Overview
“A prominent figure, absolutely one of the top lawyers in the state Bar” (Chambers USA).
Gregory Williams is widely recognized as one of Delaware’s top corporate litigators. Primarily representing corporations and their directors and officers, Greg provides advice and counseling to his clients and represents them in courts in Delaware and across the country. He also represents committees of boards of directors formed to negotiate transactions or investigate alleged corporate wrongdoing.
Described as an “encyclopedia of knowledge on Delaware law” with a “stellar reputation,” Greg’s “analytical skills and judgment are among the best virtually anywhere” (Chambers USA). He served as chair of the firm’s Corporate Department, which includes the Corporate & Chancery Litigation Group, from 2007 through 2017. Greg was president of the firm from July 2006 to June 2008 and executive vice president from July 2003 to June 2006.
Greg has been featured in articles published in Super Lawyers and Lawdragon, including his recognition as a Lawdragon Legend, awarded in 2019 to signify his 10 consecutive years of inclusion in the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America. He is also a member of the Legal 500 Hall of Fame. Greg is a fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers.
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PRACTICES
Corporate & Chancery Litigation
Corporate Transactions
Corporate Governance
Mergers & Acquisitions
Special Committees & Investigations
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
