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

What Public Corporation Exists Without Ever Filing Articles Of Incorporation?

The California General Corporation Law providers that the corporate existence begins upon filing of the articles. Cal. Corp. Code § 200(c). However, some California corporations have been birthed without the filing of articles. Perhaps the most...

Court Rules That Debate And Litigation Do Not Necessarily A Controversy Make

In June of 2022, I reported on the adoption of commercial financial disclosure rules by the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation. These rules were adopted pursuant legislation, SB 1235, that was enacted in 2018. In December of...

Does One State Agency Have The Power To Declare Another State Agency's Regulation To Be Invalid?

As a former teacher of Administrative Law, I am interested in a recent request to the California Attorney General for an opinion whether the California Office of Tax Appeals has the authority to declare regulations adopted by another state agency to...

Abandoning Cumulative Voting Does Not Extend Term Of Office

In November 2018, the citizens of Mission Viejo elected three persons to the City Council for two-year terms of office, rather than four years as prescribed by California Government Code section 57377. This was done pursuant to the terms of a...

Does A General Partnership Terminate And Then Dissolve Or Dissolve And Then Terminate?

In a recent unpublished opinion*, the Court of Appeal considered the question of partnership termination under the California Revised Uniform Partnership Act. Wickline v. Schweder, 2023 WL 6155353 (Cal. Ct. App. Sept. 21, 2023). The case involved an...

Nevada Supreme Court Finds CEO's Statements To Shareholders, Directors And Officers May Be Protected Activity

Nevada, like California, has enacted an anti-SLAPP law that is intended to protect citizens' First Amendment rights to petition the government for redress of grievances and to free speech by limiting the chilling effect of civil actions that are...

Court Rules Director Of California Corporation Has A Duty To Disclose When Soliciting Consents
The California General Corporation Law permits shareholders to take action by written consent, unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation. Cal. Corp. Code § 603(a). When shareholder action is taken by written consent, the GCL imposes...
In This Case, There Was A Balm And It Was Menace

In California, extortion is a crime.  Section 518 of the Penal Code defines "extortion" as "the obtaining of property or other consideration from another, with his or her consent, or the obtaining of an official act of a public officer, induced by a...

Lawyer Revives Zombie Corporation In Attempt To Enforce Decades Old Lien - Was He Successful?

In 1995, Panrox International (USA), Inc. recorded a deed of trust on a home in Los Angeles to secure an indebtedness of $141,000. On January 2, 2001, the State of California suspended Panrox for failure to pay taxes. Panrox remained suspended for...