Delaware lawyer wins honor from state chamber of commerce

O. Francis Biondi, a local lawyer and political deal-maker, received the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s Josiah Marvel Cup Award Monday.

The announcement was made at the Chamber’s 179th Annual Dinner, held at the Chase Center in Wilmington’s Riverfront section. The award honors Delawareans who have made an outstanding contribution to society and is named after Josiah Marvel, the Chamber’s first president.

Biondi has long been an active figure in Delaware public life. He helped create and pass the Financial Center Development Act of 1981, which ultimately created over 30,000 Delaware jobs, according to the Chamber. A press released by the Chamber hailed Biondi’s ability to collaborate and broker political compromise, calling him “the preeminent deal-maker and public policy attorney of his generation.”

Admitted to the Delaware bar in 1958, Biondi later served as its president. He also helmed the state bar’s foundation and served on various commissions. He chaired the Crime Reduction Task Force, co-chaired the Commission on Delaware Courts 2000, and was vice chairman of the Delaware Agency to Reduce Crime.

He was a Senior Partner at Morris, Nicholes, Arsht & Tunnell LLP before retiring in 2001.