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  • John C. Coffee, Jr. – Boeing and the Future of Deferred Prosecution Agreements By John C. Coffee, Jr.
  • Leveraging Information Forcing in Good Faith By Hillary Sale
  • The Dark Side of Safe Harbors Comment bubble 2 By Susan C. Morse
  • John C. Coffee, Jr. – Mass Torts and Corporate Strategies: What Will the Courts Allow? By John C. Coffee, Jr.
  • Compliance’s Next Challenge: Polarization By Miriam H. Baer
  • Will the Common Good Guys Come to the Shootout in SEC v. Jarkesy? And Why It Matters By Eric W. Orts
  • Climate Disclosure Line-Drawing and Securities Regulation By Virginia Harper Ho
  • Board Committee Charters and ESG Accountability By Lisa M. Fairfax
Editor-At-Large Reynolds Holding

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Columbia Law School's Blog on Corporations and the Capital Markets

Editorial Board John C. Coffee, Jr. Edward F. Greene Kathryn Judge

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Michael R. Levin

Should Investors Care What Executives Think of Boards of Directors?

By Michael R. Levin July 16, 2025 by Michael R. Levin

Each year numerous surveys, reports, and analyses assess boards of directors, or BoDs. One from PwC landed about the same time as another from SquareWell Partners in the past couple of months, inviting a comparison.

PwC has surveyed CEOs and …

It’s Not That Investors Oppose Anti-ESG Proposals…

By Michael R. Levin July 3, 2025 by Michael R. Levin

The “anti-ESG” proposal arose somewhat recently, becoming more common within the past five or so years. Similar in spirit to ESG proposals, but their opposite. Like their conventional counterpart, they request a company consider or study or write a report

…

The Activist Investor Discusses “Voting No” on Directors

By Michael R. Levin February 13, 2025 by Michael R. Levin

Let’s say upfront: voting “no” or withholding votes on directors is a relatively weak way to influence a portfolio company. We’re stubborn, so we prefer electing directors or amending bylaws. Binding acts work much better than non-binding, like opposing exec …

Everything Is Rational Apathy

By Michael R. Levin December 19, 2024 by Michael R. Levin

Rational apathy stands at the center of current and long-time developments and debates in corporate governance and activism. Dominance of index funds in share ownership, prevalence of proxy advisers, pass-through voting programs, trading proxy votes on an exchange, and the …

How Tesla Pumped the Vote

By Michael R. Levin July 1, 2024 by Michael R. Levin

Tesla confronted an enormous challenge in winning support for the two controversial proposals at the 2024 Tesla annual meeting: to ratify CEO Elon Musk’s 2018 pay plan and to redomicile from Delaware to Texas. We thought it would take an …

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Who Re-Classifies a Board of Directors?

By Michael R. Levin June 5, 2024 by Michael R. Levin

Classified boards of directors (BoD) remain one of the sorest of sore spots about portfolio companies. Investors complain about them endlessly. Proxy advisors loathe them. Shareholder proposals to de-classify tend to succeed.

Sure, many new IPOs and de-SPAC companies start …

How to Buy Shareholder Votes

By Michael R. Levin April 23, 2024 by Michael R. Levin

Scholars who study activism have researched the value of a shareholder vote for decades. A very small number of activists have attempted to apply that research to actual proxy contests and other AGM matters. The subject was confined to academics …

Shareholders (and ISS) Won Big With Universal Proxy Card in 2023

By Michael R. Levin August 23, 2023 by Michael R. Levin

Now that proxy season has wrapped up, we thought we’d look back at the experience with universal proxy card (UPC). Overall, shareholders expressed their preferences in BoD elections with precision. Proxy advisors, in particular ISS, saw their recommendations win in

…

Does SEC Commissioner Want to Kill Shareholder Proposals?

By Michael R. Levin July 12, 2023 by Michael R. Levin

Based on his recent speech to the Society for Corporate Governance, it certainly seems as if SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda would welcome an end to shareholder proposals. He proposes ideas that would empower companies to limit severely how shareholders could …

The Second Universal Proxy Card Hits EDGAR

By Michael R. Levin October 26, 2022 by Michael R. Levin

Last month, the first universal proxy card (UPC) hit EDGAR under the new SEC rule. We now have another example, with some interesting tidbits for aficionados and proxy junkies, and also for anyone who seeks an edge in proxy contest …

Universal Proxy Cards and the 67 Percent Solution

By Michael R. Levin June 7, 2022 by Michael R. Levin

The upcoming Universal Proxy Card (UPC) presents activist investors with only one potentially significant new burden: solicit two-thirds of the shares in a proxy contest at a portfolio company. Everything else in the new rule, including the new proxy card …

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Each business day, our team sifts through blog posts, news stories, and other sources to keep up-to-date on relevant recent developments. The following links will take you to our recommended selections. To see the sources we follow click Filter Sources.

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New York Times
Meta Ups AI Spend Forecast to $70 Bln
October 29, 2025
The Governance Beat
How to Prepare for Investor Activism
October 29, 2025
D&O Diary
Chinese Reforms Increase D&O Claims
October 29, 2025
ThinkAdvisor
SEC Chief Regrets Texting Crackdown
October 29, 2025
Deal Lawyers.com
Chancery Affirms High Bar for Invalidating Advance Notice Bylaws
October 29, 2025
Bloomberg
Uber Eyes 100,000 Robotaxis in 2027
October 28, 2025
Reuters
Nvidia Value Nears Record $5 Trillion
October 28, 2025
Wall Street Journal
UPS Cuts 48,000 Jobs
October 28, 2025
New York Times
VW: Chip Loss May Hit Production
October 28, 2025
Reuters
Tesla Chair: Pay Vote Risks Musk Exit
October 27, 2025
Wall Street Journal
Amazon to Lay Off Tens of Thousands
October 27, 2025
New York Times
Qualcomm Joins AI Boom With Chips
October 27, 2025
The Governance Beat
SEC Reg Flex Agenda Evolves Subtly
October 27, 2025
Yahoo Finance
Trump Picks Selig as CFTC Chair
October 27, 2025
Bloomberg
MAGA Is Fueling a SPAC Revival
October 26, 2025
Fortune
SEC Levels Wells Notice Playing Field
October 26, 2025
Delaware Corporate & Commercial Litigation Blog
Delaware Chancery Dismisses Complaint Based on False Allegations
October 26, 2025
EY Merger Monthly
Is Dealmaking Getting Its Mojo Back?
October 26, 2025
Business Law Prof Blog
Update on Dexit to Texas, Nevada
October 26, 2025
Reuters
Consumers Seek $2.36 Bln from Google
October 23, 2025
Bloomberg
Why Meme-Stock Mania Persists
October 23, 2025
Wall Street Journal
Trump Pardons Binance Founder
October 23, 2025
Dealbook
Elon Musk’s Trillion-Dollar Pitch
October 23, 2025
The Governance Beat
Will Lack of Shareholder Proposals Mean More “Vote No” Campaigns?
October 23, 2025
Wall Street Journal
Will New Digs Draw JPMorgan Workers?
October 22, 2025
Reuters
EU Trustbusters Hit Apple on App Store
October 22, 2025
New York Times
Why Weren’t Louvre Jewels Insured?
October 22, 2025
D&O Diary
Time to Determine Who’s an Officer
October 22, 2025
Bloomberg
SEC Chair Fast Tracks Agenda
October 22, 2025
Wall Street Journal
Interest in US MBA Programs Shrinks
October 21, 2025
Reuters
Warner Bros Discovery Explores Sale
October 21, 2025
Bloomberg
Walmart Pauses Offers to H-1B Workers
October 21, 2025
Delaware Business Litigation Report
Chancery Rules Plaintiffs Asserted Non-Exculpated Disclosure Claims
October 21, 2025
The Governance Beat
Exxon Sued Over Retail Vote Program
October 21, 2025
Bloomberg
Comey Moves to Dismiss Charges
October 20, 2025
New York Times
Ari Emanuel Buys TodayTix
October 20, 2025
Freshfields Blog
Latest on California Non-Competes
October 20, 2025
The Governance Beat
Glass Lewis Tip Toes From Benchmarks
October 20, 2025
Sidley Enhanced Scrutiny
Chancery Nixes Derivative Suit Over CEO Pay for Lack of Demand Futility
October 20, 2025
Bloomberg
South Africa Unveils Nuclear Ambitions
October 19, 2025
Wall Street Journal
Gucci Beauty Unit, L’Oreal Near Deal
October 19, 2025
Cooley M&A
Activism Evolves Quickly in 2025
October 19, 2025
Securities and Exchange Commission
SEC Alters Enforcement, Wells Process
October 19, 2025
Business Law Prof Blog
Will Eliminating Quarterly Reporting Increase the Risk of Securities Fraud?
October 19, 2025
Bloomberg
Xi Rare Earth Move Gives Trump Chance
October 16, 2025
New York Times
J&J Sued in UK Over Baby Powder
October 16, 2025
Reuters
SEC 2025 Enforcement in Retrospect
October 16, 2025
Cointelegraph
SEC’s Atkins: 10-Year US Lag on Crypto
October 16, 2025
Wall Street Journal
PCAOB to Cut Board Pay 20 Percent
October 16, 2025
Reuters
U.S. Judge Blocks Plan to Lay Off Thousands of Government Workers
October 15, 2025
Wall Street Journal
U.S. Is Arranging a $20 Billion Private Finance Facility for Argentina
October 15, 2025
D&O Diary
Lawsuit Challenges Constitutionality of SEC Accredited Investor Rules
October 15, 2025
Law.com
SEC Whistleblower Awards Hit Low
October 15, 2025
Bloomberg
Crypto Litigation Shows Industry Won
October 15, 2025
Bloomberg
AI Savings Spur Goldman Job Cuts
October 14, 2025
