Lawrence C. Ashby

Larry is of counsel to the Corporate Litigation and Counseling group within the firm.  His practice focuses on corporate governance issues, major transactions, and the litigation that often accompanies such matters.  Larry is a past Chairman of the Corporation Law Council that annually reviews, drafts, and recommends changes to the Delaware General Corporation Law and has been appointed by the Court of Chancery as a receiver for a Delaware corporation paralyzed by a deadlocked board of directors and as a special discovery master in a complex commercial litigation.

Larry also offers mediation and other alternative dispute resolution services in corporate and commercial matters. 

Recognized as a “class act” in the first edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2003-04), Chambers reported in 2006 that Larry is “widely recognized as ‘easily one of the best practitioners in the state’” and is “featured in the dream team of numerous clients”.  Larry is also regularly listed in The Best Lawyers In America.  In the 2009 edition of Best Lawyers in America, Larry was included in the specialties of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Corporate.

Representative Matters

Larry has served as lead or Delaware counsel in many significant cases, including the following representations: Michael Eisner in In re Walt Disney Co. Derivative Litigation, 2005 WL 2056651 (Del.Ch. 2005), affirmed, 2006 WL 152466 (Del. Supr. 2006); various institutional investors in In re Appraisal of Transkaryotic Therapies, Inc. (Del. Ch., Consol. C.A. No. 1544-N); Xerox Corporation in Miron v. Microsoft Corporation, et al. (Del. Ch., C.A. No.1149-N); Nextel Partners in Nextel Communications, et al. v. Nextel Partners, Inc. (Del. Ch., C.A. No.1704-N); special committee directors in Hollinger Int’l., Inc. v. Black, 844 A.2d 1022 (Del. Ch. 2004), affirmed, Black v. Hollinger Int’l. Inc., 872 A.2d 559 (Del. 2005); J.D. Edwards & Company in Pheiffer v. J.D. Edwards & Company, et al. (Del. Ch., C.A. No. 20390); Craig Conway in Oracle Corporation, et al. v. PeopleSoft, Inc., et al. (Del. Ch., C.A. No. 20377-N); controlling stockholder in In re Cysive, Inc. Shareholders Litigation, 836 A.2d 531 (Del. Ch., 2003); Walter Hewlett in Walter Hewlett v. Hewlett-Packard Co., 2002 WL 818091 (Del.Ch.); management directors in In re Siliconix Inc. Shareholders Litigation, 2001 WL 716787 (Del.Ch.); special committee directors in In re Maxxam, Inc./Federated Development Shareholders Litigation, 1997 WL 187317 (Del. Ch. 1997); outside directors of Toy Biz, Inc. in acquisition of Marvel Entertainment out of Chapter 11 in In re Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 97-638 (D. Del); management directors in In re Enron Oil & Gas Company Shareholders Litigation, (Del. Ch., C.A. No. 17322-N); Robert Haft in Haft v. Dart Corp., in 877 F.Supp 896 (D. Del. 1995) and in 1997 WL 154049 (Del. Ch.).

In pro bono representations, Larry serves as a panel member for the assignment of civil cases brought on behalf of indigent plaintiffs or prisoners in the United States District Court.  Larry also has served as Chairman of the Committee on Constitution and Canons and as Church Attorney for the Diocese of Delaware.  He currently serves as a member of the Investment Committee overseeing the endowment funds of the Diocese and participating parishes.

News & Publications

• Ashby & Geddes Appointed Counsel by the Delaware Supreme Court to Address the Constitutionality of the State’s Proposed Sports Lottery
• Ashby Named to The Best Lawyers in America (2009) in Several Specialties
• Ashby & Geddes Directors Repeat as Super Lawyers
• Ashby Named to Lawdragon List
• Ashby & Geddes Names New President.

Professional Affiliations

• Delaware State Bar Association (former Chairman and member, Council of the Corporation Law Section)
• Former member, Delaware Supreme Court Rules Advisory Committee
• Former member, United States District Court Permanent Advisory Committee
• Former member, Delaware Board of Bar Examiners
• American Bar Association
• Panelist, CLE programs in the corporate field