Chancellor Chandler to Step Down

The Palo Alto-based firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is acquiring one of the judiciary’s sharpest legal minds in William B. Chandler III, who is joining the firm as a partner. Chandler has been Chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery since 1997 and has authored many important opinions in the corporate law arena. Our feature story from a few years ago profiled the Chancery Court and its overall excellence, and the story noted that Chandler may be leaving soon. In the official press release, Chandler explained that WSGR has “one of the most enviable client bases in the nation.” Firm Chairman Larry Sonsini said that Chandler had a “well-deserved global reputation.”

Chandler provided some more flesh to the story in a Q&A with the New York Times. He will not be moving to the Silicon Valley and instead will stay in Delaware, advising clients on Delaware law and corporate governance. He said he will be on the road a lot with much time in the New York office. He acknowledged he made a “less traditional” choice by not joining a New York-based firm. “But I had the opinion that I wanted to do something less traditional and more dramatic,” he said. Chandler added that the Chancery was “in good hands.”