TEL: 302-651-2002
FAX: 302-574-2102
mbonkowski@coleschotz.com
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Legal Secretary: Mary Van Dermark
TEL: 302-652-3131 ext. 2500
mvandermark@coleschotz.com

Michael Bonkowski’s litigation practice focuses primarily on complex corporate and commercial litigation in Delaware’s Court of Chancery.  He has spent much of his career before the Court of Chancery, where he has participated in some of the landmark corporate cases in Delaware history, including Smith v. Van Gorkom and Weinberger v. UOP.

Mr. Bonkowski has also represented telecommunications companies in litigation arising under the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, recently serving as lead counsel for Cavalier Telephone Mid-Atlantic in related actions in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and Pennsylvania. He represents real estate development clients in a variety of matters before Delaware’s Court of Chancery as well.

Mr. Bonkowski has tried to verdict cases in all courts in Delaware, including Delaware’s Superior Court, Court of Chancery, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.  He is admitted to practice and has appeared before the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third, Fourth  and Federal Circuits, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Southern District of New York. 

In 2006, Mr. Bonkowski served as an expert in Sam J. Alberts, Trustee for the DCHC Liquidating Trust v. Redman, et. al., Adv. No. 06-10040 (Bankr. Ct. D.C. 2006)

Special Master to the Court of Chancery, by appointment of Chancellor William B. Chandler, III, Electra Investment Trust PLC v. Robert B. Crews, et al, C.A. No. 15890

Special Master to the Court of Chancery, by appointment of Chancellor William B. Chandler, III, ONTI, Inc. v. Integra Bank, C.A. No. 14514

Multiple Sclerosis Society, Delaware Chapter, Board of Trustees, 2008-2009

Top Individual Fund Raiser, 2002 Bike to the Bay, Delaware Multiple Sclerosis Society

On March 11, 2010, Mr. Bonkowski obtained a $3.7 million jury verdict in a commercial real estate brokerage dispute in Delaware Superior Court, in the matter Patterson-Woods & Associates, LLC v. Realty Enterprises, et al, C.A. No. 05C-01-224 (JOH); aff'd, 11 A.3d 228 (Del. 2010) (Per Curiam);

CCS Investors, LLC et al. v. David Brown, et al., 997 A.2d 301 (Del. 2009 (en banc));

In re AIG International Group, Inc., Consolidated Derivative Litigation, 965 A. 2d 763 (Del. Ch. 2009);

In re Loral Space & Communications, Inc., 2008 WL 4293781, 34 Del. J. Corp. L. 670, Strine, V.C. (Sept. 19, 2008)

B.F. Rich Co., Inc. v. Gray, et al., 933 A. 2d. 1231 (Del. 2007 (en banc));

Vandeleigh Industries, LLC v. Storage Partners of Kirkwood, LLC, 901A.2d 91 (Del. 2006 (en banc));

Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan v. Eric Alden, et. al., C.A. No. 1184-N, 2006 Del. Ch. LEXIS 42, Parsons, V.C. (Del. CH. 2006);

In re Hechinger, 327 B.R. 537, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14386, Robison, J. (D. Del. 2005);

MDIP v. Rapoport, C.A. No. 03-779, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9901, Sleet, J. (D. Del. 2005);

MDIP v. Rapoport, C.A. No. 1035-N, 2005 Del. Ch. LEXIS 180, Parsons, V.C. (Nov. 23, 2005);

In re Hechinger, C.A. No.: 00-973, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5537, Robinson, J., aff’d, 147 Fed. Appx. 248 (3d Cir. 2005);

In re Hechinger, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26725 (D. Del., Dec. 1, 2004), Robinson, J.;

Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Integrated Health Services, Inc. v. Robert N. Elkins, et. al., 20228-NC, 2004 Del. Ch. LEXIS 122, Noble, V.C. (August 24, 2004);

In re Hechinger, 287 B.R. 145, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25205, Robinson, J. (D. Del. 2002);

Qwest Communications Int’l Inc. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., 821 A.2d 323 (Del. Ch. 2002);

LNC v. Democratic Republic of the Congo, 69 F. Supp. 2d 607 (D. Del. 1999)

• Anti-Takeover Measures in Ebay vs. Craigslist: How Much Is Too Much?, Corporate Counselor, February 2010
• The Latest News from the Delaware Courts: Decisions of Interest to Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals, The Americas Restructuring and Insolvency Guide

• American Bar Association, Corporate Law and Litigation Sections
• Delaware State Bar Association, Corporate Law and Litigation Sections
• Delaware Board of Bar Examiners, Member, 2010-2011
• Delaware Board of Bar Examiners, Associate Member, 2004-2009