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

The Family Farm Inspires Nostalgia But Is Not Easily Defined

An idealized vision of the family farm holds a special place in the psyche of the American people. But what exactly constitutes a "family farm"? That is one of the definitional challenges that the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation...

This "Defunct" Delaware Corporation Remains A  California Citizen

Diversity jurisdiction of the federal courts requires complete diversity of citizenship. 28 U.S.C. § 1332. If a party is a corporation, then it becomes necessary to determine the location of the corporation's citizenship. In a recent decision,...

Must A Nonprofit Abnegate Private Gain?

The California Corporations Code includes provisions governing a wide variety of nonprofit organizations. However, the "Big 3" categories of nonprofit corporations are the public benefit, mutual benefit and religious corporations. While the drafters...

DFPI Proposes Rules For Commercial Financial Products And Services

In 2020, California enacted the California Consumer Financial Protection Law, Cal. Fin. Code § 90000 et seq. The CCFPL authorizes the Department of Financial Protection & Innovation to define unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts and practices in...

Litigation Does Not Necessarily Vitiate Director's Absolute Right To Inspect

This space has previously discussed the question of just how absolute a director's "absolute" right of of inspection really is.  See When Is A Director’s Inspection Right Not Absolute? and Defining The Metes And Bounds Of A Director's Absolute Right...

A First Sighting Of Zuckerberg Decision In California

Last year, the Delaware Supreme Court adopted a tripartite test for assessing demand futility allegations in derivative actions.  United Food & Commercial Workers Union vZuckerberg262A.3d1034 (Del.2021).  Under this test, courts are to...

A Truly Piscatory Exemption

California's blue sky law, the Corporate Securities Law of 1968, generally requires that offers and sales of securities be qualified unless the security or transaction is exempt or not subject to qualification. Most exemptions are conveniently...

Why Alexander Hamilton Could Hold No Office In Nevada Or Even California

"Aaron Burr, sirCan we agree that duels are dumb and immature?"

Legislators Again Kept In Dark About Constitutional Infirmities Of Climate Corporate Accountability Act

SB 260 scheduled to be heard tomorrow by the Assembly Judiciary Committee. This bill would enact the the "Climate Corporate Accountability Act". If enacted, the bill purportedly would require large companies doing business in California to provide...