Delaware legislature is considering proposed amendments to Section 242 of the Delaware General Corporation Law that would help address the challenges dual-share class companies have been facing in the wake of Garfield v....more
Despite political and economic uncertainties, markets and deal activity were resilient in 2019, and strong fundamentals remain in place heading into 2020. Companies continue to face a challenging litigation and enforcement...more
In recent years, fintech has been an attractive sector for growth capital, as evidenced by robust investment and M&A valuations in the sector. While interest remained high in 2019, deal volumes began to level off early in the...more
In Drulias v. 1st Century Bancshares, Inc., No. H045049, 2018 WL 6735137 (Cal. App. Dec. 21, 2018), the California Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District, affirmed an order staying a stockholder lawsuit brought in the...more
In common usage, a founder is an individual who creates or helps create a company, but in legal terms, there is no such thing as a “founder” or “founder’s stock,” only early participants in a company’s organization and...more
QC Holdings Inc. v. Allconnect Inc., C.A. 2017-0715-JTL (August 27, 2018) - This decision on a undisputed factual record interpreted a contractual right to put stock by rejecting one side’s argument as “commercially...more
QC Holdings Inc. v. Allconnect Inc., C.A. No. 2017-0715-JTL (Del. Ch. Aug. 28, 2018) - This decision is necessary reading for drafters of redemption rights. It involves the interpretation of a redemption rights agreement...more
In re CBS Corporation, C.A. No. 2018-0342-AGB (Del. Ch. July 13, 2018) - It is well settled that members of the board of directors are entitled to essentially unfettered access to the corporation’s records to carry out...more
Venture capital firms and their director designees on portfolio company boards can find themselves stuck between their fiduciary duty to common shareholders and the terms of preferred investment documents. Before any other...more
The Delaware Court of Chancery recently issued two important decisions addressing the interpretation and effects of stockholders' agreements. In Schroeder v. Buhannic, the Court of Chancery refused to interpret a...more
A recent decision of the Delaware Court of Chancery (the “Court”) places certain fiduciary constraints on a company’s ability to satisfy its obligations to its preferred equity holders. While investors often seek to acquire...more
Orrick has unveiled an unprecedented new study examining the corporate governance structures of the largest public companies in the Bay Area, including tech industry leaders. The comprehensive study reviewed the 153...more
Alas, poor Erlich! We knew him; ‘a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy; he hath borne us on his back a thousand times; and now,’ as Jared poetically recounts, “Erlich’s Bachmanity boondoggle has led to his being...more
In In re Appraisal of Dell Inc., No. 9322 VCL, 2016 Del. Ch. LEXIS 81 (Del. Ch. May 31, 2016) (Laster, V.C.), the Delaware Court of Chancery determined that the fair value of the common stock of Dell Inc. (“Dell” or the...more
A recent Delaware decision, in re Trados Incorporated Shareholder Litigation, underscores a director’s responsibilities in “underwater” venture deals. In a 114-page opinion by Vice Chancellor Laster, the court reviewed the...more
The US District Court for the Western District of Texas certified a class of common stock purchasers in an action against Pain Therapeutics, Inc. (PTI) and its directors. The plaintiff’s complaint, which alleges that PTI...more