Keith Paul Bishop

Keith Paul Bishop

Keith Bishop works with privately-held and publicly-traded companies on federal and state corporate and securities transactions, compliance, and governance matters. He is highly-regarded for his in-depth knowledge of the distinctive corporate and regulatory requirements faced by corporations in the state of California. While many law firms have a great deal of expertise in federal or Delaware corporate law, Keith’s specific focus on California corporate and securities law is uncommon. A former California state regulator of securities and financial institutions, Keith has decades of experience navigating the regulatory-intensive state’s rules. For companies with substantial operations in California but incorporated elsewhere, Keith is an exceptional resource. He is frequently called in to help with issues arising under California’s “blue sky” and lender laws. An avid writer, Keith’s blog, www.calcorporatelaw.com, covers a diverse collection of California corporate and securities law issues and has served as a valued resource for other attorneys, business executives, judges, and media, nationwide.

Recent Posts

Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving

Until President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving during the Civil War, thanksgiving holidays were a matter of state and local concern. California mentions Thanksgiving Day in 18 separate statutes, including those in the Code...

Is It Possible That Some Possibilities Are Unreasonable?

Section 5342(e) of the California Corporations Code requires a nonprofit public benefit corporation to provide, upon the request of a member, to either allow inspection and copying of all members' names, addresses or voting rights or provide an...

When The Band Breaks Up

Last May, Andy Greene wrote an article for RollingStone magazine about the "the biggest, messiest band breakups in music history".  In the introducing his list of the 50 worst breakups, Mr. Greene observed:

Can A Nonsignatory Compel Another Nonsignatory To Arbitrate?

Disputes over whether arbitration may be compelled generally fall into four categories. First, a signatory to an arbitration agreement may seek to compel another signatory to arbitrate. Second, a signatory may seek to compel a nonsignatory to...

California Says Corporations And LLCs Can't Be Directors; The Securities Exchange Act Apparently Believes Otherwise

Nine years ago, I posed the question of whether the California General Corporation Law permits corporations to serve as directors. My answer at the time was "no" because Section 164 of the Corporations Code defines "director" to mean a natural...

Court Ruling Deals Blow To DFPI's "True Lender" Theory

While the California Financing Law defines "finance lender", it does so in a very open-ended and nonspecific manner. Cal. Fin. Code § 22009 ("'Finance lender' includes any person who is engaged in the business of making consumer loans or making...

How Long Is Six Months?

Statutory time periods can be ambiguous.  For example, what does "six months" mean when one month has 28 or 29 days, other months have 30 days and still others have 31 days. 

The Nebulous Meaning Of "Small Business" In New Ban On Commercial Loan Fees

Beginning in January, "covered entities" will be prohibited from charging specified fees in connection with a commercial financing transaction with a "small business" or "small business" owner.  Cal. Stat. ch. 881 (SB 666). Although relatively brief,...

Nevada Supreme Court Defines Blue Penciling Obligation Of Courts

In 2016, I wrote about the Nevada Supreme Court's refusal to "blue pencil" non-compete agreements so as to make them enforceable.  Golden Road Motor Inn, Inc. v. Islam, 132 Nev. 476, 488, 376 P.3d 151, 159 (2016).  The Nevada legislature was not in...