Corporate & Commercial Governance
Navigating Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL), board governance, breach of fiduciary duties, stockholder challenges, and § 220 inspections before the Court of Chancery.
About Cooch and Taylor, P.A.
Founded on March 1, 1960, by Edward W. Cooch, Jr. and Donald C. Taylor, Cooch and Taylor is one of Wilmington’s oldest and most respected trial boutique law firms, dedicated to rigorous advocacy, personal relationships, and courthouse results.
Institutional Heritage
Wilmington's Go-To Complex Litigation Boutique
Cooch and Taylor, P.A., one of Wilmington’s older and most respected law firms, was founded in 1960 by Edward W. Cooch, Jr. and Donald C. Taylor. Throughout its distinguished history, the firm has assisted a wide variety of clients in both transactional and litigation matters. Today, the firm’s primary focus is on assisting clients embroiled in complex litigation. We are proud to be the “go to” trial firm for many clients in complex or bet-the-company cases.
At Cooch and Taylor, you are never simply a case number or a file to process. Our respected practice has been based on personal relationships for nearly 60 years. Whether it’s acting as Delaware counsel partnering with out-of-state firms or representing businesses and individuals based right here in Delaware, we understand you need representation you can trust, and you’ll find it in our rigorous advocacy and unyielding integrity.
Our trial attorneys are known for their advocacy, judgment, and responsiveness. Cooch and Taylor believes that listening, understanding, and believing in the goals of our clients are the keys to delivering results at the courthouse.
The Brandywine Building
Located on the 15th Floor (Suite 1500) of Wilmington's prominent Brandywine Building, situated between Delaware Avenue and 11th Street in the heart of Delaware's legal district.
Headquarters: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1500, Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 984-3800 | Fax: (302) 984-3939
Scope of Practice
Diverse Industry Experience Across Delaware and Beyond
Our team of attorneys has a diverse background of industry experience and represents companies and individuals with matters in Delaware and nationwide.
Intellectual Property & Trade Secrets
Prosecuting and defending multi-million-dollar trade secret theft, restrictive covenant enforcement, and federal District Court patent litigation.
Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights
Over 30 years representing liquidating trustees, creditors' committees, secured lenders, and litigating thousands of avoidance and preference actions under §§ 547 & 548.
Products Liability & Toxic Torts
Establishing foundational Delaware tort jurisprudence: no strict tort liability, sophisticated purchaser doctrine, Daubert expert rules, and asbestos defense coordination.
Insurance Coverage Controversies
Representing corporate policyholders and excess carriers in high-exposure declaratory judgment actions, D&O disputes, and catastrophic liability coverage questions.
Real Estate & Construction Litigation
Decades defending condominium associations, commercial developers, and brokers in water intrusion, defective stucco, and professional errors and omissions claims.
Client-Centered Value Proposition
Customized Alternative & Contingency Fee Arrangements
We recognize that serious and complex commercial litigation disputes involve various levels of risk. To that end, Cooch and Taylor often collaborates with clients on a variety of alternative fee and contingency fee arrangements.
We have worked under these alternative arrangements in both plaintiff and defense matters, recognizing that each case is unique and requires fresh consideration with respect to creating a formula that works for both parties. Cooch and Taylor understands that our clients desire value and results, and we are dedicated to creating a relationship that delivers both.
Shared-Risk Alignments
Contingency, partial contingency, and success-based fee arrangements that tie our compensation directly to realized outcomes.
Fixed & Phased Predictability
Capped or fixed-fee milestones for discovery, summary judgment, and trial phases, eliminating surprise legal expenditures.
Plaintiff & Defense Versatility
Custom formulas structured for corporate plaintiffs pursuing commercial recovery as well as defendants managing risk.
Founded March 1, 1960
The Complete Firm History
Authored by founding partner Edward W. Cooch, Jr., this chronicle documents how a mutual mentor and forty-five years of unblemished partnership established one of Delaware’s landmark law firms.
A legacy of courtesy, collegiality, and rigorous trial preparation.
Judge Richard S. Rodney’s Prophecy
Edward W. Cooch, Jr. ("Ned") and Donald C. Taylor ("Don") met and joined as partners in the practice of law as a result of their knowledge and confidence in the late Judge Richard S. Rodney. After four and a half years of military service, Ned had married Judge Rodney's daughter, Sarah, on June 12, 1946, while a law student at the University of Virginia. Don, a graduate of Dickinson School of Law, had served several years in the Korean War and was finishing up his clerkship with the Judge in the late 1950s. At the time he maintained an office in the Market Tower and found his practice growing.
In 1959 Ned spoke to Judge Rodney and asked if he knew someone who might join him in the practice of law. At the time Ned had a very pleasant association with the late William H. Foulk but no partnership or other arrangement with respect to Ned's work. Without hesitation the Judge said: "Talk to my law clerk, Don Taylor. He's just starting out on his own and I think you boys would hit it off." The Judge then spoke to Don and offered the same advice that the two of them would "hit it off."
"Summering and Wintering" to Equal Partnership
There followed a series of breakfasts, lunches, and other meetings between Don and Ned. Don did not want to join as an associate, and Ned hesitated to start off as a full partnership on the theory that you had to "summer and winter" with a person to know him.
After many meetings and discussions on the practice of law and their individual goals, Ned and Don decided to join together as full partners on March 1, 1960. Judge Rodney's vision that the two of them would "hit it off" could not have been more true.
On numerous occasions, one of the two would present an idea to the other only to find that the other had already written a memorandum to the same effect but had not yet presented it to his partner. In the 45 years from the origin of the COOCH AND TAYLOR partnership until Don's untimely death on May 6, 2005, there was never a cross word between the two.
Growth and Enduring Institutional Culture
The partnership that started with Ned, Don, and two secretaries grew until the time of Don's death to 20 lawyers and a staff of paralegals and administrative personnel of about 30.
Ned Cooch, the author of this firm history, passed away on September 23, 2010, at the age of 90. Ned and Don left an indelible legacy of professionalism, courtesy, and fierce client advocacy that endures today.
The Cooch & Taylor Credo:
"Listening, understanding, and believing in our clients' goals are the critical keys to delivering results in litigation."
Firm Culture
Commitment to Professionalism and Equal Opportunity
Throughout our six decades of service, Cooch and Taylor has earned a distinguished reputation in the Delaware legal community as a firm that provides its clients with customized representation and elite results while allowing its attorneys and staff to enjoy a healthy work-life balance.
Cooch and Taylor is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the firm to provide equal opportunity with respect to hiring, promotion, training, discharge, compensation, benefits or other terms, conditions or privileges of employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, citizenship status, military service, or genetic information.
Core Institutional Milestones
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March 1, 1960Firm Founded in WilmingtonEdward W. Cooch, Jr. and Donald C. Taylor establish their equal partnership.
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May 6, 2005Passing of Founder Donald C. TaylorCelebrating 45 dispute-free years of partnership and profound legal service.
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September 23, 2010Passing of Founder Edward W. Cooch, Jr.Remembering Ned Cooch at age 90, leaving an enduring trial legacy.
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March 1, 2020 & Beyond60th Anniversary & ExpansionMarking 60 years of Delaware legal practice and expansion in Suite 1500 of the Brandywine Building.
Discuss Your Delaware Legal Matter With Our Directors
Connect directly with our senior trial counsel to evaluate your dispute, Delaware local counsel needs, or alternative fee structure.