Delaware Court of Chancery.

The Delaware Senate has confirmed the nomination of corporate lawyer Paul Fioravanti to the Court of Chancery.

Fioravanti, an attorney at the Wilmington firm Prickett, Jones & Elliott since 1999 and a director at the firm, is set to fill the vacancy left by former Vice Chancellor Tamika R. Montgomery-Reeves, who became the first black female justice of the Delaware Supreme Court in November.

"I'm honored to have been recommended by the judicial nominating commission, nominated by Gov. [John] Carney, and to have been confirmed by the Delaware Senate for this very important position in Delaware." Fioravanti said in an interview with DLW following his confirmation.

Having spent decades practicing in Chancery Court, Fioravanti now faces the challenge of handling cases from the other side of the bench.

"The biggest adjustment is changing from an advocate to being someone who is deciding cases and listening to both sides carefully and treating litigants fairly in applying Delaware precedent," Fioravanti said.

That adjustment, he said, will be made easier by his corporate law experience and a background in journalism.

"My work experience and life experience, both as a journalist and a litigator in Delaware, have prepared me for this," Fioravanti said, adding, "I recognize that Delaware Court of Chancery is the preeminent business court, but it also affects Delawareans in other ways as it deals with guardianships, trusts and real property disputes."

At Prickett Jones, Fioravanti focused on corporate and commercial litigation including mergers and acquisitions, fiduciary duty obligations, corporate governance, and LLC litigation, corporate governance, books and records demands, officer and director advancement and indemnification, special committee investigations, and statutory appraisal and partnership.

Before becoming a lawyer, Fioravanti worked in radio journalism and held positions as a reporter and editor for local station KYW from 1986-1994, and also as a Washington, D.C., correspondent for Westinghouse Broadcasting covering White House, Pentagon and Capitol Hill.

How did that experience prepare him for his impending judgeship?

"As a journalist I had to write clearly and concisely and in a timely matter on important issues, and I think that's critical as a jurist," he said.

Fioravanti mentioned that the biggest stories he covered involved the Persian Gulf War and the confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter.

"Covering the Persian Gulf War was a very interesting time for me. I enjoyed working with real professionals. I also enjoyed the confirmation hearing of Justice Souter, which I covered gavel to gavel."

Fioravanti was born in Wilmington and is a graduate of Salesianum School. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Delaware and his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

"Paul's litigation experience and judgment will serve our state well on the Court of Chancery—our country's premier venue for corporate litigation," Gov. John Carney said in a statement issued after the Senate's confirmation of Fioravanti. "I want to thank members of the Delaware Senate for considering and confirming his nomination."