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

Lawsuit Challenges DFPI's Threat To Enforce Fair Access To Credit Act

Last week, Opportunity Financial, LLC filed a lawsuit challenging the Department of Financial Protection & Innovation's alleged threat to take enforcement action for violating AB 539, the so-called Fair Access to Credit Act. Enacted in 2019, AB 539...

California Bill Aims To End The Asymmetry Of Corporate Time

“It’s a mercy that time runs in one direction only, that we see the past but darkly and the future not at all.”1

In This Case, Bylaws By Any Other Name Are Still Bylaws

The California General Corporation Law authorizes the adoption of bylaws, but does not purport to define the term. Cal. Corp. Code § 110. The Nonprofit Corporation Law defines "Bylaws" not by description but by stating what they include. Cal. Corp....

California Secretary of State's Report Highlights California's Want of Appeal

The California Secretary of State has recently published her report under California's statutes imposing gender and racial/ethnic quotas on the boards of directors of publicly held corporations having their principal executive offices in California....

Bill Would Urgently Remove Limitation On Virtual Shareholder Meetings And Allow Utopian Meetings

The last sentence of California Corporations Code Section 600(e) imposes a significant limitation on the ability of California corporations to hold virtual-only meetings:

Department Of Financial Protection & Innovation Issues Guidance Regarding "Situation in Ukraine and Russia"

Last Friday, Commissioner Clothilde V. Hewlett issued guidance concerning the "situation in Ukraine and Russia". The guidance reminds licensees of their obligations under federal, and to a lesser extent, California law. The guidance mentions three...

CalPERS' Russian Investments

The California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) styles itself as the United States' largest public fund.  In response to a letter from Governor Newsom, CalPERS has reported that it has over three quarters of a billion dollars in Russian...

What Is An Apostille And Where Do I Get One?

Formerly, when someone wanted a public document such as a court judgment or acknowledgment by a notary recognized in another country, it was necessary to go through a cumbersome process of authentication known as "legalisation", which was often...

California Bill Would Ban This Unusual "Purpose Credit"

Regulation U, 12 CFR § 221.1 – 221.125, imposes certain requirements for lenders, other than securities brokers and dealers, who extend credit secured by margin stock. Regulation U defines "purpose credit" as "any credit for the purpose, whether...