Michael Houghton

The Best Lawyers in America has released its 2025 edition listing 39 attorneys from Morris Nichols. The results are based on peer-review evaluations from more than 160,000 eligible attorneys.

Bill Lafferty and Mike Houghton have been named to the Delaware Business Times' innagural “Delaware 222” list of impactful leaders in the First State.

Michael Houghton was nominated by Delaware Governor John Carney, and confirmed in a special session of the Delaware State Senate on Friday, September 8, 2023.

The Best Lawyers in America has released its 2024 edition, listing 39 attorneys from Morris Nichols. The results are based on peer-review evaluations from more than 76,000 eligible attorneys.

While not binding on the Court, the recommendation, if accepted, would allow Delaware to Retain hundreads of millions of dollars in MoneyGram teller checks escheated to it as MoneyGram's state of incorporation.

The Best Lawyers in America has released its 2023 edition, listing 35 attorneys from Morris Nichols. The results are based on peer-review evaluations from more than 71,000 eligible attorneys.

The Best Lawyers in America has released its 2022 edition, listing thirty-two attorneys from Morris Nichols. The results are based on peer-review evaluations from more than 66,000 eligible attorneys.

Morris Nichols partners Michael Houghton and Donna Culver will join members of Ernst & Young LLP’s Unclaimed Property and Escheat Services practice for a 60-minute webcast addressing the current unclaimed property landscape.

As many American businesses continue to function remotely, Delaware – like other states – has concluded that VDAs and unclaimed property audits initiated by Delaware can and should continue as well. Therefore, it is accelerating its scrutiny of Delaware formed companies.

Mike Houghton will speak on the Delaware economy, DEFAC and its mission, and his personal leadership experiences in various positions both in Delaware and on the national stage.

Morris Nichols teams with the KPMG National Unclaimed Property practice for a 60-minute unclaimed property webcast.

Thirty-one Morris Nichols attorneys were recognized in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. The results are based on peer-review evaluations from more than 67,000 eligible attorneys.

Wilmington, DE (May 4, 2020) - Michael Houghton, a partner with Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, has been appointed Chair of the new Uniform Law Commission (ULC) Study Committee on Mitigation of Public Health Emergency Business Disruptions.

For Delaware, the legal home to thousands of “holders,” collection of, and fiscal reliance on, unclaimed property has always been tricky.

On April 20, the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (“DEFAC”) lowered the state’s official government revenue projections as the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc with national and state economies.

The dominance of Delaware in entity formations, especially corporations, is well known. But why is this the case, what goes into making - and keeping - the “Delaware Brand?”

Wilmington, DE (August 15, 2019) - Thirty-five Morris Nichols attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. The results are based on peer-review evaluations from more than 94,000 eligible attorneys.

The Delaware State Bar Association commissioned a study examining the economic impact of the legal industry on the state of Delaware. Morris Nichols attorneys Mike Houghton, Lauren Neal, and Barnaby Grzaslewicz contributed to the project.

Newark, DE (September 24, 2018) - Artesian Resources Corporation (Nasdaq: ARTNA), which includes operations in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania, today announced the expansion of the Board of Directors by appointing Michael Houghton.  The expansion of the Board of Directors recognizes Mr. Houghton’s areas of specific expertise as a new addition to the current board.

On June 30, Governor John Carney signed an executive order directing the state budget office and the panel that sets Delaware's official revenue forecast to implement the recommendations of an Advisory Panel to the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC) on “budget smoothing.”

Wilmington, DE (June 9, 2017) - Michael Houghton, a partner with the Wilmington, Delaware law firm of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, has been elected President of the Delaware State Bar Association (“Association”), effective July 1, 2017.  

Wilmington, DE (April 7, 2017) - Michael Houghton, a partner with the Wilmington, Delaware law firm of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, has been appointed as Chair of the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (“DEFAC”) by Governor John Carney.

In an article titled, “Delaware Revamps Unclaimed Property After Lawsuits,” Morris Nichols partner Michael Houghton spoke with Bloomberg BNA about unclaimed property legislation enacted by Delaware Gov. John Carney on February 2, 2017. “This is an absolute and complete revision of the Delaware law,” he said. “The entire Delaware unclaimed program statute has been rewritten.”

In an article published by The New Journal titled, “State Overhauling Unclaimed Property Law,” Morris Nichols partner and ULC drafting committee co-chair Michael Houghton described the legislation as a step in the right direction. “My view is that it is not perfect, but I don’t want perfect to be the enemy of the good,” Houghton said. “And it’s good in many respects.”

Morris Nichols partner Michael Houghton spoke with Delaware State News and The News Journal regarding the consequences of the litigation and the settlement, noting this and other lawsuits challenging the state’s unclaimed property practices “continue to cast a real cloud over the Delaware program.”

