Chad J. Toms

Mr. Toms is a Partner with Whiteford Taylor & Preston practicing in the areas of complex business litigation, community associations and business reorganization.  He frequently handles litigation matters involving common interest communities, corporate governance, fiduciary duty and bankruptcy issues.  Mr. Toms is licensed to practice law in Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland and is also a Certified Public Accountant, currently inactive.  He heads up the firm’s Community Association practice in Delaware and the Eastern Shore and manages the firm’s Bethany Beach, Delaware and Ocean City, Maryland offices.  In that capacity, Mr. Toms advises common-interest community association boards on day-to-day business operations including compliance with governing documents, operating procedures, meetings (including quorum, voting and proxy issues), insurance matters, director issues and disputes, member issues and disputes, financial and real property matters.  He also serves on the Advisory Council to the Delaware Common Interest Community Ombudsman.

Recognitions

• The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2027), Community Association Law (2027), Insurance Law (2027), Litigation - Real Estate (2027)
• Delaware Super Lawyers^®, Business Litigation "Rising Stars" (2012)

Memberships & Activities

• Fellow: College of Community Association Lawyers
• Member: American Bar Association
• Member: Delaware State Bar Association
• Member: American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants
• Member: American Bankruptcy Institute
• Member: Advisory Council to the Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsperson
• Member: Community Association Institute/ Chair of Eastern Shore Education Committee
• Former Board Member: MARKINC.
• Former Board Member: Delaware Architectural Accessibility Board
• Board Member: Greater Ocean City Maryland Chamber of Commerce
• Certified Public Accountant (inactive)

Clerkship

• Honorable Henry duPont Ridgely, Delaware Superior Court

Director & Officer Corporate Governance

• Practice in complex corporate and business litigation, including equitable litigation concerning Delaware entities, their directors, members, partners and other constituencies in relation to corporate governance and fiduciary duties
• Representation of institutional investor in asserting breach of fiduciary duty claims against officers and directors
• Defense of corporation in challenge of going private transaction
• Representation of minority shareholder in contested election of directors under 8 Del. C. Sec. 225
• Representation of corporation in defending demand for indemnification of former officers and directors under 8 Del. C. Sec. 145
• Successfully obtaining appointment of a receiver under 8 Del. C. Sec. 279 to wind down the affairs of a Delaware corporation

Business Reorganization & Bankruptcy

• Representation of debtors, creditors and creditor's committees in chapter 11 cases and as trustee's counsel in chapter 7 matters
• As plan trust counsel, investigate and prosecute breach of fiduciary duty claims against officers and directors

Bankruptcy Litigation

• Representation of former officers and directors in defense of adversary proceedings asserting breach of fiduciary duties
• Representation of insured in interpleader adversary proceeding regarding the proceeds of directors and officers insurance
• Manage the prosecution of large groupings of avoidance adversary proceedings in the bankruptcy court
• Defense of international seller of communications equipment in bankruptcy adversary action seeking turnover of disputed assets

Construction Litigation

• Experience in complex real estate and construction litigation including representation of owners, contractors and subcontractors in contractual disputes, construction defects and mechanic's liens
• Defense and defeat of multi-million dollar mechanics' liens asserted upon bankruptcy estate's assets in multiple jurisdictions

Real Estate Litigation

• Successful representation of commercial real estate developer in litigation concerning multi-million dollar projects
• Representation of landlords for commercial and multi-unit residential complex regarding landlord/tenant law and representation of real estate brokers and agents
• Representation of surety in bonding disputes
• Defense of publicly traded owner, operator & developer of multifamily housing complexes against toxic mold action
• Representation of public utility in statutory condemnation proceedings
• Prosecution of quiet title action to clear clouded title on large commercial property
• Representation of title insurance companies in various litigation matters arising from claims of title defects
• Representation of purchasers in specifically enforcing contract to purchase real estate

