Strine Expresses Vision for Court Through Policies, Opinions During First Year

As Delaware Court of Chancery Chancellor Leo E. Strine Jr. approaches the end of his first year as head of the nation’s top business court, several corporate law experts give him high marks for his leadership and efforts to implement a consistent vision for the court through both his actions and opinions.

Strine, who assumed the chancellor position on June 22, 2011, has already executed several initiatives designed to improve the court’s efficiency, including changes to the rules for trust modifications and fee structures in guardianship cases. However, many experts agree that the cornerstone of these efforts is the release ofThe Court of Chancery Practice Guidelines , an 18-page rulebook providing attorneys with best practices on common procedural issues that arise during litigation. The guidelines, released in January, address a wide variety of issues, including proper dress, scheduling cases, submitting expert reports and the responsibilities of Delaware firms when they serve as local counsel.