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

"O Hateful Error" - What To Do When You Find A Mistake In Your Section 25102(f) Filing

Yesterday, I wrote about electronic filings of notices of exemption under Corporations Code Section 25102(f) and 10 CCR § 260.103.

Electronic Filing of Section 25102(f) Notices

For the last five years, the Commissioner of Corporations has required that notices of exemption filed pursuant to Corporations Code § 25102(f) be filed electronically, except in cases of demonstrable hardship. See 10 CCR § 260.102.14(f). Electronic...

Thinking About Converting? You May Need The Commissioner's Approval!

In 1999, the Business Law Section of the California State Bar sponsored AB 197 (Ackerman). That bill established a comprehensive scheme under the California Corporations Code for the conversion of limited partnerships and limited liability companies...

SEC's Proposed Whistleblower Rules Will Eviscerate Compliance Programs

Last month, I wrote about California's whistleblower hotline in this post.  In early November, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued proposed rules for implementing the whistleblower provisions of Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of...

LLC Contractor Licensing - "We're Not Even Talking About That."

I've welcomed the enactment of SB 392 (Florez) which authorizes the Contractors' State License Board to issue contractor's licenses to limited liability companies. Potential LLC licensees should note, however, that SB 392 imposes significant surety...

California's Big EASI

My friend, Bill Twomey, suggested a post describing how to get copies of securities and franchise filings made with the Department of Corporations.  It's actually pretty easy.  The DOC maintains the California Electronic Access to Securities...

Where Are CalPERS' Placement Agent Disclosure Regulations?

In September 2009, I submitted a petition to the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for a determination that CalPERS' placement agent disclosure guidelines constituted illegal, underground regulations. Although the OAL accepted my...

"One Man Is As Good As Another Until He Has Written A Book"

A few years back, I had the great pleasure of serving with Bruce Dravis as Co-Chairman of the Corporations Committee of the Business Law Section of the California State Bar.  The American Bar Association's Business Law Section will soon be releasing...

"It must be confessed! It WILL be confessed! There is no refuge from confession . . ."

In 2003, California Senator Martha Escutia introduced a bill to make "technical nonsubstantive changes" to a provision of the California Civil Code dealing with construction defects. The bill passed out of the Senate and the Assembly without...