A recent March 20, 2026 letter decision from the Delaware Court of Chancery in Gary T. Turner v. Lam Research Corporation is a stark illustration of how unforgiving Delaware courts can be when stockholders sit on their rights. For venture-backed companies and their stockholders, the case underscores a simple but critical point: stock ownership rights
For founders and executives at venture-backed startups, equity is often the centerpiece of compensation – and the primary driver of long-term wealth. But unlike cash compensation, that equity is typically illiquid for years. Outside of an IPO or a sale of the company, opportunities to turn shares into cash are limited, tightly controlled and often