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

Court Of Appeal Finds No Right To Sue Directors In California

In July 2017, I wrote about Judge Brian C. Walsh's ruling that Delaware, not California, was the proper forum for suing the directors of a Delaware corporation based on the corporation's forum selection bylaw.  California Judge Honors Delaware Forum...

SEC Agrees No Permission Required

Earlier this week, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted a new rule that will require a company to describe any practices or policies it has adopted regarding the ability of its employees (including officers) or directors to purchase...

Delaware Court Declines To Apply California Labor Code Despite California Choice Of Law

Do California Labor Code provisions governing employees apply to persons performing work outside of California?  What if that work is performed pursuant to an agreement that includes the following provisions?

Some California Implications Of Delaware's New LLC Division Statute

When I first heard about Delaware's new statute establishing a procedure for dividing a limited liability company, I immediately flashed back to High School Biology class and meiosis. In meiosis 1, a single cell divides into two cells with each...

Does The Business Judgment Rule Extend To A Board's Interpretations?

The California Supreme Court has adopted a rule of deference to most decisions made by community association boards:

While In Nevada, It's Best Not To Impersonate A Corporation

I suppose that some unincorporated persons might be tempted to add "Inc." to give an impression of corporality to their activities. Although Nevada is famously lenient to many vices, impersonating a corporation is not one of them. NRS 78.047 imposes...

Why Does The SEC Insist That Some Defendants Lie?

In 1972, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted what has become known as the "gag rule":

N.C. Supreme Court Interprets California Demand Requirement, But Did The Statute Apply?

The North Carolina's Supreme Court's recently issued opinion in  Azure Dolphin, LLC v. Barton, 2018 N.C. LEXIS 1036 caught my eye because it involved an interpretation of California Corporations Code Section 15910.02 which establishes the pleading...

Court Rules Registration To Transact Intrastate Business Does Not Establish General Jurisdiction

A foreign corporation registering with the California Secretary of State to transact intrastate business must, among other things, designate an agent for service of process in California. Does this amenability to service confer personal...