Gary W. Derrick

Gary Derrick

Gary W. Derrick specializes in corporate and securities law, including mergers and acquisitions, ’34 Act reporting, private equity and debt financing, venture capital financing, business formation and restructuring, corporate governance, and general business contracts.  His clients are in oil and gas, technology, hospitality, agriculture, manufacturing, retail and professional services.

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC

  • Chair, Oklahoma General Corporation Act Committee (1986-present) (the Committee drafted the Oklahoma General Corporation Act, and the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act) (recipient, Golden Gavel Award for Outstanding Committee, 1986)
  • Chair, Business Associations Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association (1986-87, 2004-05)
  • Delegate/Alternate Delegate (Oklahoma County), Oklahoma Bar Association Annual Meeting (2006-2014)
  • American Society of Corporate Secretaries (professional organization for corporate counsels), President, Oklahoma/Arkansas Chapter (1994-95)
  • Director, Young Lawyers’ Division, Oklahoma County Bar Association (1982-83)
  • Fellow, Oklahoma Bar Foundation
  • Chair, Oklahoma EDGE Endowment Policy Board (state fund to promote technology development and transfer) (Vice Chair, 2008-2010; Chair, 2010-2012)
  • Director, Oklahoma Venture Forum (2011-present)
  • Vice Chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese, and Chair, Constitution & Canons Committee, Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma (1999-present)
  • President, Standing Committee, Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma (2013-2015)
  • Director, Historical Preservation, Inc. (1991-present)

HONORS AND RECOGNITION

  • Best Lawyers in America (corporate and corporate governance law) (since 1995); named Oklahoma Lawyer of the Year 2012 (corporate governance), 2013 (corporate law), 2015 (corporate governance), 2019 (corporate governance), 2024 (corporate law) and 2024 (corporate governance)
  • Chambers USA, ranked lawyer in its American’s Leading Business Lawyers (since 2004)
  • Oklahoma Super Lawyers since 2006 (business/corporate, securities, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance)
  • Martindale-Hubbell (AV rating since 1986)
  • Who’s Who in American Law since 1986 and Who’s Who in America since 1999
  • OBA Earl Sneed Award for CLE, 1997, and the John E. Shipp Award for Ethics, 2016
  • American Jurisprudence Award, Dean’s List, Phi Delta Phi (OU College of Law)
  • Blue Key, Gamma Gamma, Omicron Delta Kappa, Gilstrap Leadership Award, President’s and Dean’s Lists (OSU)

AUTHORSHIP

  • “Introduction: History of the General Corporation Act; Variances from Delaware Law”, “Rights, Duties, and Liabilities of Directors, Officers, and Shareholders,” and “Limited Liability Companies”, Oklahoma Business Organizations and Practice (Irving L. Faught, ed.) (Aspen, 2005)
  • “New Developments in Oklahoma Business Entity Law”, University of Oklahoma Law Review (Fall 2003) (with Irving L. Faught)
  • “Oklahoma Limited Liability Companies after Check-The-Box”, Oklahoma City University Law Review 643, 667 (Summer 1997)

EDUCATION

  • Oklahoma State University (BA, 1976)
  • University of Oklahoma (JD, 1979)