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The Delaware Counsel Group LLC

MBE WBE

  • WBE

Firm Size

  • 3-5

Willing to Act as Local Counsel

  • Yes

PAC Member

The Delaware Counsel Group LLC (“DCG”) is dedicated to representing clients in complex national and cross-border business transactions with a Delaware connection, as well as providing counsel on corporate-governance-related issues. As an alternative to the handful of large firms in this practice area, DCG is the only boutique firm in Delaware with the sophistication and expertise necessary to handle significant legal transactions. DCG affords its clients the same level of liability-insurance protection as the large firms.

Founded in 2004, DCG quickly established itself as a key player in the Corporate M&A and Alternative Entities practice areas. Its approach to client relations makes it unique amongst its larger competitors. DCG’s willingness to work quickly and to educate local and in-house counsel allows their clients save time and monies. Their focus on building client relationships and trust rather than billable hours has garnered many long-standing, high-profile clients. Included are Fortune 500 companies, venture capital firms, private equity firms, mutual funds, trust companies, boards of directors and the management of alternative entities.

DCG is the only certified woman-owned law firm in Delaware of its practice area and is certified as a woman-owned business by WBENC, NAMWOLF and the State of Delaware. DCG is also a member of the International Network of Boutique Law Firms, participation in which is by invitation only.

Founding partner Ellisa Habbart is one of only twenty six lawyers appointed to the Council of the Corporation Law Section of the Delaware State Bar Association (the “Council”), the body in Delaware responsible for all amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). As the DGCL is paramount to Delaware’s prominence as the jurisdiction of choice for business incorporation, only the most qualified corporate attorneys are appointed to the Council. Ms. Habbart also holds significant leadership positions with the International Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Delaware State Bar Association.

DCG is regularly called upon to render Delaware opinions and corporate governance advice that is relied upon by businesses and regulatory agencies around the world, often pairing with national and international law firms to provide Delaware-specific advice to their clients. DCG is committed to international markets and handles a substantial amount of work from countries around the world.

Contact

Wilmington, DE

700 Rockland Rd, PO Box 348

ehabbart@decg.com

302-576-9600

Person of contact: Ellisa Habbart

Rockland, DE

700 Rockland Rd, PO Box 348

ehabbart@decg.com

302-576-9600

Practice Areas

  • Banking and Finance
    • Asset-Based Financing
    • Private Equity & Fund Transactions
  • Corporate
    • Corporate Governance
  • Corporate, M&A & Securities
    • Asset Purchases, Stock Purchases, and Leveraged Buyouts
    • Corporate Governance
    • Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances
    • Master Services and Supply Agreements
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Recapitalizations, Restructures, Spin-Outs, and Divestitures
  • International Transactions
    • Cross-Border Acquisitions & Sales
    • Cross-Border Lending
  • Private Equity
  • Private Funds
  • Securities
    • Asset Securitizations
    • Derivatives/Futures
  • Venture Capital

Firm Bio

WE ARE DIFFERENT!

  • The Delaware Counsel Group LLC (“DCG“) is the only NAMWOLF option in Delaware that has the sophistication to handle the Delaware aspects of significant legal transactions. Founded in 2004, DCG quickly established itself as a key player in the areas of Delaware corporate and alternative entity law.
  • DCG is regularly called upon to render Delaware opinions and corporate governance advice that is relied upon by businesses and regulatory agencies around the world, often pairing with national and international law firms to provide Delaware-specific advice to its clients.
  • DCG’s approach to client relations is unique. The focus on building client relationships and trust rather than billable hours has garnered many long-standing, high-profile clients. DCG’s willingness to work quickly and to educate local and in-house counsel allows their clients save time and monies
  • DCG’s focus on building client relationships and trust rather than billable hours has garnered many long-standing, high-profile clients. “The Delaware Counsel Group is … very strong on client care skills. This firm is interested in its clients, which we really appreciate. It’s a much more personal and interested relationship with this law firm.” Chambers USA.
  • In light of the sophistication of DCG’s clients and the matters it handles for such clients, DCG affords its clients the same level of liability-insurance protection as the large firms.

