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Publicly-Traded Companies State and Local Government California

Mintz - Energy & Sustainability Viewpoints

Sustainable Energy & Infrastructure Litigation Updates — August 2025

There was a noteworthy development in the ongoing legal challenge to the SEC’s mandatory climate disclosure law (dating from the Biden administration), which is currently pending in the Eighth Circuit. Following the decision...more

Allen Matkins

Strangers In A Strange Land - In California, Bumblebees, Crabs and Snails Are Fishes And A General Partnership May Soon Be A...

Allen Matkins on

In California, some things are not what they seem.  Here, a bumblebee, a crab or snail can be a fish, but a goldfish may not be a fish. Now, a bill is pending in the California legislature which threatens even more violence...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

California Poised To Adopt Sweeping Climate Disclosure Rules

In September 2023, the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 253, Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) and Senate Bill 261, Greenhouse Gases: Climate-Related Financial Risk (SB 261). California Gov. Gavin...more

Fenwick & West LLP

California’s Proposed Bills Require Companies to Report on Climate Emissions and Risks

Fenwick & West LLP on

While all eyes are on proposed federal and European climate disclosure rules, the California legislature passed two climate-related bills that overlap somewhat with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s proposed...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Los Angeles Superior Court Invalidates California Board Diversity Statute, Rendering It Ripe for Review by the California Court of...

In Crest v. Padilla, No. 20STCV37513 (Cal. Super. Apr. 1, 2022), the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles (Green, J.) declared that Section 301.4 of the California Corporations Code is unconstitutional...more

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Court Rules Against California's Mandated Underrepresented Communities Board Diversity Law

On April 1, 2022, a Superior Court judge in Los Angeles struck down California's landmark legislation requiring representation of "underrepresented communities" on the boards of publicly held companies based in California....more

Allen Matkins

Plaintiffs Prevail In Constitutional Challenge To California Board Quota Law

Allen Matkins on

This afternoon, Judge Terry Green granted the plaintiff's summary judgment motion in a case challenging the constitutionality of AB 979.  Crest v. Padilla, LA Super. Ct. Case No. 20STCV37513...more

Allen Matkins

What Is And Is Not Mandatory With Respect To California's Female Director Quota Law

Allen Matkins on

On Monday, I noted that because California's female director quota law uses the word "shall", it is mandatory.  Confused?  Here's how I break down the law...more

Allen Matkins

Does A Statutory Fine Constitute A "Threat"?

Allen Matkins on

As the trial of of the constitutionality of SB 826, California's female director quota, law continues, the question of the plaintiffs' standing remains in contention.  As I reported in June of last year, Judge Maureen...more

Allen Matkins

Secretary Of State Argues SB 826 Does Not Require An Impermissible Quota

Allen Matkins on

SB 826 is scheduled to go on trial today before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maureen Duffy-Lewis.  Crest v. Weber, Cal. Super. Ct. Case No. 19STCV27561.   SB 826 requires all publicly held corporations headquartered in...more

Allen Matkins

Challenges To California Director Quota Law Keep Coming

Allen Matkins on

It should be a surprise to no one that California's laws imposing strict gender and diversity requirements on publicly held corporations continue to attract legal challenges.  Tomorrow, a trial is scheduled to begin in...more

Allen Matkins

PEO Versus PPB

Allen Matkins on

California's female and underrepresented community board quota statutes apply to publicly held corporations having their principal executive offices in California "according to the corporation's SEC 10-K form".  Cal. Corp....more

Allen Matkins

Secretary Of State Claims "Round Robin" Board Selection Process Solves Discrimination

Allen Matkins on

In seeking dismissal of a federal court challenge to California's director quota mandates, the California Secretary of State argues "SB 826 and AB 979 guarantees that a corporation can appoint new directors through a race-...more

Allen Matkins

California's Female Director Quota Statute Is Now Headed For Trial

Allen Matkins on

California Superior Court Judge Maureen Duffy-Lewis issued her ruling yesterday on the parties' respective motions for summary judgment in Crest v. Padilla (Cal. Super. Ct. Case No. 19STCV27561).  In this case, the plaintiffs...more

Allen Matkins

Ruling May Be Imminent In Female Director Quota Challenge

Allen Matkins on

Readers may recall that there are at least two challenges to California's female director quota mandate (aka SB 826).  In June, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals resurrected one suit by holding that the challenger has...more

Allen Matkins

New Challenge Filed To California Board Quota Laws

Allen Matkins on

Earlier this month, a Texas non-profit membership association filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of California, Alliance For Fair Board Recruitment v. Weber, Case No....more

Allen Matkins

9th Circuit: Shareholder Is Injured When California Requires Or Encourages Discrimination

Allen Matkins on

In 2018, California enacted SB 826 to impose female director quotas on publicly held domestic or foreign corporation whose principal executive offices, according to the corporation’s SEC 10-K form, are located in California. ...more

Allen Matkins

Constitutional Challenge To AB 979 Moving Toward A Trial

Allen Matkins on

The constitutional infirmity of California's legislation, AB 979, mandating minimum numbers of directors was well known to the legislators.  Both the Assembly and Senate floor analyses noted that earlier legislation mandating...more

Allen Matkins

They Went Where?

Allen Matkins on

According to the California Secretary of State's Women on Board report, 22 publicly held corporations moved their principal executive offices out of California.  These data were based on a comparison of annual reports filed...more

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

California Expands Board Diversity Mandate

On September 30, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation mandating representation of underrepresented communities on the boards of publicly held corporations based in California. This new law, known as...more

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