Michael A. Barlow

Biography Mike Barlow is the managing partner and founding member of Quinn Emanuels Wilmington, Delaware office. Mike specializes in fiduciary litigation, corporate governance, and complex commercial disputes arising under Delaware law. Mike has served as lead Delaware counsel in numerous corporate transaction disputes, including representation of the prevailing parties in both the first and the second busted deal cases resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic that went to trial, setting important precedent on ordinary course covenants, material adverse effect clauses, and specific performance obligations. Mike often serves as counsel to Delaware corporations, directors, officers and stockholders in derivative and class actions. He also represents parties in litigation arising under limited liability company and limited partnership agreements. Mike served as Chief of Staff and Chief Legal Counsel to former Delaware Governor Jack Markell. In those roles, Mike led a staff of 30 and worked with 16 cabinet agencies to develop and execute the Governors priorities, including creating jobs, providing a world-class education, ensuring safe communities, and making state government more efficient, transparent and effective. Mike remains engaged in service as Chair of the Delaware Compensation Commission, which makes quadrennial recommendations for compensation changes in state government, and as a member of various court-appointed committees. Mike has been identified as a Future Star by Benchmark Litigation. Notable Representations Mirae Asset Global Investments in the first COVID-19 busted deal case to go to trial, resulting in a complete victory for the client buyer group and termination of a $5.8 billion transaction for sellers failure to comply with the ordinary course covenant; affirmed by the Delaware Supreme Court en banc. AB Stable VIII LLC v. MAPS Hotels and Resorts One LLC, et al., 2020 WL 7024929 (Del. Ch. Nov. 30, 2020), affd 268 A.3d 198 (Del. 2021). Snow Phipps Group in the second COVID-19 busted deal case to go to trial, resulting in a complete victory for the client seller and imposition of specific performance compelling the buyer to close on its $550 million acquisition of a portfolio company. Snow Phipps Group, LLC, et al. v. KCAKE Acquisition, Inc., 2021 WL 1714202 (Del. Ch. Apr. 30, 2021). Express Scripts, Inc. in securing reversal by the Delaware Supreme Court en banc of an $82 million fraud verdict relating to the sale of a subsidiary. Express Scripts, Inc., et al. v. Bracket Holdings Corp., 248 A.3d 824 (Del. 2021). Ripple Labs, Inc. in successfully procuring summary judgment and defeating a preferred stockholders redemption demand. Tetragon Financial Group Ltd. v. Ripple Labs, Inc., 2021 WL 1053835 (Del. Ch. Mar. 19, 2021). An international investment bank in prevailing in confidential arbitration proceedings conducted under the Delaware Rapid Arbitration Act. A leading investment management firm in successfully litigating through trial an expedited books and records action seeking documents relating to a proposed merger; the merger was abandoned two days after the Court awarded the relief requested. CP Carco in securing, through summary judgment, specific performance of a loan servicing agreement governing a portfolio of automobile loans. CP Carco, LP v. Americas Leading Finance, LLC, 2020 WL 1972178 (Del. Ch. Apr. 23, 2020). Practice Areas Corporate Governance Litigation Delaware Practice Mergers & Acquisitions Litigation Securities Litigation Shareholder Activist Litigation Education Harvard Law School (J. D., 2000) Harvard Journal on Legislation University of Delaware (Honors B. A., Economics and Political Science, magna cum laude, 1997) Admissions The State Bar of Delaware United States District Court: District of Delaware United States Court of Appeals: Third Circuit Fourth Circuit Sixth Circuit Prior Associations Abrams & Bayliss LLP, 2016-2024 Delaware Governor Jack A. Markell: Chief of Staff, 2012-16 Delaware Governor Jack A. Markell: Chief Legal Counsel, 2009-12 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 2002-09 Law Clerk for the Honorable Roderick R. McKelvie: U. S. District Court for the District of Delaware, 2001-02 Law Clerk for the Honorable Thomas L. Ambro: U. S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2000-01 Awards Future Star, Benchmark Litigation Order of the First State Publications & Lectures The White Knight or Business Strategy Privilege, Delaware Lawyer (Winter 2007-08) Professional Activities Member, Delaware Supreme Court Rules Committee Member, Delaware Supreme Court Judicial Strategies Committee Chair, Board on Professional Responsibility of the Delaware Supreme Court Member, Delaware State Bar Association Recent News Firm News, Events QE Webinar: Enforcing Deal Certainty: Lessons from Desktop Metal v. Nano Dimension Firm News Quinn Emanuel team named this weeks Litigators of the Week by The American Lawyer for Desktop Metal Victory Firm News Quinn Emanuel has achieved a nine-figure trial victory on behalf of our client, Shareholder Representative Services, LLC