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

The Case Whose Name The Delaware Supreme Court Dare Not Speak

The big news yesterday in corporate jurisprudence was the Delaware Supreme Court's decision in Salzberg v. Sciabacucchi in which the Delaware Supreme Court upheld forum selection charter provisions that require claims under the Securities Act of...

A Problem Of Disgorgement

Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Liu v. Securities and Exchange Commission.  The question before the court was whether a district court, in a civil enforcement action brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission,...

California's Emergency Services Act

"Forsan Et Haec Olim Meminisse Iuvabit"

The Case Of The Insufficient Majority

California Corporations Code Section 307(a)(8) provides that an act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present is the act of the board, subject to the provisions of Section 310...

Breaking Bad At Board Meetings

Suppose that the articles of incorporation of a California corporation provide that the authorized number of directors is 7. Unless the articles or bylaws provide otherwise, the attendance of 4 directors will constitute a quorum. Cal. Corp. Code §...

A Different Sort Of Standing Is At Issue In Federal Court Challenge To California Female Director Quota

Last November, a shareholder of OSI Systems, Inc. filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California challenging California's law imposing female director quotas on publicly traded corporations headquartered in...

DBO Expansion Plans To Be Aired On April Fools' Day

California's Governor Gavin Newsom has big plans for the Department of Business Oversight.  These plans were described in his proposed 2020-2021 budget as follows:

No Blue Sky For Almost A Half Century

"Nothing but blue skies do I see"

Kansas claims the pride of place in with its enactment in 1911 of the country's first general securities law. Kan. L. 1911, ch. 133. Kansas Bank Commissioner J.N. Dolley, the author of that law, is also given credit...

We Now Know That "Knowing" Requires Knowledge

Last month, I wrote about the Nevada Supreme Court's holding that a plaintiff must prove more than gross negligence to hold a director liable for breach of fiduciary duty.  Chur v. Eighth Jud. Dist. Ct., 136 Nev. Adv. Op. 7 (Feb. 27, 2020). This...