Karen L. Valihura

Professional career

• After her term ended in July 2026, Valihura became Distinguished Professor of Corporate Law at Wilmington University Farnan School of Law and founding director of its Corporate Law, Governance and Practice Institute.
• Karen Lynn Valihura is an American lawyer and jurist who held the role of a Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court from July 25, 2014, to July 25, 2026, appointed by Governor Jack Markell to replace Justice Jack B. Jacobs
• In October 2019, she acted as Chief Justice for one day when the Chief Justice was unavailable
• Before joining the judiciary, Valihura was a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP from 1989 to 2014
• Law clerk to Judge Robert E. Cowen, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Served a full 12-year term, making her the longest-serving justice on the court at the time of her retirement

Education

Additional information

• Nominated in June 2014 and confirmed unanimously by the Delaware Senate.
• Born May 16, 1963.
• focusing on complex commercial and corporate governance disputes, securities law, mergers and acquisitions, and transactional litigation.