OVERVIEW
Rochelle Gumapac focuses on complex civil litigation arising from environmental/toxic tort, product liability, real estate professional malpractice, personal injury, premises liability, insurance bad faith claims and construction defect and design. She is also experienced in commercial litigation that arises in and out of bankruptcy, preference actions, fraudulent conveyance actions, cash collateral disputes and claim objection and resolution.
Rochelle has successfully handled numerous matters from initiation to settlement or trial in administrative and regulatory board hearings, all state-level courts in Delaware, District of Delaware Bankruptcy Court, Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. She has also handled multi-million dollar catastrophic cases in the area of products liability to trial.
Clients come to Rochelle when they are in a tough position and need a staunch ally. She evaluates their case, intimately familiarizes herself with their industries, macro- and micro-operations, goals, and expectations, and presents multiple strategies for reaching the best possible outcomes. Rochelle is not intimidated by the prospect of trial and the hard work it takes to zealously defend her clients in court. Her meticulous preparation, diverse perspective, and ability to effectively communicate separate her from her peers.
Her experience in all levels of the judicial system and multi-discipline practice provides clients the benefit and comfort of having one attorney represent them in multiple matters that may arise. Rochelle has secured dismissals, via Motions for Summary Judgment, on behalf of her clients with a substantial success rate, sparing her clients the time and expense of having to go through trial.
Rochelle enjoys getting to know her clients, understanding their goals, and collaboratively assisting them with their plans for the future. She has been able to evolve, grow, and become an integral advisor to the companies with which she works. She views issues pragmatically and analyzes the facts and the law from both sides, giving her the ability to develop innovative solutions. She is not afraid to have frank conversations and because she really gets to know her clients, she is able to speak their language and counsel them not only on how to handle the current situation, but how to avoid potential issues in the future.
As White and Williams’ first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Rochelle collaborates with firm management and established firm committees such as Diversity, Associate Development and the Women’s Initiative to develop and implement strategic DEI initiatives focused on increasing the recruitment, retention, and promotion of diverse talent. She also partners with legal industry associations to support and shape DEI initiatives industry wide. Additionally, she works with clients to develop DEI programs that encourage long-term generational knowledge, active listening, and inclusion programs to make clients more effective in the way they understand their employees and serve the societies in which they operate.
Prior to attending law school, Rochelle worked as a Stagiaire for the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. While attending law school, she was an intern for the New Castle County Court of Common Pleas and the Delaware Civil Clinic.
Outside of work, Rochelle enjoys raising her 3 children in Delaware and participating in multiple community programs.
Credentials
Bar and Court Admissions
Delaware
Rhode Island
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
Education
Widener University School of Law, JD, 2006
Ursinus College, BA, 2003
News & Insights
Memberships
Delaware State Bar Association
Defense Counsel of Delaware (Board Member)
Defense Research Institute (DE State Representative)
International Association of Defense Counsel
Philadelphia Diversity Law Group
Rhode Island State Bar Association
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
- Secured affirmation of summary judgment based on Ohio's Causation Standard for asbestos cases in favor of a major automotive manufacturer in a mesothelioma case
- Obtained defense verdict for a major automotive manufacturer in an asbestos mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit, which alleged decedent’s exposure to automotive products through his career as a mechanic caused his disease and subsequent death, following a three-week trial
- Obtained defense verdict for service station client in jury trial over catastrophic injuries to a patron injured on premises
- Obtained summary judgment for a premises client in a catastrophic loss case
- Represented manufacturers of alleged asbestos containing products in toxic tort suits and/or product liability matters
- Represented real estate agencies, brokers, and agents in professional liability actions such as contract disputes, negligence, fraud, conspiracy, and misrepresentation allegations, as well as defended them against inquiries and sanctioning by the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation and Real Estate Commission
- Represented appraisal companies and appraisers in professional liability actions in state and federal courts as well as administrative and regulatory hearings
- Represented insured individuals and companies in negligence, fraud, conspiracy, misrepresentation and insurance coverage actions
- Represented commercial creditors and insurance companies in bankruptcy and preference actions; past creditors include lenders, mortgagees, professionals, franchisors, financial institutions and other secured and unsecured creditors
- Represented general contractors and subcontractors in disputes regarding construction defects and designs and obtaining mechanics’ liens
- Represented landowners and tenants in premises liability actions