Practice Areas- Criminal Defense and Petitions for Protection from Abuse in Family Court

Derek is a Sussex County Native who was born and raised in Lewes, Delaware. Derek graduated from Cape Henlopen High School in 2008, University of Delaware in 2012 and Delaware Law School in 2015.

After passing the Delaware Bar Exam, Derek began practice as an associate with the law firm of Stumpf, Vickers and Sandy P.A where he interned throughout the entirety of law school. While working for Stumpf, Vickers and Sandy Derek practiced in both the areas of criminal and family law.

In October of 2016, Derek took a position with the Department of Justice as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Delaware where he prosecuted everything from traffic tickets to homicides. While serving as a Deputy Attorney General Derek also led the Drug Unit in prosecuting the county’s biggest drug offenders.

In March of 2022 Derek transitioned back into private practice and took a position with The Smith Firm, LLC where he practiced in the areas of Criminal Defense, Family Law, Real Estate Law and Personal Injury. In January of 2024 Derek accepted an offer to join the law firm of Gonser and Gonser P.A where he primarily practices out of their Georgetown office.

Derek has extensive trial experience in a multitude of Courts including Justice of the Peace Court, Alderman’s Court, Family Court, the Court of Common Pleas and Superior Court. As someone who has prosecuted cases, Derek is uniquely positioned to offer perspective on how cases are investigated and built as well as how to get the best resolution for his client. With Gonser and Gonser Derek primarily practices in the area of Criminal Defense and Petitions for Protection from Abuse. His work on Petition’s for Protection from Abuse recently earned him a nomination from Coastal Magazine as the top Family/Divorce attorney in Sussex County. Delaware Today magazine named Derek one of 2024’s top Lawyers. The National Trial Lawyers named Derek as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Delaware.