+
More
More
OPINION Dear friends, Folks, 3-years after the forced sale of TransPerfect in Delaware’s Chancery Court — executed by Chancellor Andre Bouchard, with Leo Stine backing him in the Delaware Supreme Court — somehow Skadden Arps, where Strine and Bouchard both worked, is continuing to collect money. Over $15 million collected from TransPerfect to date, and still collecting! Shocking, just shocking. I don’t see how this is still happening. Don’t think judicial corruption in Delaware doesn’t affect you personally, folks, it does. I believe Bouchard is the anti-Robin Hood, robbing from middle-income Americans to feather the nest of his friends. Are we really supposed to believe that much of this “free money,” belonging to TransPerfect, that Bouchard is seemingly giving away, is not making it back to him in some form or fashion? Citizens are now banned together, demanding the resignation of court-appointed custodian Robert Pincus and Jennifer Voss, who is the chief attorney for Skadden Arps. TransPerfect has a growth rate bigger than Apple and the total cost of Delaware interfering with this company’s growth is over $250 million. Read the story below, folks. I have been observing this fiasco and writing about it for years now. Are you as outraged as me about this highway robbery? Would love to hear your feedback on this. You may think having the most corrupt lawman in the past century, in my estimation, running our Chancery Court, doesn’t affect you personally, but Delaware’s economy is highly dependent upon the business community’s trust in us, so it absolutely does. What do you think? Respectfully Yours, Judson Bennett-Coastal Network
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/citizens-pro-business-delaware-slams-135600616.html?.tsrc=fin-srch Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Slams Skadden Arps on Third Anniversary of TransPerfect Sale Agreement Execution The Grassroots Government & Judicial Reform Advocacy Group Also Called for the Resignation of TransPerfect Custodian, Robert Pincus, and Lead Case Attorney, Jennifer Voss, to resign
Mon, November 23, 2020, 8:56 AM ESTToday, on the three-year anniversary of the execution of the unprecedented forced sale of TransPerfect, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware (CPBD) slammed Skadden Arps and Chancery Court-appointed custodian Robert Pincus for continuing to bilk the company for over $15 million dollars without itemized invoices or explanation of the work being done. CPBD also renewed its calls for Robert Pincus to resign from his role as custodian, along with the resignation of Skadden’s lead attorney on the case, Jennifer Voss. Said Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Campaign Manager Chris Coffey, “It’s absolutely insane and indefensible that today, three whole years after the sale of TransPerfect was executed, Skadden Arps’ Bob Pincus and Jennifer Voss are continuing to bilk the company for millions of dollars without saying why or what for. Despite a court order to unseal the records, Skadden has failed to account for any of the more than $15 million they’ve raided from TransPerfect’s coffers – if they’ve really done $15 million worth of work, then why is Skadden so afraid to show the records?” “The cost of Delaware’s interference in a thriving business with a growth rate higher than Apple’s is over $250 million in all, a direct wealth transfer from employees to Chancellor Bouchard’s inner circle, who have fed at the trough of TransPerfect for too long at the expense of everyday employees.” “Instead of continuing to give away cushy appointments and government contracts to elite firms like Skadden Arps, which doesn’t have a single Black Partner and has only one Black Associate in their Wilmington office, Delaware’s courts and government should make tangible efforts to bolster economic prosperity among Delaware’s communities of color and ensure that diversity and equity are at the heart of all appointments and government contracts. We’re hopeful that with President-Elect Biden’s ascension to the presidency – and his stellar commitment to diversity in his appointments and cabinet – things may finally start to change in Delaware.” “That change should start with Skadden Arps’ Bob Pincus and Jennifer Voss, who have been inflating their bills to TransPerfect for more than three years solely to enrich themselves and their firm. While Pincus has no incentive to give up his golden parachute, and neither does Skadden, three years of getting rich off the backs of TransPerfect’s success is enough. To Mr. Pincus and Ms. Voss, we repeat the words of British MP Leo Amery to feckless Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain: ‘You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go.’”

Who is Chancellor Andre Bouchard?

Andre Bouchard is a public figure and career politician from the elite of Delaware. After working as an attorney for many years, Bouchard joined the Court of Chancery and has been at the heart of a few Delaware business scandals. He is now Chancellor Andre Bouchard of the Delaware Chancery Court.

