Curriculum vitae

The full record behind the practice sheet: appointments, admissions, argued appeals, teaching and publications.

Adrienne Cole

Trial and appellate counsel · Delaware corporate and fiduciary disputes

Download the PDF
Headshot

Summary

Fourteen years of Delaware corporate litigation, seven of them as my own practice. I take Chancery matters from firms who are conflicted out, argue the appeals that follow, and write the opinion letters boards read before they vote.

01

Appointments

  • 01

    Principal

    Cole Law · Wilmington, DE

    Trial and appellate work in the Court of Chancery, taken directly and as co-counsel for firms carrying a conflict.

    2019 – Present
  • 02

    Partner

    Merrick Tate LLP · Wilmington, DE

    Corporate and fiduciary litigation group. Second chair on eleven Chancery trials, first chair on four.

    2016 – 2019
  • 03

    Associate

    Merrick Tate LLP · Wilmington, DE

    2013 – 2016
  • 04

    Law clerk to the Honorable Ruth Vandermeer

    Delaware Court of Chancery · Wilmington, DE

    One term in Chancery, which is where I learned what a record has to look like before anyone reads it.

    2012 – 2013
  • 05

    Summer associate

    Ashford Reed · Philadelphia, PA

    2010 – 2010
02

Education

  • 01

    JD

    University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School · Philadelphia, PA

    Cum laude. Articles editor, Business Law Review.

    2008 – 2011
  • 02

    BA Economics

    Howard University · Washington, DC

    Magna cum laude.

    2004 – 2008
03

Admissions and courts

  • 01

    Delaware

    State bar

    2012
  • 02

    New York

    State bar

    2013
  • 03

    Court of Chancery and Superior Court of Delaware

    2012
  • 04

    Supreme Court of Delaware

    2013
  • 05

    District of Delaware and the Third Circuit

    2014
04

Argued appeals

  • 01

    Reversal of a dismissed derivative complaint

    Supreme Court of Delaware

    Demand futility pleaded on the board that actually voted, not the board that was sued.

    2025
  • 02

    Appraisal judgment affirmed

    Supreme Court of Delaware

    2024
  • 03

    Advancement order affirmed

    Supreme Court of Delaware

    2023
  • 04

    Fee award reversed in part

    Third Circuit

    2022
05

Practice areas

  • Fiduciary duty litigation
  • Books and records demands
  • Appraisal and valuation
  • Appellate advocacy
  • Advancement and indemnification
  • Board seat contests
06

Teaching and writing

  • 01

    Adjunct lecturer, Delaware corporate procedure

    Widener Delaware Law

    2021 – 2026
  • 02

    Books and records practice

    Chapter, Delaware Litigation Handbook

    2024
  • 03

    What a 220 demand should actually ask for

    Business Law Review

    2022
  • 04

    Panel chair, fiduciary litigation

    Delaware State Bar Association

    2023
07

Languages

  • English Native
  • Spanish Working proficiency