Samuel T. Hirzel, Special Counsel, Proctor Heyman LLP

Samuel T. Hirzel

Samuel T. Hirzel is a partner at Proctor Heyman LLP specializing in litigation in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as both lead and Delaware counsel.

Sam has litigated matters involving, among other things: class and derivative actions; corporate governance; mergers and acquisitions; demands for books and records; advancement and indemnification; appraisal; contested elections; trade secrets; covenants not to compete; unauthorized access to computer systems; and alternative entities. Many of Sam’s cases are expedited and involve applications for preliminary injunctive relief. Sam also has substantial expertise with electronic discovery.

In addition to his Chancery practice, Sam has litigated in the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware and the Family Court of the State of Delaware.

Sam is a co-chair of the Young Lawyers’ Subcommittee for the Combined Campaign for Justice. Sam represents pro bono clients through Delaware Volunteer Legal Services in protection from abuse and custody proceedings in the Family Court and has represented the Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. in estate litigation in the Court of Chancery.

Education:
The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University (J.D., with honors, 2003), The Dickinson Law Review, The Irving R. Kaufman Securities Moot Court Team
Columbia University, Columbia College (B.A., Economics, 2000)

Career:
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, Associate, 2004-2010
Law Clerk to the Honorable Donald F. Parsons, Jr., Court of Chancery for the State of Delaware, 2003-2004

Memberships:
The Bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware
The Bar of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware
DSBA Corporation Law Section
DSBA E-Discovery & Technology Law Section
Richard K. Herrmann Technology Inn of Court
American Bar Association

Representative Opinions:
W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. v. Long, 2011 WL 6935278 (Del. Ch. Dec. 28, 2011)
Connecticut General Life Ins. Co. v. Pinkas, 2011 WL 5222796 (Del. Ch. Oct. 28, 2011), 2010 WL 4925832 (Del. Ch. Nov. 18, 2010)
Fuhlendorf v. Isilon Systems, Inc., 2011 WL 3300338 (Del. Ch. July 22, 2011), 2010 WL 4570225 (Del. Ch. Nov. 9, 2010)
Fletcher Int'l, Ltd. v. ION Geophysical Corp., 2010 WL 1223782 (Del. Ch. Mar. 24, 2010)
In re Sunbelt Beverage Corp. S’holder Litig., 2010 WL 692400 (Del. Ch. Feb. 15, 2010), 2010 WL 26539 (Del. Ch. Jan. 5, 2010)
In re ALH Holdings LLC, 2010 WL 520632 (D. Del. Feb. 12, 2010), 675 F.Supp.2d 462 (D. Del. 2009)
eBay Domestic Holdings, Inc. v. Newmark, 2009 WL 3806162 (Del. Ch. Nov. 9, 2009)
In re American Intern. Group, Inc., Consol. Deriv. Litig., 976 A.2d 872 (Del. Ch. 2009), 965 A.2d 763 (Del. Ch. 2009)
Reinhard & Kreinberg v. Dow Chemical Co., 2008 WL 868108 (Del. Ch. Mar. 28, 2008)
In re Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc., 945 A.2d 1123 (Del. 2008)
Sample v. Morgan, 935 A.2d 1046 (Del. Ch. 2007), 914 A.2d 647 (Del. Ch. 2007)
In re Tyson Foods, Inc., 919 A.2d 563 (Del. Ch. 2007)
E-Birchtree, LLC v. Enterprise Products Operating L.P., 2007 WL 914644 (Del. Super. Jan. 18, 2007)
Childcraft Educ. Corp. v. Alice’s Home, 2006 WL 1452802 (D. Del. May 22, 2006)
Cypress Associates, LLC v. Sunnyside Cogeneration Assocs. Project, 2007 WL 148754 (Del. Ch. Jan. 17, 2007), 2006 WL 668441 (Del. Ch. Mar. 08, 2006)
Polygon Global Opportunities Master Fund v. West Corporation, 2006 WL 2947486 (Del. Ch. Oct. 12, 2006)
Orloff v. Shulman, 2005 WL 3272355 (Del. Ch. Nov. 23, 2005)
Homestore, Inc. v. Tafeen, 888 A.2d 204 (Del. 2005)
Shamrock Holdings of California, Inc. v. Iger, 2005 WL 5756479 (Del. Ch. Jun. 6, 2005)
Watchmark Corp. v. ArgoGlobal Capital, LLC, 2004 WL 2694894 (Del. Ch. Nov. 4, 2004)

Publications:
A. Gilchrist Sparks, S. Mark Hurd & Samuel T. Hirzel, Good Faith and The Walt Disney Company Derivative Litigation – Guidance for Directors of Delaware Corporations, PLI Corporate Law and Practice Course Handbook Series, Contests for Corporate Control 2006 Current Offensive and Defensive Strategies in M&A Transactions (Jan. 25, 2006)
A. Gilchrist Sparks & Samuel T. Hirzel, Good Faith and Independence – Advising Directors in the Post-Scandal Environment, PLI Corporate Law and Practice Course Handbook Series, What All Business Lawyers & Litigators Must Know About Delaware Law Developments (May 2005)
A. Gilchrist Sparks & Samuel T. Hirzel, Trends in the Delaware Corporate Law: Director Liability and Indemnification, PLI Corporate Law and Practice Course Handbook Series, Contests for Corporate Control 2005 Current Offensive and Defensive Strategies in M&A Transactions (Jan. 12, 2005)

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