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EXHIBIT 5.1
Mayer, Brown & Platt
190 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
September 28, 2000
Corvis Corporation
7015 Albert Einstein Drive
Columbia, Maryland 21046-9400
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as special counsel to Corvis Corporation (the "Company") in
connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
of 53,869,439 shares of its Common Stock, $.01 par value per share ("Common
Stock"), to be offered pursuant to the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan,
20,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be offered pursuant to the Company's 2000
Long Term Incentive Plan and 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock available for
purchase under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (together the 1997
Stock Option Plan, the 2000 Long Term Incentive Plan and the Employee Stock
Purchase Plan are referred to herein as the "Plans"). In connection therewith,
we have examined or are otherwise familiar with the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, the Company's By-Laws, the Plans, the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") relating to the shares of
Common Stock, relevant resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, and
such other documents and instruments as we have deemed necessary for the
purposes of rendering this opinion.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the shares of Common
Stock registered on the Registration Statement are duly authorized for issuance
and when issued in accordance with the provisions of the Plans will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of the Company.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
MAYER, BROWN & PLATT