CREDENTIALS:

DCG is:

  • Ranked by Chambers USA as a leading law firm in Delaware Corporate/M&A/Alternative
  • Entity law
  • Rated “A/V” by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
  • Certified by the Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprise of the State of Delaware
  • A member of the International Network of Boutique Law Firms, participation in which is by invitation only

DCG’s principal, Ellisa Habbart, is:

  • Described by clients as having “expert knowledge in the field but is still commercially sensitive to what the clients aim to achieve” – Chambers USA
  • One of only twenty-six lawyers appointed to the Council of the Corporation Law Section of the Delaware State Bar Association (the “Council”), the body in Delaware responsible for all amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). As the DGCL is paramount to Delaware’s prominence as the jurisdiction of choice for business incorporation, only the most qualified corporate attorneys are appointed to the Council
  • Top ranked by Chambers USA as one of America’s leading business lawyers in Delaware in •Corporate/M&A/Alternative Entity Law
  • Rated “A/V” by Martindale-Hubble
  • Recognized for her expertise by Who’s Who Legal: M&A and Corporate Governance
  • Recognized by her peers as an expert in the Expert Guides to the World’s Leading Women in Business Law
  • An appointee to the IBA’s Legal Policy & Research Unit by IBA Corporate & M&A Law Committee
  • American Bar Association LLC Committee representative to International Coordinating Committee and Chair of the American Bar Association Subcommittee “Use of US Entities Internationally”

CLIENTS:

The common element attributable to all DCG clients is not a particular industry or geographic location. DCG clients are located around the world and represent many different industries. The common element is a transaction governed by Delaware law or parties organized under Delaware law.

REPRESENTATIVE CLIENT MATTERS:

  • Global Infrastructure Investors II, LLC- DCG represented Global Infrastructure Investors II, LLC in connection with airport concession contracts in Madrid and Barcelona valued at €4.4 billion.
  • SBA Communications Corporation- DCG represented SBA Communications Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries in connection with the internal restructuring of an asset-backed securitization structure that issued US $1.23 billion in notes.
  • Restructuring of an existing USD 3 billion captive financing facility involving two Delaware special purpose entities.
  • USD 2.15 billion financing transaction involving interests in Delaware limited liability company and investments in Latin America and Asia
  • Sale and leaseback transaction of multiple aircrafts worth a combined total of over USD 700 million to airlines in countries across the globe, including Turkey, England, and Chile
  • Over USD 2 billion in Affordable Housing Tax Credit investment fund transactions involving multiple Delaware limited liability companies and limited partnerships
  • USD 4 billion note-purchase by a Delaware Limited liability company
  • USD 1.5 billion securitization transaction
  • Acquisition by a German limited liability company of shares of a Delaware public company’s subsidiaries in the United Arab Emirates and Denmark
  • Sale of the shares of a Luxembourg company’s Dutch subsidiary through a competitive auction involving a Delaware corporation.

DCG PUBLICATIONS:

  • The Corporate Governance Review, published by Law Business Research Ltd., a collection of chapters on corporate governance prepared by elite law firms in thirty-one countries. Delaware is the only political subdivision of a country accorded its own chapter in the treatise
  • Delaware Limited Liability Company Forms and Practice Manual, first published in 1995 and updated each year
  • Delaware Chapter in Private Fund Dispute Resolution
  • Partnerships, Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances, a chapter on Delaware limited partnerships
  • US chapter of the IBA Treasury Shares Guide
  • Director’s Duties Checklist, a joint project of the IBA Corporate and M&A Committee and Corporate Counsel Forum. The Checklist features information from more than 50 countries and is designed to provide an overview of the relevant legislation and regulations relating to directors’ duties around the world.
  • First in-depth analysis of the Uniform Law Commission Uniform Statutory Trust Act published in The Business Lawyer, a publication of the American Bar Association, based upon Ms. Habbart’s experience as the ABA Advisor.
  • Summaries of new Delaware case law and legislation are prepared on a monthly basis for DCG clients and have been distributed since 2004.
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