12/29/2009 - SEC Amends Disclosure Rules for Executive Compensation and Corporate Governance
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently adopted amendments to its rules affecting disclosure of executive compensation and corporate governance matters. This alert summarizes the key changes.

11/12/2009 - SEC to Allow More Shareholder Proposals Related to Risk Management and CEO Succession Planning
On October 27, 2009, the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (“Staff”) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued Staff Legal Bulletin No. 14E, which provides guidance about how the Staff will consider under the SEC’s proxy rules shareholder proposals relating to risk issues or to CEO succession planning.

08/10/2009 - July Madness: In Maverick Case, the SEC Tosses an Air Ball
On July 17, 2009, sports enthusiast Mark Cuban won a significant victory when a federal trial court in Dallas dismissed the SEC’s insider trading charges against him.

07/09/2009 - SEC Proposes Rule Amendments to Facilitate Rights of Shareholders to Nominate Directors
On June 10, 2009, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) proposed a series of amendments to rules promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) to facilitate shareholders’ rights to nominate directors.

04/06/2009 - Public-Private Investment Program
On March 23, 2009 the Treasury Department, in conjunction with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), announced the creation of the Public-Private Investment Program (“PPIP”), which is designed to provide public support to catalyze the purchase and sale of legacy assets through Public-Private Investment Funds (“PPIF”).

02/12/2009 - SEC Mandates Interactive Data Financial Reporting
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued rules that will require most public companies to file financial statements with the SEC in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). Interactive data in XBRL format permits users of financial information to automatically download financial data directly into documents and analytical tools.

06/16/2006 - Stock Option Backdating--How Big Are The Problems And What Should You Do?
Recently, over 40 public companies have come under investigation by the SEC or the Justice Department for improperly backdating options, and it is likely that more public companies will come under investigation in the future. At issue is whether option grants to executives and others were backdated to coincide with dates when a company’s stock price was low, thereby increasing the potential profits realized by the holders of the options if and when exercised. Improper backdating may be intentional or a result of faulty corporate procedures. In either event, serious accounting, tax, and disclosure issues result.

03/01/2006 - IPO ALERT: Accessing the Capital Markets
Small-cap and mid-cap companies now face sharply increased costs for being publicly traded (due in part to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) and substantially less following by research analysts on Wall Street. As a result, the prospects for IPOs by small and companies are currently bleak.

11/28/2005 - 2006 ISS U.S. Corporate Governance Policy Updates

Sarbanes-Oxley: Regulating Lawyers

Attorneys Don't Get A Pass From Sarbanes-Oxley

01/31/2003 - 24 - SEC Adopts New Rules on Auditor Independence
On January 28, 2003, the SEC published additional rules regarding the independence of accounting firms that audit the financial statements of public companies. These rules are a result of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”) and were adopted by the SEC in accordance with Section 208(a) of the Act, although certain aspects of the rules expand upon the auditor independence provisions of the Act.

01/28/2003 - SEC Adopts Rules Governing Determination and Disclosure of Audit Committee Financial Experts

01/24/2003 - SEC Adopts Rules Governing Disclosure of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Amendments to Form 8-K

01/24/2003 - SEC Adopts Code of Ethics Disclosure Rules

12/04/2002 - SEC Proposes Rules to Federalize Professional Conduct for Lawyers Practicing Before the SEC

11/01/2002 - SEC Proposes Rules on Internal Controls, Ethics Codes and Financial Experts on Audit Committees

09/18/2002 - NYSE Submits Changes to Corporate Accountability and Listing Standards to SEC for Approval

09/10/2002 - SEC Issues Final Rules On Accelerated Filing Deadlines for Certain Public Companies

09/04/2002 - SEC Issues Final Rules on Certification of Disclosure in Quarterly and Annual Reports

08/30/2002 - Sarbanes-Oxley Prohibition on Loans to Executives May Conflict with Compensation Practices

08/30/2002 - Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002: SEC Adopts Amendments to Accelerate Section 16 Filings

08/28/2002 - Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 302 Certification

08/14/2002 - Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002: Important Changes to Insider Reporting Deadlines under Section 16

08/09/2002 - Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002: Suggestions for Compliance

08/02/2002 - Considerations for Sarbanes-Oxley Act Certification

07/31/2002 - Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Promises Far-Reaching Implications for Public Companies

06/11/2002 - NYSE Recommends New Rules to Enhance Corporate Governance and Disclosure

04/01/2002 - Audit Committee and Board Issues in the Aftermath of Enron