David E. Ross

David, a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Trial Lawyers, has litigated numerous high profile corporate and commercial cases, trade secret misappropriation disputes, and trust contests.  David has extensive first-chair experience litigating claims for injunctive relief and expedited trials on the merits, as well as other corporate and complex commercial disputes, in the Court of Chancery, the Complex Commercial Division of the Superior Court, the Supreme Court of Delaware, and other courts across the country, as well as in both AAA and JAMS arbitrations.

David has been repeatedly recognized by Chambers USA separately as both a top Court of Chancery litigator and national trial lawyer, by Chamber Global as a top national trial lawyer, by The Legal 500 as one of 28 “Leading Lawyers” for M&A litigation nationwide, by Lawdragon 500 as one of the "Leading Litigators in America," and by Benchmark Litigation.  According to these publications, sources describe David as “phenomenal,” "tenacious and masterful," a “very sophisticated and skilled trial lawyer,” “one of the best trial room practitioners I’ve ever seen,” “maybe the best litigator in Delaware,” and “the one I would go with for case strategy, if I had to choose only one lawyer in Delaware.”  David has been recognized as "a master tactician" with "excellent instincts" and a "tremendous reputation," “smart and effective in cross-examinations and depositions,” “a brilliant writer,” and for his “outstanding substantive knowledge and judgment.”

Recently, David served as lead trial counsel in an eight-day jury trial in which the court granted a directed verdict for the Firm's client on both its claim for $75 million and the $400 million counterclaim.

David also has substantial experience representing law firms, having served as lead counsel for numerous leading national and international law firms.

David has served as lead appellate counsel in numerous appeals both inside and outside of Delaware. David has argued numerous appeals in the Delaware Supreme Court, as well as in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and other state appellate courts.

A member of the Court of Chancery Rules Committee, David has written and spoken about issues of corporate law and trial practice.  David has spoken at Harvard University Law School and Columbia University Law School on strategy in high stakes Court of Chancery litigation, as well as at the Tulane University Law School's Corporate Law Institute and the ABA Section of Litigation's Annual Conference.

David's pro bono work includes defending the State of Delaware in litigation claiming that its assault weapons and large capacity magazine bans violate the Second Amendment.  Following expedited proceedings, the District Court denied two motions seeking to preliminarily enjoin enforcement of the statutes.  David argued in defense of the statutes on behalf of the State of Delaware in the Third Circuit, which affirmed the denial.

Before becoming a founding partner of the firm, David was a partner at Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP, where his practice focused on corporate and commercial disputes in the Delaware Court of Chancery.  From 2001 through 2008, David was a partner at Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel, P.L.L.C., where he litigated in trial and appellate courts throughout the country, including numerous cases in the Court of Chancery.

Fellow and member of the Board of Regents, American College of Trial Lawyers

Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Band 1: Court of Chancery Litigators

Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Band 2: Nationwide Litigation: Trial Lawyers

Chambers Global Legal Guide, Band 2: USA Litigation: Trial Lawyers

The Legal 500 US, M&A Litigation "Leading Lawyer"

Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America

Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star

Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America

Member, Court of Chancery Rules Committee

Director, The Historical Society for the Court of Chancery

Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Education

Columbia University, J.D., 1995

• Thomas E. Dewey Prize for best brief in honors moot court competition
• Lawrence S. Greenbaum Prize for best oral argument in honors moot court competition
• James A. Elkins Prize in Constitutional Law
• Member, Journal of Law and Social Policy
• Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, 3 years

Johns Hopkins University, B.A., 1994

Professional Experience

• Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP, Partner, 2008-2011

• Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel, P.L.L.C., Partner, 2001-2008, Associate, 1998-2000

• Latham & Watkins, Litigation Associate, 1995-1998

Admissions

• Delaware, 2008
• District of Columbia, 1996
• New Jersey, 1995
• Maryland, 1995
• Supreme Court of the United States, 2001
• United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2014
• United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 2007
• United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2002
• United States District Court for the District of Delaware, 2009
• United States District Court for the District of Columbia, 1998
• United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, 1998
• United States District Court for the District of Maryland, 1996

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• Delaware State Bar Association 
• District of Columbia Bar Association
• Maryland State Bar Association