Stephen Bigler Bio

Steve provides counsel on all aspects of Delaware corporate law matters in the full range of corporate transactions, including statutory compliance, structuring, fiduciary duty, and governance. He is “very capable in balancing the technical aspects of an issue with the practical reality of doing a transaction” (Chambers USA, 2024). Steve’s clients include private and public corporations of all sizes and stages and their founders, boards of directors, board committees, and venture capital and private equity firms, as well as the prominent law firms that counsel them. Clients consider Steve “a top-notch corporate lawyer,” noting that “he is excellent and truly a pleasure to work with” (Chambers USA). Steve has considerable experience analyzing and drafting preferred stock terms, merger and investment agreement terms, and other corporate documents governed by Delaware law. Steve was one of the original group of venture capital lawyers who drafted the NVCA model venture financing documents, and he currently serves on the National Venture Capital Association GC Advisory Board and participates in updating those documents annually. While a member of the ABA Corporate Laws Committee, Steve was involved in drafting several additions to the MBCA, including provisions adding a statutory ratification procedure and provisions permitting the formation of public benefit corporations. He was also involved in drafting several new sections of the 7th edition of the Corporate Directors Guidebook. Steve served as president of Richards Layton from 2008-2011. He was a member of the ABA Corporate Laws Committee from 2014-2020, and currently is a member of the Tri-bar Legal Opinion Committee. Steve is a frequent speaker on DGCL developments and practice issues.