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

Supreme Court Hears Argument On Whether "What's Past Is Prologue"

Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court heard oral argument in Facebook, Inc. v. Amalgamated Bank (S. Ct. Case No. 22-15077).  As presented by Facebook (now known as Meta Platforms, Inc.), the question for the court is as follows:

What About Acts By Members That Are Not Apparently For Carrying On In The Ordinary Course Of An LLC's Business?

California's version of the Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act provides that in the case of a member managed limited liability company provides:

Will This Effluence Ever End? One More Public Company Proposes To Leave Delaware For Nevada

Gaxos.ai Inc. lists its corporate headquarters as Roseland, New Jersey, but like many companies it is incorporated in Delaware.  Last week, it joined several other companies that are proposing to reincorporate in Nevada.  In preliminary proxy materials

When Dismissing A Case Violates Due Process

When a shareholder sues derivatively, the shareholder is seeking relief not for itself, but for the corporation. Therefore, it should be expected that the shareholder is not free to compromise or dismiss the suit absent court oversight. This point...

Should The Secretary Of State Accept Filings By Cannabis-Related Business Entities?

Seven years ago, the California Secretary of State announced the debut of "Cannabizfile", a portal "for all information relevant to cannabis-related business and trademark filings with the Secretary of State". According to the Secretary of State's...

Court Of Appeal: "We regret to inform that cannabis is illegal in California because federal law says so."

In November 2016, the voters of California adopted  Proposition 64 - the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 26000 et seq. The act established a basic framework for licensing, oversight and enforcement...

The State Of Nevada Vilipends Vice Chancellor Laster's Ruling In Maffei v. TripAdvisor

Much has been written about Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster's ruling in Palkon v. Maffeii, 2024 WL 678204 (Del. Ch. Feb. 20, 2024). That case involved a challenge to TripAdvisor's planned reincorporation from Delaware to Nevada. Although Vice...

Will Your Industry Be On Deck For Registration With The California Department Of Financial Protection & Innovation?

The California Consumer Financial Protection Law (CCFPL) authorizes the Department of Financial Protection & Innovation (DFPI) “regarding registration requirements applicable to a covered person engaged in the business of offering or providing a...

In This Case, Termination Of Membership Without Compensation Is Not An Improper Forfeiture

The word "forfeiture" has an interesting etymology.  It is derived from two Latin words, foris meaning a door or gate, and facere meaningto do. Eventually, the word came to refer to a misdeed punishable by a fine. Today, it used to refer the loss of...