
- Special committee of the board of directors of Viacom in stockholder litigation
2014 – 2015 Representations
- Dell Computer in appraisal trial, one of the largest appraisal proceedings ever
- JP Morgan Chase in connection with numerous stockholder litigations and demands for inspection of documents
- Dollar Tree in conjunction with its successful defense of stockholder litigation concerning its acquisition of Family Dollar
- Office Depot in connection with its merger with Staples
- KKR in conjunction with its merger with KFN Financial Holdings
- SAP in connection with its acquisition of Concur Technologies
2011 – 2013 Representations
- The New York Stock Exchange and its directors in litigation challenging the proposed NYSE-ICE merger
- Directors of Dell in litigation relating to going-private transaction
- Office Depot in connection with its proposed merger with Office Max
- Honeywell in litigation relating to its acquisition of Intermec
- Barnes & Noble founder Leonard Riggio in a trial in the Court of Chancery involving allegations of breach of fiduciary duty in connection with a proxy contest
- Special committee of Crown Media (a Hallmark affiliate)
- Nvidia in litigation against Intel
- Special committee of the board of Norfolk Southern
- Special committee of J. Crew
- 3G in litigation regarding its acquisition of Burger King
- Bucyrus in litigation regarding its acquisition by Caterpillar
- GE Healthcare in litigation regarding its acquisition of Clarient
- Unilever in litigation involving its acquisition of Alberto Culver
Prior Representations
- Represented directors of The Walt Disney Company in a 2½-month successful trial in the Court of Chancery and successfully arguing the appeal before the Delaware Supreme Court
- Successfully defended an application to enjoin the $4 billion acquisition of Checkfree Corporation by Fiserv, Inc.
- Successfully defended an application to enjoin the acquisition of WCI Steel, Inc.
- Successfully defended Citigroup Inc. CEO and directors from personal liability for the disastrous consequences of their heavy investments in subprime loans and securities. Since Citigroup and most of the banks and financial services industry firms that have foundered in the recent fiscal storm are chartered in Delaware and play by its corporate governance rules, the decision of the influential Chancery Court is expected to have a wide impact
- Successfully represented the Insurance Commissioner of Delaware in proceedings in the Court of Chancery challenging the Commissioner’s ability to implement, through workers’ compensation insurance rate-making, legislatively created medical care cost savings
- College of William & Mary School of Law, J.D., 1982
William and Mary Law Review - University of Delaware, B.A.A.S., cum laude, 1979
Education
Leadership
- Litigation Rules Committee of the Delaware Supreme Court, Chair, 1996-2008, 2015-present
- Court of Chancery Rules Committee, Chair, appointed by the Chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery, 2008-2015
- Chair, Corporate and Securities Law Subcommittee, United States Law Firm Group, 1995-2003
- PLI annual seminar, “What All Business Lawyers Must Know About Delaware Law Developments,” New York, NY, Co-Chair, 2006-2017
- Annual seminar, “Federal Securities Institute,” Miami, FL, Co-Chair, 2009-2018
Recognition
- American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, Fellow
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2009-2023
- Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
- American College of Governance Counsel, Fellow
- Chambers USA, since 2004
- The Legal 500, Hall of Fame, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019; Leading Lawyer, 2018, 2017, 2016
- The Best Lawyers in America, Wilmington, DE Mergers and Acquisitions Law Lawyer of the Year, 2025, 2012; Corporate Governance Law Lawyer of the Year, 2025; Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year, 2020, 2009; Corporate Law Lawyer of the Year, 2018
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America, 2024, 2023
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, since 2008
- Lawdragon 500 Legends, 2018
- Benchmark Litigation
- Delaware Today Top Lawyer, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013; Top Vote Getter, Appellate, 2017, 2016; Top Vote Getter, Litigation, 2015
- Super Lawyers, Top 10 in Delaware since 2007; No. 1 in Delaware 2017, 2016, 2011
- Who’s Who Legal
Bar Admissions
- Delaware
- United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- United States District Court, District of Delaware