This article discuss the availability and specifics of these programs in seven states.

A coalition of states has filed a lawsuit against Delaware challenging the state’s collection of more than $150 million of unclaimed money orders in the United States Supreme Court. Morris Nichols partner Michael Houghton spoke with The News Journal regarding potential effects for the First State in the article entitled, “Money Order Lawsuit Could Impact State Budget.” Mike has advised Fortune 500 companies and others on unclaimed property issues for more than 25 years. He is co-chair of the Uniform Laws Commission Drafting Committee to Revise the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.

Morris Nichols partner Michael Houghton spoke with The News Journal about a recent U.S. Supreme Court discussion on unclaimed property which cited Delaware as an example of concerns with unclaimed property owner notifications.  Mike has advised Fortune 500 companies and others on unclaimed property issues for more than 25 years and is a member of a Legislative Task Force currently examining, and making recommendations concerning, Delaware’s Unclaimed Property program.  He is also co-chair of the Uniform Laws Commission Drafting Committee to Revise the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.  In the article, entitled “Supreme Court Calls Out Delaware on Unclaimed Property,” Mike comments on a recent concurring opinion issued by two U.S. Supreme Court Justices which suggests some states - including Delaware - may not be satisfying  due process requirements in how they undertake to reunite owners of unclaimed property, remitted to the states, with that lost property.

Morris Nichols partner Michael Houghton contributed comments to the BNA Weekly State Tax Report article entitled “Pennsylvania Sues Delaware, MoneyGram for $10.3 Million in Uncashed Checks.” Mike has advised Fortune 500 companies and others on unclaimed property issues for more than 25 years and told Bloomberg BNA the case is “extremely unusual.” He observed that the lawsuit was filed directly against Delaware State Escheator David Gregor, although the dispute appears to lie between the two states. He noted his skepticism that such a dispute, effectively between two states, could be successfully pursued “in a federal district court in Pennsylvania,” noting “I don’t know how that’s sustainable.”

Morris Nichols partner Michael Houghton contributed comments to the BNA Weekly State Tax Report article entitled “Unclaimed Property, New Revenue, in Focus in Delaware: Legislative Preview.”  He noted that unclaimed property is the third-largest revenue source for Delaware and commented that some of the state’s unclaimed property laws are being challenged in court.

Michael Houghton and Walter Tuthill, Morris Nichols Commercial Law Counseling Group partners, served as co-authors of the revised Bureau of National Affairs (BNA) Corporate Practice Series Portfolio: Unclaimed Property.

Jeff Wolters, Morris Nichols Corporate Law Counseling Group partner, and Mike Houghton, Morris Nichols Unclaimed Property Law Counseling Group partner, co-authored Liability Exposure for Delaware Incorporated Companies - The Risk of an Escheat Audit and Delaware’s New Voluntary Disclosure Program to Avoid Penalties  appearing in the April 2013 issue of TerraLex Connections.

Michael Houghton, Morris Nichols banking, regulatory and Commercial Law Counseling Group partner and Best Lawyers 2009 Banking Lawyer of the Year, and Commercial Law Counseling Group associate Brenda Mayrack, authored Delaware Makes Significant Changes to Its Unclaimed Property Statute, published in the July 28, 2010 issue (Vol. 25, No. 29) of BNA’s Corporate Counsel Weekly. 

Morris Nichols banking, regulatory and commercial law counseling partner and Best Lawyers 2009 Banking Lawyer of the Year Michael Houghton, and Commercial Law Counseling Group associate Brenda Mayrack, authored ‘McKesson’ Part II - State’s Response Offers Insight, Guidance To Holders Facing Audit for Inventory and Other Property Types, published in the December 30, 2009 issue (Vol. 24, No. 49) of BNA’s Corporate Counsel Weekly.  Samuel Schaunaman, Esq. of Thomson Reuters co-authored.

Morris Nichols banking, regulatory and commercial law counseling partner and Best Lawyers 2009 Banking Lawyer of the Year Michael Houghton, and Commercial Law Counseling Group associate Brenda Mayrack, authored McKesson Corporation Lawsuit Challenges Delaware’s Assessment of Unclaimed Property Liability For Inventory Mismatches published in the November 4, 2009 issue (Vol. 24, No. 42) of BNA’s Corporate Counsel Weekly.  Samuel Schaunaman, Esq. of Thomson Reuters co-authored.

Michael Houghton, William M. Lafferty, Andrew H. Lippstone, “The Expansion of the Delaware Court of Chancery’s Jurisdiction to Adjudicate or Mediate Certain ‘Technology Disputes’ - An Evolution, Not a Revolution,” ABA Network: The Newsletter of the Business Law Section, Committee on Business and Corporate Litigation, Vol. 11, Issue 1 (Spring 2003)

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