Authors

Samuel D. Brickley 2nd is a professor of business law and criminal justice at Plymouth State University (PSU) in New Hampshire, where he has designed, developed, and taught various courses in the undergraduate and graduate programs since 2005. Prior to joining the PSU faculty, Sam practiced law in Delaware for twelve years, during which time he litigated cases in all of the Delaware state and federal courts. He was a deputy attorney general for the Delaware Department of Justice (1994-1997), an associate at Prickett Jones Elliott Kristol & Schnee (1997-1998), and an associate (1998-2001), partner (2002-2005), and chair of the corporate and commercial practice group (2005) at Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP. Sam is active in civic affairs; he has served on many local and regional boards, and is presently a selectman for the town of Holderness, New Hampshire.

Brian M. Gottesman has been a partner with Berger Harris since shortly after its founding, and is the head of its Corporate/Business Entity Counseling practice group. He has extensive experience counseling corporations and closely-held alternative entities (including limited liability companies, Delaware statutory trusts, and limited partnerships) on issues relating to their governance and management. Brian has served as counsel in acquisitions, business formations, the establishment of subsidiaries and holding companies and sales of assets and equitable interest. He also provides opinions on Delaware law relating to limited liability companies, business trusts and other Delaware entities involved in real estate acquisitions, business mergers and other transactions. In addition to his transaction work, Brian has extensive experience with litigation in Delaware courts, particularly in the Court of Chancery. Brian has represented clients in breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and business divorce actions, as well as a wide array of other corporate and commercial litigation matters

Bloggers

Benjamin J. Berger is a co-founder of Berger Harris. He has extensive experience in handling a variety of commercial real estate matters, including acquisitions, financing and leasing transactions. In addition to handling transactions at the "front end", Buddy has handled a number of work-out and restructuring transactions for commercial office and retail projects. He represents local and regional developers, investors and business owners. He has frequently lectured for the National Business Institute on real estate topics, including commercial leasing and title issues.

John G. Harris is a co-founder of Berger Harris. He has extensive experience counseling and litigating on behalf of clients in complex commercial, corporate and real estate matters in the federal and state courts and, in particular, the Delaware Court of Chancery. Within these general areas, Jack has developed particular expertise in suits involving the operation and interpretation of partnership agreements and limited liability company operating agreements.

Suzanne Holly is a partner with Berger Harris and the chair of the firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution practice. Suzanne focuses her litigation practice on business and commercial litigation involving contract disputes and business torts. Suzanne has represented a wide array of clients in matters before the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, as well as the Delaware Superior Court, and the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Michael W. McDermott joined Berger Harris as a partner in August 2011. He concentrates his practice in the areas of Business Litigation and Counseling, including the general representation of Delaware business entities. Before joining Berger Harris, Mike practiced corporate litigation at Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor and was a partner at Parkowski,Guerke & Swayze, one of Delaware’s premiere full service law firms with recognized practices in administrative/regulatory law, civil litigation and land use. He also served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Myron T. Steele, Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court.

Chris Messa is a partner in the Corporate/Business Entity Counseling practice group of Berger Harris.  He has significant expertise in Articles 8 and 9 of the Delaware Uniform Commercial Code, and his practice focuses primarily on rendering advice and legal opinions relating to commercial transactions, including securitizations, structured finance, asset sale and purchase, cross-border transactions and secured transactions.  Chris has extensive experience counseling clients with respect to the formation and operation of Delaware corporations, trusts, partnerships and limited liability companies.  He has also represented clients in connection with corporate bankruptcy-related transactions and debt restructurings.

Michelle P. Quinn is a partner in the Corporate/Business Entity Counseling practice group of Berger Harris. Her practice focuses primarily on rendering advice as to matters of Delaware law relating to partnerships and limited liability companies. Michelle has extensive experience in rendering advice and legal opinions in a wide variety of transactions involving Delaware partnerships and limited liability companies, including investment fund transactions, joint venture transactions and structured finance transactions. Her work also includes rendering advice with respect to mergers, conversions and other structural changes involving partnerships and limited liability companies, as well as analyzing fiduciary duty and contractual interpretation issues.

David Anthony is an associate with Berger Harris and focuses his practice on commercial and corporate litigation. David has also represented employers in a wide range of employment matters. Prior to joining Berger Harris, David was an associate at Ballard Spahr LLP. David also served as law clerk to the Honorable Richard R. Cooch, Resident Judge, Superior Court of Delaware.

Thomas P. “Tom” Preston has been a practicing trial lawyer since 1975. Over the course of his career, he has been a partner in several firms based in Philadelphia and Wilmington, for which he has tried civil cases in all of the state and federal courts.  Throughout his years in private practice he specialized in corporate and commercial disputes, as well as employment/labor. In 2010 Tom left private practice to become the first General Counsel at Delaware State University, one of the top HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in America.  In this position he was responsible for a myriad of issues, ranging from employment disputes and labor negotiations to contract negotiation, advising the University Board of Trustees, analyzing and advising on Federal program guidelines, patent and trademark issues, and directing all University–related litigation. He retired from the University in November of 2015. Tom has subsequently become certified by the Delaware Supreme Court as an arbitrator/mediator pursuant to a Bar Association CLE program.  His areas of specialization include commercial disputes and employment law issues.