Representing Corporate Officers, Directors, Managers, and Trustees

Book excerpt: As a result of numerous recent corporate and accounting scandals, corporate officers, directors, managers, and trustees now face a host of new problemsand—ranging from a blizzard of new legislation, rules, and responsibilitiesand—to increased SEC oversight, new NYSE and NASDAQ listing standards, new fiduciary and other duties, and crushing new criminal penalties. Representing Corporate Officers, Directors, Managers, and Trustees tells you what to look for...what to look out for...and what steps to take to protect your corporate clients in todayand’s harsh regulatory environment. Itand’s the only up-to-date work of its kind to offer both in-depth analysis and practical guidance on every key aspect of this critically important area. This completely updated Second Edition thoroughly covers: Directorsand’ duty of careand— including the different standards which have been imposed on directors regarding the duty of care...the duty of loyalty...the business judgment rule... when directors are entitled to rely on the advice of others...improperly influencing audits under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act... improper distributions...and more. Conflicts of interestand—with examples of conflict of interest transactions, and discussion of loans to or by directors and officers...secret profits...and the duty to safeguard confidential or inside informationand— plus, how certain transactions considered improper can be ratified and thus become legitimate. Federal securities lawsand—including everything from overviews of the laws, the SEC, and securities themselvesand— to jurisdiction, pleading, remedies, and defenses in securities cases... the new criminal penalties...and attorneysand’ responsibilities regarding liability under Sarbanes-Oxley. Indemnification and insuranceand— with discussion of mandatory and permissive indemnification and the scope of indemnification in various states... when a director may be indemnified even if not wholly successful in defense of anaction...directorsand’ and officersand’ liability insurance...types and extent of insurance coverage...tax law treatment...and exclusions. Tender offersand—including antitakeover measures, two-tier and squeeze-out mergers, and golden parachute agreements, poison pill plans, and greenmail...potential liability in tender offers...and implementing mergers and acquisitions, with securities law, antitrust, tax, accounting, and labor law considerations.