Overview
Clark Collins, Jr. has more than 40 years of litigation experience in complex corporate, commercial, and fiduciary matters in both jury and non-jury trials. Clark is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. He represents corporations, directors and officers, and alternative entities and their managers and members in class, derivative, and individual actions involving governance, breach of fiduciary duty, appraisal, dissolution, summary proceedings, and claims for indemnification and advancement. He also represents clients in a wide variety of business tort, trust, fiduciary, and contract actions, including trade secret, unfair competition, lender liability, joint venture disputes, and professional liability claims.
- Defense of telecommunications company at trial defeating challenge to its consummation of an industry merger
- Representation of global chemical manufacturing company to remedy misappropriation of its industry leading proprietary trade secret technology
- Defense of directors of petroleum company in shareholder class action trial challenging entire fairness of merger and successful appeal upholding defense judgment
- Defense of officer of global insurer in shareholder derivative action claiming breach of fiduciary duty
- Representation of chemical manufacturing company in joint venture dispute, successfully enforcing contract and fiduciary claims against co-venturer
- Representation of biotechnology company in expedited suit to enjoin interference with contractual licensing rights
- Defense of telecommunication equipment manufacturer in contract action seeking royalties claimed under IP settlement agreement
- Defense of bank against lender liability claims at trial and successful appeal upholding verdict
- Representation of software technology company at trial and successful appeal upholding damages judgment and rejecting fraud defense
- Defense of university against breach of trust in connection with management of an endowed research institute and successful appeal upholding dismissal
- Representation of hedge funds owner in litigation against co-owner for breaches of fiduciary duty and winding up the funds
Professional Background
Delaware Department of Justice, Deputy Attorney General, Criminal Prosecutor, 1976 - 1978
Professional Affiliations
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
Delaware State Bar Association, Executive Council of the Corporation Law Section, Chair, 2017-2018
Delaware State Bar Association, Professional Ethics Committee, Co-Chair, 1991-95
Delaware State Bar Association, Judicial Appointments Committee, 2004-Present
Delaware Supreme Court Committee to Revise Principles of Professionalism for Delaware Lawyers and to Develop Code of Professionalism for Judges, Co-Chair by Court Appointment, 2003
Delaware Board of Bar Examiners, Assistant Secretary, 1987-1988, Secretary, 1989-90, Board Member, 2002-2007
Delaware Judicial Nominating Commission, 2004-2009
American Bar Association, Business Law, Business Litigation and Litigation Sections
The Office of the Child Advocate, Guardian ad litem on behalf of abused and neglected children
Appointed Guardian ad litem for Kelly Stevens by Delaware Supreme Court, In re Stevens, Del. Supr. 669 A.2d 33, 1995
Publications
Latest Blog Posts
- Chancery Court Strikes Down Anti-Activist Poison Pill as Unreasonably Broad
- Chancery Dismisses Section 220 Complaint on Jurisdictional Grounds, Finding That Plaintiffs Filed Seven Hours Prematurely
- Delaware Supreme Court Affirms CCLD Ruling Relying on Expert’s “Dual Hypothetical World” Damages Model for Measuring Business-Interruption Loss
- Chancery Denies Sellers’ Request for Dismissal, Finding That Fraud Claims Were Timely Filed and Properly Pled
- Chancery Addresses Burdens for Valuation-Related Books-and-Records Inspections, While Finding Defendant’s Asserted Lack of Records Supported Mismanagement-Related Inspection
- The Court of Chancery Enforces Fee-Shifting Provision Against Unsuccessful Petitioner Who Also Had Waived its Appraisal Remedy in the Parties’ Stockholder Agreement
- Chancery Dismisses Action Involving Unusual Issue of Personal Jurisdiction
- In Post-Trial Opinion, Chancery Finds for Defendant, Rejecting Claims Alleging Breach of Purchase Agreement and Right to “Board Packages”
- View More
Delaware Business Litigation Report
News & Events
Community
Community
Children & Families First Delaware, Former President and Chair (1992 - 1994), Board of Directors, (1980 - Present)
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Elder, Trustee
United States Army Reserve, Field Artillery Captain (1972 - 1980)
Recognition
Honors
Chambers USA, Delaware Court of Chancery Litigation, 2006 - Present
Best Lawyers, Delaware Commercial Litigation, 2005-2012, 2014 - Present
Delaware Today Top Lawyers, Corporate Law, 2014, 2018 - Present
American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
Delaware State Bar Association, Daniel L. Herrmann Professional Conduct Award, 2016
Dickinson Law Review, Board of Editors, 1974 - 1975
Practice areas
Admissions
Delaware, 1976
U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, 1976
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1980
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, 2016
U.S. Supreme Court
Education
Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law, JD, 1975
University of Virginia, BA, 1971