NEW YORK, June 1, 2004- LAWFUEL – Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, one of the world’s leading law firms, announced that E. Norman Veasey, former Chief Justice of Delaware, joined the firm today as a senior partner. Veasey will serve as a strategic adviser to the firm’s roster of prominent global clients on a wide range of issues across the firm’s core competencies of mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and litigation, with particular emphasis on corporate governance and related issues involving the responsibilities of corporate directors in complex financial transactions and crisis management. He stepped down last month from the Delaware Supreme Court, the state’s highest appeals court, after serving for 12 years as the top judicial officer and administrator of the state’s judicial branch.
“We are delighted to welcome Chief Justice Veasey to Weil Gotshal. His joining the firm provides us with a unique opportunity to enhance our ability to provide our clients with sound legal advice on high-stakes corporate matters from one of the most respected jurists in the nation,” said Stephen J. Dannhauser, chairman of Weil Gotshal. “Justice Veasey has always insisted that both lawyers and judges be held to the very highest professional standards of conduct, and with his vast legal knowledge, probity and judgment, he is a valued addition to our team of lawyers worldwide. We are pleased and honored that he has agreed to join us.”
Ira M. Millstein, a senior partner at Weil Gotshal and a well-known leader in the corporate governance reform effort, said, “As a jurist, Chief Justice Veasey exemplified the qualities that make our judicial system in the United States so well-respected around the world. The Delaware courts are critical in the development of corporate law, and especially the laws impacting corporate governance. Justice Veasey has been instrumental in the process. He embodies the kind of judgment as a jurist and a practicing lawyer that our clients and lawyers will rely on.”
In his dozen years as Delaware’s chief justice, Veasey updated and enforced codes of conduct for lawyers and judges, modernized the state’s courthouses and upgraded the courts’ computer systems. During his tenure, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranked Delaware’s courts first in the nation for three consecutive years for their fair, reasonable and efficient litigation environment. He has been credited with leading nationwide programs to restore professionalism to the practice of law and adopt best practices in the running of America’s courts. Upon Veasey’s retirement as Chief Justice, Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner awarded him the Order of the First State, the highest honor for meritorious service the state’s governor can grant.
“I consider myself fortunate and honored, that after 12 challenging, yet satisfying years of public service, I am able to return to private practice with one of the most preeminent of international law firms, Weil, Gotshal & Manges,” Veasey said. “I look forward to helping guide the firm’s corporate clients and its outstanding lawyers through the many difficult challenges they may face.”
Veasey was appointed to a 12-year term as Chief Justice of Delaware in April 1992 by then-Governor Michael N. Castle. Veasey was president of the Conference of Chief Justices, chair of the board of the National Center for State Courts, chair of the Section of Business Law of the American Bar Association, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and chair of the American Bar Association’s Special Committee on Evaluation of the Rules of Professional Conduct (Ethics 2000). From 1957 until his judicial appointment to the Delaware Supreme Court, he practiced law with the Wilmington, Del., law firm of Richards, Layton & Finger, where he also served as managing partner and chief executive.
Veasey will continue as a member of the Delaware Bar and remain a resident of Delaware, with offices in Wilmington and New York.