Business Litigation

• Representation of regional material supplier in all Delaware breach of contract and collection matters
• Representation of large manufacturer in prosecution of breach of distribution agreement
• Representation of doctors and nurses in numerous claims alleging medical malpractice in state and federal courts
• Representation of credit unions in all aspects of loan enforcement and collection
• Representation of employers in various employment disputes, including obtaining temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions to enforce certain contractual provisions
• Representation of applicant before Delaware Board of Profession Regulations

Insurance Coverage and Defense Litigation

• Represent insured in interpleader action in the bankruptcy court
• Represent community association in insurance declaratory judgment action 
• Counsel to primary insurance carrier in multi-million dollar insurance coverage action

Community Associations

• Representation of common interest communities, planned communities, condominium associations and homeowners associations in all aspects of Delaware law including the Delaware Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act ("DUCIOA") and the Unit Property Act

Community Association Litigation

• Representation of community associations in litigation, enforcement actions, covenants and rules compliance, contract disputes, bankruptcy proceedings and administrative proceedings

Developer/Warranty Issues

• Negotiate and litigate developer turn-over and warranty claims

Interpretation/Amendment of Governing Documents

• Counsel Delaware entities and their governing bodies on issues related to corporate governance and fiduciary duties
• Advise community association boards in the areas of covenant enforcement, compliance with governing documents, meetings, quorum, voting, insurance, director issues and disputes, member issues and disputes, assessments and financial and real property transactions
• Consult on amendment to community governing documents for a common interest community

Speaker: "Emergency Response in Large-Scale Communities: Who’s in Charge, What the Law Allows, and What Managers Can Do Versus Should Do," Community Association Institute's 2026 Large-Scale Managers Workshop, Big Sky, MT (September 2025)

Speaker: "Ethical Concerns with AI in Legal Practice," 2026 Community Association Law Seminar, San Diego, CA (January 2026)

Panelist: Panel of Pundits (Community Association Law Seminar, January 2025)

Speaker: Staying Relevant in the Age of ChatGPT: Embracing Modern Technology (Community Association Law Seminar, February 2024)

Co-Speaker: Charting a Course Post-Surfside (Community Associations Institute Annual Conference and Expo, May 2023)

Co-Speaker: 55+ Communities and Their Unique Challenges (Webinar, March 2022)

Speaker: 2021 Maryland and Delaware Legislative Updates (Chesapeake Chapter Community Associations Institute Mini Expo, November 2021)

Speaker: 2021 Delaware Legislative Updates (Webinar, September 2021)

Co-Speaker: Structural Safety and Maintenance of Buildings (Eastern Shore Breakfast Seminar, September 2021)

Co-Speaker: Guidance and Compliance for Delaware Community Associations: Clubhouses, Pools and other Amenities (Webinar, May 2021)

Speaker: Use of Technology to Improve Your Virtual Meetings (Chesapeake Chapter Community Association Institute, Webinar, April 2021)

Co-Speaker: How to Manage Effective Committees & Maryland/Delaware Legislative Update (Legum & Norman Education Program, Webinar, March 2021)

Speaker: Board Leadership Development Workshop for Maryland and Delaware (Chesapeake Chapter Community Association Institute, Webinar, March 2021)

Co-Speaker: COVID-19: The Legal Implications – What Managers Need to Know! (Webinar, May 2020)

Speaker: Contract Provisions for Associations: A Guide for HOA & Condominium Communities (Webinar, May 2020)

Speaker: Avoid the Collision – Stay in Your Lane (Chesapeake Region Chapter Breakfast Seminar for Board Members and Community Association Managers, February 2020)

Speaker: Maryland and Delaware Law (Chesapeake Region Chapter CAI Construction Defect Seminar, May 2015)

Speaker: Working with Governing Documents (Chesapeake Region Chapter CAI/CRC Breakfast Program, March 2015)

Author and Speaker: Accounting 101 for Attorneys (National Business Institute, 2010)

Author and Speaker: Landlord Tenant Law in Delaware: Beyond the Basics (Sterling Education Services, 2009)