California Corporate & Securities Law

As the new year begins, businesses of all sizes will have to contend with the federal Corporate Transparency Act. The CTA is part of the 1,482 page William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2021 which Congress...

In a recent post, Professor Ann Lipton noted a proposed charter amendment intended to address the so-called "Con Ed" problem.   In Consol. Edison, Inc. v. Ne. Utilities, 426 F.3d 524 (2d Cir. 2005), the stockholders of Northeast Utilities sued...

Recently, Professor Ann Lipton wrote that the California Supreme Court has granted review of EpicentRx, In.c v. Superior Court, 95 Cal. App. 5th 890 (2023), review granted 539 P.3d 118 (2023).   This was a case that I discussed last September in which...

On December 16, 2022, California Assembly Member Alex Lee introduced AB 83 which would enact the "Get Foreign Money Out of California Elections Act. Six months later he requested that the bill be moved to the inactive file. When the legislature...

The California Finance Lenders Lawprohibits any "person" from engaging in the business of a "finance lender" without a license, unless otherwise exempt.  Cal. Fin. Code § 22100(a).   The CFL defines a "finance lender" as follows:

In 2022, the California legislature enacted statutory changes ostensibly to limit the spread of misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19 by licensed physicians.  2022 Cal. Stats. ch. 938 (AB 2098), SeeCalifornia Legislates Covid-19 Orthodoxy...

On December 12, 2023, the Harvard Corporation  unanimously reaffirmed its support for President Claudine Gay's continued leadership despite her controversial testimony before the U.S. Congress and allegations of plagiarism. Harvard is a corporation...

On January 4, 2024, the California legislature will reconvene for the second year of its current biennium.  Joint Rule 51(a)(4).  January opens the new year with some important legislative deadlines.

It is that time of year when both the professional and general press feature stories about new laws that will be taking effect.  As I survey the California legislature's handiwork in 2023, I have identified the following themes: