California Corporate & Securities Law

In September, the Uniform Law Commission adopted the Uniform Antitrust Pre-Merger Notification Act.  The ULC does not, of course, actually enact any laws, it merely drafts and promotes laws that it would like to see made uniform among the fifty...

Following this past Tuesday's presidential election, California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed an special session of the California legislature.   The Governor's proclamation specified two reasons for the special session:

Yesterday, I took note of a new law that requires active members of the California State Bar to disclose annually whether they have provided pro bono legal services and certain other information through the licensee’s My State Bar online profile on...

California is a biologically confused state.  Section 45 of the California Fish & Game Code defines "fish" to mean a "wild fish, mollusk, crustacean, invertebrate, amphibian, or part, spawn, or ovum of any of those animals". Most people would not...

The California Corporations Code is a misnomer. While the Corporations Code does in fact govern corporations, it also governs a wide variety of unincorporated entities, including general partnerships, limited partnerships, and limited liability...

Last month, I commented on the "weird" definition of "hedge fund" in AB 3129 (Wood).  On the last day of the current session, the legislature passed the bill.  It is now on Governor Newsom's desk.

In previous posts, I have written about SB 253 and SB 261.   The former requires "reporting entities" (as defined) to disclose Scope 1, 2 & 3 greenhouse gas emissions. The latter imposes climate-related financial risk reporting. Both are likely to...

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: