William J. Wade Receives the Caleb R. Layton III Service Award
June 25, 2010
Firm News
WILMINGTON, Delaware (June 25, 2010) – William J. Wade, executive vice president of Richards, Layton & Finger, has been awarded the Caleb R. Layton III Service Award by the Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware for exemplary service to the Court and the bar of the Court. The award was presented to Wade by Judge Sue L. Robinson during the Federal Bar Association annual luncheon on June 23, 2010. The Caleb R. Layton III Service Award is presented to a recipient who personifies the qualities of a federal practitioner through legal acumen, professional decorum and public service.
“The firm is very pleased to see Bill given this award, which reflects the Court’s appreciation for Bill’s efforts on the Court’s behalf, including his recent participation as a mentor in the eight-week Federal Trial Practice Seminar sponsored by the Court and the Federal Bar Association,” said C. Stephen Bigler, president of the firm. “We’re particularly proud that a Richards Layton attorney has been honored with this award for the second consecutive year.”
Wade, chair of Richards Layton’s Litigation Department, represents local and national clients in Delaware’s state and federal courts with an emphasis on various areas of civil litigation, including intellectual property and commercial law matters. He has a long history of leadership in the legal community, and has served on numerous panels and committees in the state and national bar. Wade is past chair of the Board of Bar Examiners of the State of Delaware, and past chair of the Merit Selection Panel in connection with the appointment of a second U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Delaware. He is also very active in both the health-care arena and Delaware’s annual Minority Job Fair.
A recipient of Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV rating, Wade is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Benchmark Litigation and Delaware Super Lawyers. He received a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a B.A., magna cum laude, with Honors and Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, from the University of Delaware.