Former Delaware Supreme Court Justice Jack B. Jacobs has rejoined Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor as senior counsel in the Wilmington firm's corporate section.

The move, announced Tuesday morning, returns Jacobs to the firm where he practiced corporate and business litigation for 27 years before joining the Delaware Court of Chancery in 1985. Jacobs ascended to the high court in 2003 and served for 11 years before announcing his retirement in 2014.

Most recently, he worked as senior counsel in Sidley Austin's Wilmington office from 2014 to 2018.

“We are incredibly honored to welcome Jack back to Young Conaway after he has enjoyed such a distinguished judicial career,” firm chairman James L. Patton Jr. said in a statement. “His contributions to the legal profession and incredible knowledge within the field are significant assets to our clients and our firm. We are grateful to again have him on our team.”

In his practice, Jacobs advises companies and boards of directors on Delaware law issues—including fiduciary duties—and with respect to mergers and acquisitions, the firm said. He also conducts special investigations on behalf of company boards, serves as an arbitrator and mediator, and advises on trial and appellate litigation strategy matters.

Patton said in an interview that Jacobs and Young Conaway shared a “deep respect and affection” for each other, dating back to his early days in private practice. Firm leaders knew that Jacobs' arrangement with Sidley was coming to an end, and both sides had discussed bringing the former justice back on.

“As he was wrapping up his time at Sidley … there was a conversation that led to him coming back” to Young Conaway,” Patton said.

Jacobs officially started with the firm last week and was up and running in his new role on Tuesday. He did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.

A graduate of Harvard Law School, Jacobs serves as an adjunct professor at the law schools of New York University, Columbia University, Vanderbilt University and the University of Pennsylvania, according to Young Conaway's website.

He is a member of the American Law Institute and served as an adviser to the Restatement (3rd) of Restitution project. He currently advises on the ALI's project on Principles of the Law, Compliance, Enforcement and Risk Management for Corporations, Nonprofits, and Other Organizations. He also has delivered the distinguished jurist lecture at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, the regent's lecture in residence at the UCLA Law School and the William J. Brennan Lecture at NYU School of Law.

The news of Jacobs' arrival to the firm comes on the heels of last week's confirmation of former Young Conaway partners Kathaleen S. McCormick to serve as vice chancellor on the Court of Chancery and Craig A. Karsnitz as a judge on the Superior Court for Sussex County.

The firm lists 98 attorneys who counsel national and international clients in bankruptcy, intellectual property, corporate and alternative entity law. The firm also guides regional businesses through a myriad employment, education, real estate, tax, estate planning, environmental and banking issues.