Duane Werb has practiced law in the State of Delaware for nearly 30 years. Mr. Werb’s practice is concentrated primarily in the areas of commercial bankruptcy and reorganization, business and bankruptcy litigation, commercial and residential real estate.
Mr. Werb has represented commercial debtors and numerous secured and unsecured creditors, ranging from small family businesses to Fortune 500 companies, in major commercial bankruptcy proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. He has represented individuals, institutions, lenders, commercial landlords and tenants, vendors, suppliers, contractors, employees, and various other interested parties seeking to protect their interests in commercial bankruptcy proceedings. Mr. Werb regularly serves as co-counsel to out-of-state counsel in need of a seasoned Delaware attorney to assist in the representation of an existing client in commercial bankruptcy litigation.
Mr. Werb’s real estate practice focuses on providing convenient real estate closing services to individuals, whether they are purchasing a new home or refinancing. He has also represented commercial parties and well-situated individuals in the negotiation of complex real estate transactions and related business agreements.
In 2004, Mr. Werb served as class counsel to hundreds of vendors in the Fleming Companies, Inc. bankruptcy case who were seeking the return of funds held in constructive trust by the debtor. In 2007, he was appointed by the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware to serve as the chief restructuring officer of debtor EarthShell Corporation in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
Mr. Werb’s representative clients include Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., Nokia Corporation, Georgia-Pacific Corp. Bank of America, N.A., Nextag, Inc., Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Cerion, LLC, Novastar Mortgage, Adidas-Salomon AG, Imperial Home Décor Group, inc., J.R. Simplot Company, AlixPartners, LLC, Artisan’s Bank, Crown Equipment, Industrial Realty Group, LLC, J.B. Hunt, L.L.C., LaSalle Bank, N.A., Nestle USA, Inc., Emerson Network Power Embedded, Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc., Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., and U.S. Ring Binder LP.
Prior to entering private practice in 1987, Mr. Werb served for five years as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Delaware. During his tenure, Mr. Werb handled high-profile criminal cases including the prosecution of reputed mob boss Frank Sheeran.
Mr. Werb also served as the chief public defender for Kent County, Delaware for seven years serving as lead defense counsel in several capital murder cases. From 1979 to 1994, Mr. Werb was an adjunct professor of law at Widener University School of Law.
Mr. Werb is a member of the American Bar Association, the Delaware State Bar Association, the Pennsylvania State Bar Association, the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute and INSOL International.
