Given the hubbub over the SEC’s new EDGAR Next, I thought it would be useful to provide a FAQ explaining the rationale for Section 16 to a new director or officer who is unfamiliar with the concept....more
The proxy statement has become an integral component of a public company’s preparation for its annual meeting of shareholders. The rules and regulations under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act),...more
The annual DGCL amendments this year carry a little more urgency than before. SB21 was rushed through to the Delaware Senate in mid-February, bypassing the normal process that involves recommendation by the Council of the...more
A Delaware court recently found for the policyholders in determining that a directors and officers (D&O) liability policy covered the settlement of an underlying action alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of...more
On December 11, 2024, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lacked statutory authority to approve Nasdaq’s board diversity rules. Subject to certain exceptions,...more
On December 11, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (“Fifth Circuit”) vacated the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) approval of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC’s (“Nasdaq”) Board Diversity Rules....more
On December 17, 2024, Judge Vince Chhabria of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California granted a renewed motion for class certification in a securities action against a majority shareholder of...more
On December 11, 2024, the 5th Circuit issued another important opinion (for the third time this year) requiring that an administrative agency's rules fit squarely within the statutory scheme that empowers the agency to act....more
In a 9-8 decision on December 10, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit struck down Nasdaq’s efforts to promote diversity on public company boards. The case, Alliance for Fair Board Recruitment v. SEC, vacated...more
Under rules approved in 2021, Nasdaq-listed companies were required to (1) publicly disclose a board diversity matrix and (ii) have, or disclose why they do not have, at least one diverse director on their board by 2023 and a...more
On July 19, 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it will hold an open meeting on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, to consider whether to adopt rules to enhance and standardize disclosures regarding...more
In August 2000, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which, among other things, established an affirmative defense to a...more
On December 13, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission unanimously adopted amendments to Rule 10b5-1, imposing new limitations on the ability of insiders to utilize so-called “10b5-1 plans.” 10b5-1 plans are plans to...more
On December 14, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopted amendments to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) and new disclosure requirements designed to enhance investor...more
Clearing agencies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will have to make governance changes to their boards of directors under a new rule proposed by the SEC on August 8, 2022....more
A lot of attention has been paid to board diversity – or lack thereof – in recent months. California enacted AB-979, which expanded upon California’s earlier gender diversity law and requires boards to make strides in other...more