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Business Judgment Rule Duty of Loyalty

Morrison & Foerster LLP

What Fiduciary Duties Do I Have as a Director of a Delaware Corporation?

You’re an entrepreneur, you form your first company, and suddenly you carry the title of founder, director, officer, and/or employee all at once. When running your business, it may feel like all of your roles blur together....more

Hogan Lovells

Joseph Lawrence Ligos v. Isramco, Inc.: Court dismisses breach of fiduciary duty claims

Hogan Lovells on

In Joseph Lawrence Ligos v. Isramco, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 2020-0435-SG (Del. Ch. Nov. 30, 2022), the Delaware Court of Chancery granted a motion to dismiss a shareholder class action complaint alleging that the members of...more

Dechert LLP

Avoiding an Out-of-Court Restructuring May Breach Fiduciary Duties

Dechert LLP on

Introduction Under Delaware law, the board of directors of an insolvent company has wide latitude to pursue good-faith strategies to maximize the value of the firm. Trenwick Am. Litig. Tr. v. Ernst & Young, L.L.P., 906 A.2d...more

Freeman Law

Fiduciary Duties of the Board of Directors in Texas

Freeman Law on

A corporation operates through its board of directors. All corporate powers must be exercised by or under the direction of the board. In Texas, the Texas Business Organizations Code (TBOC) provides certain provisions...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Presidio Shines Light on Key Delaware Deal Litigation Trends and Topics

In Firefighters’ Pension System of the City of Kansas City, Missouri Trust v. Presidio, Inc., Vice Chancellor Laster of the Delaware Court of Chancery dismissed claims against directors of Presidio, Inc. (Presidio) and...more

Stinson - Corporate & Securities Law Blog

Votes Compelled by Stockholders Agreement Do Not Count Towards Corwin Cleansing

In connection with an M&A transaction, in In Re Pattern Energy Group Inc. Stockholders Litigation the Delaware Court of Chancery determined that that the plaintiff had stated a claim against the director defendants for breach...more

Morris James LLP

Chancery Sustains Claims Against Target’s CEO, Target’s Financial Advisor, and Acquirer for Allegedly Covertly Steering Merger...

Morris James LLP on

Firefighters’ Pension System of The City of Kansas City, Missouri Trust v. Presidio, Inc., C.A. No. 2019-0839-JTL (Del. Ch. Jan. 29, 2021) Presidio illustrates potential pitfalls for parties in the M&A process, including...more

Stinson - Corporate & Securities Law Blog

Director’s Undisclosed Conflict Prevents Application of Business Judgment Rule in Acquisition

City of Fort Myers General § Employees’ Pension Fund v Haley, which was commenced in the Delaware Court of Chancery, grew out of the merger of equals between Towers Watson & Co. and Willis Group Holdings Public Limited...more

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Financing a Distressed Private Company – De-Risking Inside Rounds

During economic downturns, private technology companies often seek emergency funding from existing VC and growth equity investors. These financings, sometimes called “inside rounds,” create conflicts of interest for boards...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

Director Fiduciary Duties: Navigating Financial Distress During COVID-19

Ballard Spahr LLP on

We are currently at the beginning of an economic downturn driven by a global pandemic that has resulted in unprecedented economic disruption that has been, and will continue to be, severe. ...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

COVID-19 Directors’ Duties of Oversight: Reporting and Monitoring

Boards of directors have a duty to exercise oversight and to monitor the company’s operational viability, legal compliance and financial performance during this COVID-19 pandemic. In Marchand v. Barnhill, the Delaware Supreme...more

Allen Matkins

Nevada Supreme Court: Gross Negligence Is Insufficient For Director Breach of Fiduciary Claims

Allen Matkins on

NRS 78.138(7)(b) provides that, with certain specific statutory exceptions, a director or officer of Nevada corporation is not individually liable to the corporation or its stockholders or creditors for any damages as a...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

The Importance of Full Disclosure

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on

Directors and officers of corporations owe a duty of care and a duty of loyalty to both the corporation and its shareholders, although the duty of care for directors can be exculpated. A breach of these fiduciary duties can...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Directors’ Fiduciary Duties: Back to Delaware Law Basics

The dawn of a new decade brings with it the certainty of ongoing challenges to the conduct of public company directors based on alleged breaches of fiduciary duty. This note is a brief reminder for directors of Delaware...more

Stinson - Corporate & Securities Law Blog

Chancery Finds General Counsel Potentially Liable for Misleading Tender Offer Documents

Morrison v. Berry considers Plaintiff’s claims for damages following the purchase of a grocery-store chain, The Fresh Market, Inc. (“Fresh Market” or the “Company”) by Apollo investment entities. The Plaintiff was a former...more

Morris James LLP

Chancery Denies Section 220 Bid for Executive Compensation Records Involving Facebook

Morris James LLP on

Southeastern Pa. Trans. Auth. v. Facebook, Inc., C.A. No. 2019-0228-JRS (Oct. 29, 2019) - Shareholders of a Delaware corporation have a qualified right to access corporate books and records for a “proper purpose.” ...more

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Delaware Court of Chancery Issues Noteworthy Decision Denying Section 220 Demand and Reinforcing Judicial Deference on Executive...

The Delaware Court of Chancery recently denied two books and records demands made by stockholders of Facebook, Inc. that sought to investigate alleged wrongdoing surrounding Facebook's executive compensation practices at a...more

Jones Day

Delaware Supreme Court Reinforces Directors’ Oversight Obligations on Mission-Critical Subjects

Jones Day on

The Situation: Directors of Blue Bell Creameries USA, Inc. ("Blue Bell") were sued for breach of fiduciary duty following a lethal listeria outbreak in its ice cream facilities. Applying the duty of oversight first...more

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Delaware Supreme Court Provides Guidance on Board Oversight Obligations

On June 18, 2019, the Delaware Supreme Court issued an opinion addressing the fiduciary obligation of directors and officers to exercise proper oversight over the corporation and to implement a system of controls to ensure...more

Jackson Walker

Choice of Entity and Key Contents of Organization Documents

Jackson Walker on

Five Business Entity Forms: • Corporation • General Partnership • Limited Partnership • Limited Liability Partnership (“LLP”) • Limited Liability Company (“LLC”) ...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Bankruptcy Court Opinion Clarifies California Law on Duties of Directors & Officers Upon Insolvency

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on

It is not unusual in the lifecycle of a start-up for the company to hit road blocks and have cash flow issues. During these times, the board and its members will ask the company’s professionals what their fiduciary duties are...more

Mintz - Bankruptcy & Restructuring Viewpoints

Directors And Officers’ Ultimate Escape From Personal Liability

In the Ultimate Escapes bankruptcy case, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware recently held that the “business judgment rule” may protect fiduciaries who negotiate and enter into unconventional financing...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Inside M&A - October 2015

McDermott Will & Emery on

Overview of SPACs and Latest Trends - A number of recent successful business combination transactions involving special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) led by prominent sponsors have driven a resurgence in the SPAC...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Insights: The Delaware Edition - October 2015

We are pleased to share with you the inaugural issue of Insights: The Delaware Edition, a periodic publication addressing significant Delaware deal litigation and corporation law developments. In This Issue: - Q&A...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

"Delaware Supreme Court Reaffirms Important Protections for Corporate Directors"

A trio of opinions from the Delaware Supreme Court, each authored by Chief Justice Leo E. Strine, Jr., has reaffirmed Delaware’s deference to the business judgment of disinterested corporate decision-makers and restored...more

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