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

Why Do Boards Get To Spend Money In Proxy Contests

Recently, UCLA Law School Professor posed the question "Why do boards get to spend corporate money to fight off proxy contests?" His answer is answer "because the courts say so". In California, it is because the legislature has said so, at least in...

"Refusal To Acquiesce" To Director's Removal Results In Multimillion Dollar Damage Award

A recent holding by the Second District Court of Appeal is a cautionary tale for directors who fail to acquiesce to a director's removal from the board.  Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs v. Macias, 63 Cal. App. 5th 1007 (2021). The case...

Why Is The General Corporation Law Silent On Shareholder Liability For Corporate Debts?

Today's blog revisits (and answers) a question that I posed nearly eight years ago in this post.  The question was: "Where Exactly Is It Written That Shareholders Aren't Liable For Corporate Debts?"

9th Circuit: Shareholder Is Injured When California Requires Or Encourages Discrimination

In 2018, California enacted SB 826 to impose female director quotas on publicly held domestic or foreign corporation whose principal executive offices, according to the corporation’s SEC 10-K form, are located in California. At the time, it was...

Theories Of Successor Liability When Incorporating An Existing Business

How Do I Hold You Liable?  Let Me Count The Ways . . .

Incorporation May Require A Bulk Sale Notice

California's Bulk Sales Law dates to 1990 when the legislature adopted a new Division 6 to the Commercial Code. Cal. Stats. 1990, ch. 1191. The current law is a farrago of prior law and the then uniform act recommended by the National Conference of...

Court Of Appeal Admonishes Counsel With Coke

Usually, appellate decisions provide guidance to future litigants on how the law will be interpreted and applied. A recent published opinion by the Fourth District Court of Appeal, however, provides guidance to lawyers on how they should behave...

Commissioner Alvarez Leaves Office On Friday - What Happens Next?

Recently, Manuel P. Alvarez announced that June 18 will be his last day as Commissioner of the Department of Financial Protection & Innovation. Until Governor Newsom appoints a successor, Chief Deputy Commissioner Chris Shultz will serve as the...

Leopold Bloom's Longest Day Was Today

“Hold to the now, the here, through which all future plunges to the past.”

On June 16, 1904, Leopold Bloom started his day at No. 7 Eccles Street in Dublin, Ireland with kidneys on his mind. Indeed, his first errand of the day was a trip around the...