Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Accounting and Financial Planning for Law FirmsKickerFeaturesTopicsCommercial LawLaw Firm ManagementSectionsNewsLJN Newsletters

Proxy Advisory Firms

By Jeffrey A. Scudder
August 02, 2015

Each January, our firm invites general counsel, CFOs, controllers, and other representatives of our public company clients, as well as other outside advisers to public companies, to a series of presentations focused on “hot topics” for the upcoming proxy season. For the past several years, I have been tasked with providing an update on proxy advisory firms, most notably Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS; www.issgovernance.com) and Glass Lewis (www.glasslewis.com), and the evolving policy updates they issue on an annual basis.

Some would argue that I've been “drawing the short straw.” Truth be told, though, I enjoy the topic for the surprisingly animated and wide-ranging reactions it evokes (at least relative to the subject matter). Those in the audience who have significant experience dealing with ISS generally groan and shake their heads in frustration, particularly if they are seeking shareholder approval of a new equity plan at their upcoming annual meeting. Others who lack such experience typically appreciate that “ignorance is bliss” in this area, but tend to be puzzled by the influence of proxy advisory firms and the attention they command within large public companies.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs Image

The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.

CLE Shouldn't Be the Only Mandatory Training for Attorneys Image

Each stage of an attorney's career offers opportunities for a curriculum that addresses both the individual's and the firm's need to drive success.

Discovery of Claim Construction and Infringement Analysis May be Compelled Prior to a Markman Hearing Image

A defendant in a patent infringement suit may, during discovery and prior to a <i>Markman</i> hearing, compel the plaintiff to produce claim charts, claim constructions, and element-by-element infringement analyses.