Looking Back on Delaware Legal Industry Developments in 2023

Law360 Pulse recently interviewed leaders in the Delaware legal community for their take on significant developments over the past year.

In 2023, amid a rising caseload, the Delaware Court of Chancery has emphasized decorum. Morris Nichols corporate litigators Bill Lafferty and John DiTomo discussed some of the frustration that might result if things go off the rails, especially during the discovery stage of a case. “Because we work here every day, we know the frequent issues,” John said. “Delaware expertise from being on the ground can help avoid these issues” and streamline processes. Bill emphasized the role of transparency in conducting orderly proceedings, and avoiding showmanship. “The less you have to involve the court and let them just decide on the merits of the case, the better,” he said.

Earlier this year, as part of an initiative to draw more attorneys to Delaware, the state’s Supreme Court adopted changes to the bar exam and admissions process. “The theory is the more applicants you have, the more diverse the applicant pool will be,” Bill said to Law360 Pulse. Among other reforms, the bar exam will be administered twice per year, which Bill applauded, remarking it was “a long time coming.”   

Read the full article, “Big Moments in Delaware’s Legal Industry in 2023,” from Law360 Pulse.