Richards, Layton & Finger Remembers Donald A. Bussard

June 6, 2019

Firm News

Richards, Layton & Finger Remembers Donald A. Bussard

 

Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. announces with profound sadness the death of our colleague and dear friend Donald A. Bussard, who passed away on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. Donnie joined Richards, Layton & Finger in 1976, where he worked for more than 42 years.

After spending his initial years as a corporate litigator (working on seminal cases like Household v. Moran), he used his great technical knowledge of Delaware corporate law to expand the Firm’s corporate advisory practice. He was a valued mentor to younger attorneys, and was a master strategist behind some of Delaware’s biggest transactions and cases (like the combination of Time Inc. and Warner Communications) over the past 40 years. Having served for decades as a member of Delaware’s prestigious Corporation Law Council, Don was a driving force behind many of the innovations and enhancements to the modern General Corporation Law. He was recognized by members of the Delaware Court of Chancery as a skilled corporate lawyer, capable of devising thoughtful and creative solutions to help clients and co-counsel arrive at desired outcomes.

A native of Wilmington, Donnie attended Tower Hill School. He graduated from Williams College and received his JD from Temple Law School. He is predeceased by his beloved daughter, Gretchen. Donnie will forever be loved by his wife and best friend of 48 years, Joan; their son, Luke, and his wife, Natalie; and his two grandsons, Danny and Shane.

Don was a true gentleman. He took a deep interest in the lives of people at the Firm, knew them by name, and took the time to learn about them on a personal level. Don was at his core a very kind, humble and gracious man, generous with his time and talent. He was a good friend to all of us, and although we will miss him tremendously, his legacy will continue in those whose lives he touched both inside and outside the Firm.