Corporate Governance

In the area of corporate governance, Bowles Rice lawyers regularly provide sophisticated, practical advice in all types of situations, from the routine to the high-profile and often high-risk.  Our lawyers are experienced and knowledgeable in traditional corporate fiduciary standards, as well as in the complex and evolving laws, regulations and standards that define the responsibilities of directors and officers of companies.

When corporate governance issues confront companies and their leadership, Bowles Rice lawyers are often called upon to assist board committees, the board as a whole and senior executives regarding:

• Director fiduciary duties
• Proxy disclosure
• Oversight obligation and liability issues
• Duties of independent board chair or independent lead director
• Board committee structure and composition and board committee charters
• Senior executive and director succession planning
• Board and board committee evaluation and self-evaluation processes
• Risk identification and risk management
• Ethics policies
• Compensation policies and planning for senior executives and directors

In addition to counseling on governance matters, Bowles Rice also provides advice and support in transactional and crisis management situations, including:

• Federal, state and foreign law compliance issues
• Government investigations
• Conflict of interest and related party transactions
• Shareholder governance proposals