1. Chancellor Bouchard’s School and Education 

Chancellor Andre Bouchard, raised primarily in Delaware, dedicated himself to education early on. Bouchard first attended Salesianum High School, an all boys private Catholic school located in Wilmington, Delaware. Following his upbringing at Salesianum Catholic School, graduating in 1979, Andre Bouchard attended Boston College for his Bachelor’s degree and later attended Harvard Law School with his juris doctorate.

2. Andre Bouchard’s Career Summary

With a history of privilege among the Delaware elite, Andre Bouchard has a lengthy list of cushy jobs from working as a corporate litigator at Skadden Arps to starting his own law firm Bouchard, Margules & Friedlander. Now, Andre Bouchard sits as the Chancellor Bouchard at the Delaware Court of Chancery.

3. Chancellor Bouchard’s Additional involvements beyond the Court

With privilege comes connections, and Andre Bouchard has a network of very powerful friends. Because of this, Chancellor Bouchard has also had many opportunities to work in various government positions.

4. Notable Cases from Bouchard’s Chancery Role

There are multiple cases worth noting, both from Andre Bouchard’s time as an attorney and as the Chancellor for the Delaware Chancery, however, the following cases from the CBS Merger to custody battle over TransPerfect and Meso Scale Diagnostics, showcase a similar theme for Bouchard. A theme runs through all of these cases: unprecedented intervening and oversight from government to business/organizations. For more information, visit Delaware State CourtConnect and Courtroom View Network (CVN).

5. Andre Bouchard’s Firm Represents State in a Federal Lawsuit

As previously noted, Bouchard founded and worked for Bouchard, Margules & Friedlander, a law firm that was once used (before Bouchard became Chancellor) to defend the Delaware Chancery Court in 2011. This case was important, as the Delaware Coalition for Open Government was attempting to prevent the courts’ ability to use confidential arbitration, which would significantly invade the rights of businesses and individuals. The Coalition prevailed, and Bouchard lost the case.

6. Chancery Case: Meso Scale Diagnostics V. Roche Diagnostics

In the midst of the Delaware Coalition for Open Government litigation, Meso Scale Diagnostics was in the middle of a Chancery Court suit against Roche Diagnostics, a case where Bouchard had more bias than Meso Scale knew, including the following: Andre Bouchard never admitted any relationship, yet information was covered up until recently. Meso Scale was not given the chance to request an unbiased judge and therefore claims it was an unfair trial.

7. A Voice for the People? Conflict of Interest in the Chancery Court

Though Chancellor Bouchard claims that he desires more than anything to protect the vulnerable, his case history would suggest otherwise. He consistently rules in favor of those in power, while leaving Delaware citizens without unbiased representation. The TransPerfect case, the Koch case and the Meso Scale Diagnostics case demonstrate the conflicts of interest that have been present in the Delaware Chancery Court for years since Bouchard has taken over.

8. Andre Bouchard and Skadden Arps

Before his career as Chancellor and running his own practice, Andre Bouchard worked as an attorney for Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom LLP for 10 years. It is important to note Bouchard’s close relationship with the firm, as it has monopolized businesses in Delaware for decades. Bouchard not only worked as an attorney there, but also kept in close contact with many of his previous coworkers and employers, including Robert Pincus—who he brought on as the custodian in the TransPerfect case.

9. Andre Bouchard and Robert Pincus 

Both of these men are seemingly part of the Delaware “Old Boys Club” and worked for Skadden Arps at the same time; Bouchard as an attorney and Pincus primarily as an arbitrator. Yet, the close relationship didn’t seem to be a ‘conflict of interest’ in Chancellor Bouchard’s eyes when he brought Robert Pincus on to be the custodian for the TransPerfect case.

10. Chancellor Bouchard’s role in the TransPerfect case 

In the TransPerfect case, Andre Bouchard seemed to utilize his personal connections when making decisions. He appointed his friend and previous coworker, Robert Pincus, as custodian of the case. This led to mishandling of the case—for years, Bouchard did not require Pincus to hand over receipts for millions of dollars in bills directed at the company.

Coastal Network

The Coastal Network is an outlet committed to providing a voice against corruption and advocating for transparency in the Delaware court system, business world and beyond. For more on corruption in the United States, including the Delaware Court system, visit www.coastalnetwork.com