David J. Margules

David J. Margules has more than 35 years of experience litigating a broad range of complex cases. Over the course of his career, he has earned the reputation as one of the top trial counsel in Delaware. A former newspaper reporter, David has been praised for the quality of his written work.

Most of his practice involves business disputes, including fiduciary duty claims, corporate valuation proceedings, corporate and partnership control fights, and insurance coverage defense. Other significant engagements include representing the Delaware State Board of Education in school desegregation litigation; the Delaware Department of Finance in litigation challenging the constitutionality of the state's escheat system; and the Delaware Bar Association in a challenge to a program designed to enhance the recruitment of minority lawyers. David also frequently counsels boards of directors, business entity management, and startup entrepreneurs.

His stature also is reflected in various appointments, certifications, and other engagements. He twice served as an expert witness on issues of Delaware appraisal law and practice in actions in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, Financial Services Division. He was selected by the Delaware Court of Chancery to serve as a Special Master on discovery issues in the matter TR Investors, et al. v. Genger, and by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to serve as special counsel to a bankruptcy trustee to investigate and prosecute allegations of fiduciary duty breaches by former officers and directors of the debtor.

From 1996 through 1998, David served as a member of Delaware's Judicial Nominating Committee, an 11-member body that nominates for the Governor's action candidates for judicial appointments. He also has been appointed by the Delaware Court on the Judiciary to serve as a member of its Preliminary Investigatory Committee, which investigates and makes recommendations regarding complaints against judicial officers. Recently, he was appointed by the Delaware Supreme Court to a second term on its Permanent Committee on the Supreme Court Rules.

David has been an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where he taught courses on mergers and acquisitions, and he frequently lectures on corporate law at Vanderbilt Law School. He has been trained by the AAA as a mediator and is certified as a mediator by the Delaware Superior Court.

Professional Activities

Presenter, the Delaware State Bar Association's Litigation Academy (Session II) in Wilmington, September 2018

Guest lecturer, corporate law litigation,Vanderbilt University and University of Pennsylvania Carey Law Schools

Former Lecturer at Law (1997-1998 and 2000) and Grant Irey Lecturer at Law (1999), mergers and acquisitions seminar, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

Recognition & Accomplishments

The Best Lawyers in America, corporate law, intellectual property litigation, mergers and acquisitions litigation, 2010-2021

Benchmark Litigation, "Local Litigation Star," Insurance, Commercial, 2021

Chambers USA, Chancery, Delaware, 2016-2020

Philadelphia Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2019

Delaware Super Lawyer, business litigation, 2007, 2014-2017, 2019, 2021

AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell

Speaking Engagements

Panelist, "The Return of Appraisal Rights – Who Would Have Expected an Impact on Dealmaking in 2017?" 29th Annual Corporate Law Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, March 2017

Panelist, "Hot Topics in Valuation Law," the American Society of Appraisers and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators joint conference, Toronto, October 2014

Community Activities

David is active in numerous national and local service organizations, including Jewish National Fund, AIPAC, Delaware Gratz Hebrew High School, and Chabad Lubavitch of Delaware, Inc.

New York University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1983)
Staff Member, New York University Law Review
Member, Order of the Coif

Columbia University (B.A. 1978)

Delaware

U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit