David H Burt

About David H Burt

My work has centered on resolving disputes in commercial contract matters. At DuPont, was responsible for commercial litigation, international arbitration and insurance law; also as its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) leader, and chief legal counsel to its captive insurer Christiana Insurance LLC. As first-chair and in collaboration with outside counseI, I have practiced in courts and arbitration across the US, Asia and Europe, under several countries\' laws and various rule schemes. Affirmative Recovery cases in my docket reclaimed more than $600 million to the bottom line. DuPont\'s Recoveries project, which I helped to lead, added $2.6 billion over ten years.(Mediation works!) Equally often, I participated to defend the company as respondent, demonstrating commercially correct actions. After twenty great years at DuPont, for five years I served CPR Institute as Executive Consultant. CPR is the premier corporate-founded ADR think tank and provider of ADR services. Today I apply experience as an active participant in two practice areas: 1) Independent Arbitrator: I sit as an impartial commercial, insurance and maritime arbitrator. 2) Affirmative Asset Recovery Consultant: Every company’s success depends on trade relationships that deliver mutual benefit. Some suppliers, contractors, customers and other trading partners will fail to perform fully, costing value. Not all breaches are obvious. Not unusually, a carefully negotiated deal lacks meticulous administration. Performance diverges from requirements while shortcomings go unnoticed. For example royalties, premiums, discounts, indemnities, and price escalations may depend on formulae that are not updated. Corporate Affirmative Recoveries can be misunderstood as a \"litigation program,\" which it is not. Above all it is an opportunity for valued business relationships to be examined in the light of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Compulsory arbitration or litigation is reserved as an eventual tool only if necessary. Early discovery and adjustment can often preserve or enhance a trading relationship. An Affirmative Recoveries program will consciously promote this shift in company culture. Ask me for Friends in the international legal community have been the best CLE. I have been lucky to serve on the Steering Committee of the Corporate Counsel International Arbitration Group (CCIAG), the Council of Distinguished Advisors of Pepperdine University’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, and as Chair of CPR’s Mediation and Executive Advisory Committees.

Experience

1. Member, Board of Directors

   Diamond State Port Corporation

   Apr 2025 — Present · Wilmington, DE, US

   By appointment of Governor Matt Meyer and confirmation by the Delaware State Senate. Diamond State Port Corporation owns the Port of Wilmington, and is engaged in a major expansion to create a new two-berth container port at Edgemoor, Delaware.

Education

• William & Mary Law School

  Juris Doctor

  1982 — 1985

• Swarthmore College

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

  1976 — 1980

Skills

• Intellectual Property
• Corporate Governance
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Litigation
• Mediation
• Contract Negotiation
• Courts
• Arbitration
• Legal Writing
• Corporate Law
• Commercial Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Dispute Resolution
• Legal Research
• Civil Litigation
• Public Speaking
• International Arbitration
• Commercial Litigation