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

Changes In California Business Entity Filings Take Effect Next Week

The California Secretary of State has given notice of the following changes to business entity filings:

Phishing Scam Uses California Victims of Corporate Fraud Compensation Fund As Lure

Earlier this month, the California Secretary of State warned of yet another phishing scam. Criminals typically phish by associating themselves with legitimate businesses. Their goal is to obtain personal information that can be used to steal your...

Can A Director Consent By Email?

The California General Corporation Law authorizes board action by written consent. Cal. Corp. Law § 307(b). Sometimes, I've been asked about signing an email consent. Section 17 of the Corporations Code (which governs, but is not part of the General...

In What Branch Of Government Are State Agencies?

Article III, Section 3 of the California Constitution declares that the powers of state government are legislative, executive and judicial. Section 3 then explicitly provides that "Persons charged with the exercise of one power may not exercise...

Does A Lawyer Who Files A Derivative Action Have An Attorney-Client Relationship With The Corporation?

Because the California Corporations Code requires that the business and affairs of a corporation be managed by or under the direction of its board of directors, any decision of whether a corporation should bring suit on behalf of the corporation is...

Does The Victims Of Corporate Fraud Compensation Fund Deny Due Process?

In notorious defiance of the California Constitution, the legislature in 2002 established the Victims of Corporate Fraud Compensation Fund.  See Victims of Corporate Fraud. The purpose of the fund is to provide "restitution to the victims of a...

Facebook Fairness Hearing Back In The News

Last August, the Department of Corporations approved the acquisition of Instagram, Inc. by Facebook, Inc. following a fairness hearing.  See DOC Calls It Fair.  According to this Los Angeles Times story by Salvador Rodriguez, Facebook officially...

Court Rules Law Firm That Drafted Documents Was Not A Seller Of Securities

Section 25400(d) of the California Corporations Code declares it unlawful for any broker-dealer or "other person selling or offering for sale" to make a false or misleading statement for the purpose of inducing the purchase or sale of a security if...

Court Of Appeal Finds Error In Refusal To Give "Business Judgment" Instruction To Jury

Justice Russell C. Ostrander: “judges are not business experts." Dodge v. Ford Motor Co., 204 Mich. 459, 508 (1919)