Dealbook
What Rebuilding Gaza Would Cost
October 14, 2025
Freshfields' A Fresh Take
Anti-Terrorism Act Liability Evolving
October 14, 2025
The Governance Beat
How SEC Shutdown Hurts EDGAR Next
October 14, 2025
Cornerstone Research
Delaware Chancery M&A-Lawsuit Settlements Are on the Rise
October 14, 2025
Bloomberg
First Brands CEO Exits, Leaves Mess
October 13, 2025
Reuters
How U.S. Is Eating Trump’s Tariffs
October 13, 2025
Wall Street Journal
OpenAI, Broadcom, Forge Chip Deal
October 13, 2025
Dealbook
Prediction Market Expands Overseas
October 13, 2025
The Governance Beat
SEC Sets Shareholder Proposal Demise
October 13, 2025
Delaware Business Litigation Report
Chancery: Top-Shareholder’s Redemption, Call Rights Exercise Unfair
October 12, 2025
D&O Diary
Securities Suit Defense Faces Trouble
October 12, 2025
Bloomberg
SEC Chair Eyes Shareholder Proposals
October 12, 2025
Reuters
SEC Eases IPO Path in Shutdown
October 12, 2025
Business Law Prof Blog
Update on Moves to Texas, Nevada
October 12, 2025
Reuters
Ford Also Backs Off EV Tax Credit Plan
October 9, 2025
Wall Street Journal
New York AG Indicted for Bank Fraud
October 9, 2025
New York Magazine
Ponzi Charges Crash YouTube Empire
October 9, 2025
Bloomberg
FirstBrands Fail Blind Sides Wall Street
October 9, 2025
Deal Lawyers.com
Chancery OKs Claim Insiders Got Non-Ratable Benefit from LLC Conversion
October 9, 2025
Reuters
GM Backs Off EV Tax Credit Claim
October 8, 2025
Dealbook
Battery-Focused Power Firm Gets $1 Bln
October 8, 2025
Sidley Enhanced Scrutiny
PSLRA Confusing Section 11 Litigants
October 8, 2025
D&O Diary
Is Claude the Next Napster?
October 8, 2025
Law.com
SEC Facing Backlogs After Furloughs
October 8, 2025
Bloomberg
Fears of Trillion-Dollar AI Bubble Grow
October 7, 2025
Reuters
Tesla’s “Affordable” Models Are Not
October 7, 2025
Wall Street Journal
Megabanks Drive Regionals to Merge
October 7, 2025
Cooley M&A
Shutdown Stalls Antitrust Enforcers
October 7, 2025
Dealbook
NYSE Parent to Buy Stake in Prediction Market Operator Polymarket
October 7, 2025
Bloomberg
U.S. to Take 10% of Alaska Mining Firm
October 6, 2025
Wall Street Journal
OpenAI, AMD Ink Massive Chip Deal
October 6, 2025
Cleary M&A Watch
How a Retail Voting Program Works
October 6, 2025
Freshfields' A Fresh Take
FTC Challenges Zillow-Redfin Deal
October 6, 2025
Deal Lawyers.com
Chancery Lets Fiduciary Duty Claims Proceed in Microsoft-Activision Deal
October 6, 2025
Bloomberg
Bitcoin Crosses Fresh Record High
October 5, 2025
Wall Street Journal
Startups Eating Big Food’s Lunch
October 5, 2025
Reuters
Trump Eyes Greenland Rare-Earth Firm
October 5, 2025
D&O Diary
Delaware Chancery M&A Suit Settlements Rise in Number and Value
October 5, 2025
Business Law Prof Blog
Second Circuit Securities Decision May Suggest PSLRA Went Too Far
October 5, 2025
Delaware Business Litigation Report
Delaware Supreme Court Reverses Chancery Dismissal of Rule 60(b) Claim
October 2, 2025
Freshfields' A Fresh Take
How EU, California AI Acts Overlap
October 2, 2025
Securities and Exchange Commission
Prophecy Asset Mgmnt Sued for Fraud
October 2, 2025
Reuters
Judge Nixes NFT Artist Suit Against SEC
October 2, 2025
Reuters
Judge Keeps SEC Twitter Suit in DC
October 2, 2025
Reuters
Yahoo Nears AOL Sale for $1.4 Billion
October 1, 2025
Bloomberg
Automakers Extend $7,500 EV Discount
October 1, 2025
D&O Diary
How Plaintiffs Are Dodging Delaware
October 1, 2025
Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance Monitor
How Shutdown Affects SEC Operations
October 1, 2025
Deal Lawyers.com
Chancery Says Late Statement Doesn’t Waive Post-Closing Adjustment
October 1, 2025
Bloomberg
Pfizer Gets Three-Year Tariff Reprieve
September 30, 2025
Wall Street Journal
Boeing Starts on 737 MAX Replacement
September 30, 2025
Reuters
AstraZeneca’s U.S. Listing May Pull Other Companies from London
September 30, 2025
D&O Diary
Bankruptcy Statistics Prompt Worry
September 30, 2025
Bloomberg
Atkins Touts SEC-CFTC Crypto Work
September 30, 2025

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