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 Refuses To Break Board Deadlock By Appointing A Provisional Director

Section 308 of the California Corporations Code provides for the appointment of a provisional director when a corporation has an even number of directors who are equally divided and cannot agree as to the management of the corporation's affairs, so...

You Say Collectable, I Say Collectible

Recently, I circulated a draft agreement that included a representation that a party's receivables were collectible.  The other side returned a draft that modified the representation and changed the spelling to "collectable".  Which is correct?

Court Of Chancery Rejects Delaware Choice Of Law

The public policies of California and Delaware both espouse freedom. Ironically, the freedoms that they espouse are antithetical to each other. California embraces the freedom of people to pursue any lawful and employment of his or her choice....

Applying Today's Statute To Yesterday's Offer And Sale

In September 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 538 (Hill) into law. This bill fundamentally rewrote a key anti-fraud provision of the Corporate Securities Law of 1968 - Corporations Code Section 25401. At the time, I cast a chary eye on the...

These Data Show Nevada Rising And California Sinking

A recent paper by Matthew D. Cain, an economic fellow at the Securities and Exchange Commission, Stephen B. McKeon, an Assistant Finance Professor at the University of Oregon, and Steven Davidoff Solomon, a Professor of Law at the University of...

Court Of Appeal Decides Against Arbitration Bylaw Amendment

Much has been written of late about the enforceability of exclusive forum bylaws. What happens when the forum isn't a court, but an arbitration? Does it make any difference if the arbitration bylaw is adopted after a dispute has arisen? The Fourth...

California AG Declares Whistleblower Tally A State Secret

Since 2004, the California Attorney General has been required to maintain a whistleblower hotline to receive calls from persons who have information regarding possible violations of state or federal statutes, rules, or regulations, or violations of...

Victims Of Corporate Fraud Compensation Fund

In the waning days of the 2001-2002 legislative session, then Assemblymember Kevin Shelley gutted and amended AB 55. As introduced, AB 55 would have amended the Elections Code. Instead, AB 55 became the vehicle for the enactment of the deeply flawed...

Commissioner Ponders Whether To Exempt Real Estate Brokers From Investment Adviser Registration

Last week, the Commissioner of Business Oversight issued an invitation for comment on whether to exempt real estate brokers from the investment adviser certification requirement under the Corporate Securities Law of 1968. The exemption would require...