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

CalPERS' Focus List - Results and Prospects

The CalPERS Focus List has been around for almost a quarter century.  Each spring, CalPERS "names names" by listing from 4 to 11 companies that it believes have records of poor economic and corporate governance performance.  Here is a flow-chart of...

California's Institutional Investor Exemption

California has an exemption from the issuer qualification requirement under the Corporate Securities Law of 1968 for any offer or sale to, among other listed entities, institutional investors or governmental agencies or instrumentalities that the...

CalPERS Proposes Changes to Disclosure Rule

Yesterday, the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) issued this notice of proposed amendments to its placement agent disclosure rules.   The comment period ends on August 26, 2010.

Merger and Acquisition Specialists

The question of whether an unlicensed person may be compensated in a securities transaction continues to bedevil practitioners. Usually, the question arises in the context of a private placement or other capital raising activity. However, the...

Rule 260.204.9 - "What is to be Done?"

As I mentioned in this earlier post, California has its own definition of "venture capital company" in Rule 260.204.9. This rule is an exemption from the investment adviser registration requirement in Corporations Code Section 25230 if a person...

No Form D Filing - Now What?

In 1996, Congress added Section 18 to the Securities Act of 1933 as part of the National Securities Markets Improvement Act (NSMIA) to preempt state qualification requirements with respect to "covered securities", as defined. Section 18(b)(4)(D)...

Placement Agent Bill Amended

The amendments to AB 1743 (Hernandez) are now in print.  This bill would require placement agents with respect to California public retirement systems to register as lobbyists.

New DOC Chief Deputy Commissioner

When I was Commissioner of Corporations, I was sometimes asked about the other commissioners.  However, the Department of Corporations is headed by a Commissioner - not a commission.  Thus, there is only one Commissioner at a time.

Form D or 25102(f) Notice?

Issuers relying on Rule 506 of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933 have the benefit of federal preemption of California's (and other states') qualification requirement by virtue of Section 18(b)(4)(D) of that act. Although no state law...