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

Alter Ego - "Easy To State But Difficult To Apply"

Yesterday, the California Court of Appeal found substantial evidence in the record to uphold a trial court's decision to add an affiliated corporation as a judgment debtor under the "single enterprise" theory.  Toho-Towa Co., Ltd. v. Morgan Creek...

Must Designated Directors Keep A Secret?

Yesterday's post concerned the attorney-client privileged issues in Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster's recent decision in Kalisman v. Friedman, 2013 Del. Ch. LEXIS 100 (April 17, 2013).  I found another statement in the decision even more intriguing -

Kalisman v. Friedman - A California Analysis

A few months ago, Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster issued an interesting decision involving director inspection rights and the attorney-client privilege.  Kalisman v. Friedman, 2013 Del. Ch. LEXIS 100 (April 17, 2013). Previously, I had posted on two...

The Politics Of Securities Enforcement

Historically, the Governor appointed California's Commissioners of Corporations. Cal. Corp. Code § 25600. Today, the Governor still appoints the head of the new Department of Business Oversight. Having served as a Commissioner, I believe that it is...

Court Rejects SEC's Interpretation That All Exchange Act Reports Are Public

SEC Misreads The Dodd-Frank Act

CSL Takes Pity On Inter Vivos Trusts

Section 25019 of the Corporations Code defines "security" broadly by listing a broad range of items that is substantially, but not exactly, the same found in Section 2(a)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933.  See “Security” Definitions In CSL And ’33...

Something May Be Missing In Your Affidavit Of Lost Share Certificate

When a certificated security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the issuer has an obligation to replace that certificate if the owner:

Responding To Professor Bainbridge's Response

Last week, Professor Stephen Bainbridge posted this response to my post on post on exclusive forum selection bylaws in light of Chancellor Strine's opinion in Boilermakers Local 154 Retirement Fund v. Chevron Corporation, 2013 Del. Ch. LEXIS 154...

DOC And DFI - RIP

Effective today, the Department of Corporations and the Department of Financial Institutions have "merged" to form the Department of Business Oversight in accordance with the Governor’s reorganization of state departments. The new website is...