Derek C. Abbott

Derek C. Abbott is a partner at Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, where he has developed a distinguished practice representing Fortune 1000 corporations, international organizations, and local businesses in complex bankruptcy and restructuring matters. He serves as lead or Delaware counsel for debtors, creditors, committees, and case constituents in high-profile insolvency proceedings.

Derek earned his Juris Doctor with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1995, where he served as Publication Editor for the North Carolina Law Review. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1987. The leadership and discipline gained at West Point remain the cornerstones of his legal career.

Throughout his career, Derek has represented clients such as the Boy Scouts of America, John Varvatos Enterprises, Grupo AeroMexico, AT&T Inc., BP Energy, and Nortel Networks. He has served as Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 Trustee, frequently acts as a mediator in insolvency disputes, and provides expert testimony in domestic and international restructuring cases. His practice is known for precision, strategy, and effective advocacy.

In addition to client representation, Derek C. Abbott has earned recognition for his professional and civic contributions. He was elected a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy in 2016 and has received the Delaware State Bar Association’s Access to Justice Commitment Award and the Caleb R. Layton III Service Award.

Actively engaged in pro bono and community service, Derek chairs the Morris Nichols pro bono committee and frequently speaks at national and local legal conferences.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP
• Member, Delaware State Bar Association (Bankruptcy Section (Chapter 11 Committee) and Veterans Committee)
• Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy
• Member, American Bar Association (Business Law (Committee on Business Bankruptcy) and Litigation Sections)
• Member, Turnaround Management Association
• Former General Chair, New Castle County Combined Campaign for Justice
• Two-Term Board Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
• Member, American Bankruptcy Institute (Veteran’s Task Force)

Licensed State

• Delaware

Education

• University of North Carolina School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD) With Honors
• United States Military Academy
  Bachelor of Science

Awards & Badges