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

Death Has No Sting For Securities Claims

The "Forme of Solemizacion of Matrimonie" included in the Church of England's first Book of Common Prayer (1549) includes the forerunner of the wedding vows often used in modern Christian marriages.  Both bride and groom take each other "til death us...

What Happens When A Board Fails To Determine The Fair Value Of The Consideration For Shares?

California Corporations Code Section 409(e) imposes a duty on the board of directors to determine "the fair value to the corporation in monetary terms of any consideration other than money for which shares are issued". Does a board's failure to make...

Is A Director An Employee?  The SEC Has Some Contradictory Answers.

On Monday, I wrote about whether a director might be an employee following California's enactment the A-B-C test for determining status as an employee.  California, of course, does not determine employment status for all purposes. 

Is This Blog Printed?

The word "print" is derived from the Latin word premere, meaning to press or to bear down upon.  Ancient Romans used several mechanisms to write, including pressing letters with a stylus (stilus) into a wax tablet (tabula). A blank tablet was...

Has California Made Directors Employees?

On September 18, 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 5 into law effective January 1, 2020. This legislation is intended to make it more likely that a worker will be classified as an employee. It effects this change by codifying the...

Serving Upon Foreign Corporations - What About Code Of Civil Procedure?

Earlier this week, I wrote about two provisions of the California Corporations Code (Sections 2110 and 2111) addressing service on foreign corporations. Technically, these provisions may only apply to foreign corporations that are transacting or...

Woodbridge Trustee Seeks Relief In California's Corporate Securities Law

On Monday, the trustee of the Woodbridge Liquidation Trust filed a lawsuit against numerous law firms and lawyers. The trustee's lawsuit relates to the reportedly $1.3 billion Ponzi scheme allegedly orchestrated by Robert H. Shapiro. In February...

Serving Agents That Can't Be Found

Yesterday's post discussed how to effect service on a foreign corporation.  Two of three statutory options relate to service on an agent of the corporation.  What if an agent cannot be found?  Mirabile dictu!  The GCL provides answers when:

Whom Do You Serve?

Due process requires proper notice.  Without notice, all may be for naught.  James Joyce's alter ego, Leopold Bloom, took note of this fact in the Cyclops chapter of Ulysses: