People

Norman M. Monhait

Recognized as one of the Delaware Bar’s leading corporate litigators, Norman Monhait is a Partner in the Delaware office of Reid Collins & Tsai.

Norm applies his extensive knowledge, and forty years of experience litigating issues of business entity law and fiduciary duty in the Delaware Court of Chancery and other fora, to the representation of the firm’s clients in all manner of business disputes and litigation.

For over three decades, as a partner at Rosenthal Monhait & Goddess and its predecessors, Norm prosecuted complex business litigation most frequently on behalf of investors in individual, class, and derivative actions, primarily before the Delaware Court of Chancery. Norm also has substantial experience representing creditors and parties in interest in adversary proceedings and contested matters in Delaware’s Bankruptcy Court. He and his firm were best known for their expertise in corporate litigation and contributions to the development of the Delaware General Corporation Law, while also maintaining bankruptcy, general commercial litigation and real estate practices, advocating civil rights claims, and representing people unable to afford counsel.  

Prior to coming to Delaware in 1979, Norm began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Max Rosenn of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and developed trial skills during a three-year tenure as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.

Outside his business practice, Norm’s professional career is an equally impressive mosaic of achievement and good works.  

For over fifteen years, Norm was a member of the Council of the Delaware State Bar Association’s (“DSBA”) Corporation Law Section.  The Council plays a vital role in keeping Delaware’s statutory business entity laws current through annual review, drafting of amendments, and advocating those proposals before the Delaware General Assembly.  Norm served as the Council’s Vice Chair for two years and as Chair for three years.  During his tenure, among other significant proposals, the Council developed and successfully advocated the passage of the Delaware Benefit Corporation Law and amendments aimed at maintaining a balance of interests between investors and management.  Norm was also a long-time member of the Court of Chancery Rules Committee. In the 1980’s, Norm was a member and then Chair of the DSBA’s Continuing Legal Education Committee and played a principal role in the initial formulation of Delaware’s mandatory continuing legal education program.  The Delaware Supreme Court then appointed him as the first Chair of the Delaware Commission on Continuing Legal Education, a position he held from January 1987 until January 1993.

Norm has also devoted time to pro bono work and community service.  He served as court-appointed defense counsel in criminal cases in United States District Court, as guardian ad litem for children in dependency and neglect proceedings in Delaware Family Court, and as assisting counsel in a number in civil rights litigations.  He has been a member of the Boards of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware, the Wilmington Jewish Community Center, the Delaware Council on Crime and Justice (currently the Delaware Center for Justice) and The Kutz Home, Inc., a residential skilled nursing facility for the elderly, as well as a long-time member of the Board of Trustees and Treasurer of Wilmington Friends School, which he continues to serve as Chair of its Endowment Committee.

Between college and law school, Norm served on active duty as a commissioned officer in the United States Naval Reserve.