John L Williams

We have represented a number of plaintiffs and defendants in the Court of Chancery, Superior Court and other state and federal courts in Delaware. We also represent creditors in Delaware bankruptcy court. We appreciate the opportunity to work with lawyers from other states and move their admission pro hac vice.

We have a variety of experience in preparing revocable living trusts, dynasty trusts, asset protection trusts and irrevocable life insurance trusts. We also help in the administration of trusts and trust disputes. We can prepare fiduciary income tax returns for trusts if requested.

We help draft contracts to avoid problems and can help litigate contracts in the instance of a breach.

Sometimes its is easier to say what we do not do, rather than what we do do. We can help most businesses and families in most aspects of their needs, (with very minor exceptions, excluding personal injury, criminal law and family law).

While we spend much effort to avoid probate, we can also help file the needed forms in the New Castle County Register of Wills. We also work with other county and state offices when needed. Usually the needed forms include the inventory and first and final account. We also assist beneficiaries and creditors of an estate, although we usually work with personal representatives, also known as executors.

We help with commercial real estate structure, purchase, sale and leasing. We are very selective in residential real estate transactions. In the event of a dispute we have represented farmers, homeowners and business owners in a variety of areas.

As part of the estate planning process we prepare wills and living wills. We do not believe in the "simple will" except in very limited circumstances. Instead we usually combine the pour-over will with the revocable trust to avoid probate and help administer estates efficiently in a private non-public manner.

We have helped a number of business and non-profits obtain USPTO trademark registrations. We can apply for the marks and respond to office actions. We can also file renewals and related necessary filings, such as specimens of use. We can also conduct searches of other registered marks. Should you want to register a State of Delaware trademark or service mark, we can help there as well.

We work with equipment manufacturers on equipment lease agreements. We also work with businesses when negotiating equipment lease agreements, all of the way up to MRI machines. We work extensively in real estate financing, especially opinion letter practice in Delaware in reviewing out of state loan documents to ensure the Delaware LLC or LP has the power to enter into the loan documents as written. We can also negotiate loan documents.

We work with franchisees in negotiating their franchise documents and a number of related issues that arise.

For a number of people with second marriages or family businesses we can prepare, review and negotiate prenuptial agreements.