A recurring D&O insurance issue is the question of whether or not coverage for a particular claim is precluded under the relevant policy’s professional services exclusion. A recent decision by the Second Circuit addressed questions concerning the applicability of a professional services exclusion in a D&O insurance coverage dispute arising out of the mistake-plagued Facebook IPO. In a January 22, 2018 opinion (here), the appellate court affirmed the district court’s ruling that coverage for the settlement of Facebook IPO investors’ claims against NASDAQ was precluded by the NASDAQ’s D&O insurance policy’s professional services exclusion. The opinion includes some interesting discussion of considerations relevant to the exclusion’s applicability. Continue Reading Second Circuit: Professional Services Exclusion Precludes D&O Coverage for NASDAQ’s Facebook IPO Claims

In the following guest post, attorneys from the Paul Weiss law firm take a look at the Second Circuit’s January 12, 2018 decision in Arkansas Teacher Retirement System v. Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (here), in which the appellate court vacated the district court’s certification of a shareholder class in the securities class action lawsuit arising out of the investment company’s involvement in the creation and marketing of the infamous “built-to-fail” Abacus CDO. A version of this article previously appeared as a Paul Weiss law firm client memo. I would like to thank the authors for their willingness to publish their article as a guest post on this site. I welcome guest post submissions from responsible authors on topics of interest to this site’s readers. Please contact me directly if you would like to submit a guest post. Here is the authors’ guest post. Continue Reading Guest Post: Second Circuit Holds Defendants’ Fraud-on-the-Market Presumption Rebuttal Need Not Be Conclusive

In his recent one-volume history of American capitalism, “Americana,” author Bhu Srivnivasan recounts the rise of many of the country’s large corporations in the late 19th century, including the long-standing U.S. industry stalwart, General Electric. GE was formed when Wall Street bankers engineered the merger of two fledgling electrical services providers, including the company formed by Thomas Edison, Edison Electric. The company has since grown to become a massive conglomerate and something of a mainstay of the U.S. commercial economy, in many ways a bellwether for the country’s economic health and a representative example of the country’s industrial might. More recently the company has gone through some high-profile struggles, drawing questions for the company’s management – and as discussed below, attracting securities class action litigation as well. Continue Reading Reflections on GE’s Massive Run-Off Insurance-Related Charge

At the start of the New Year, it has been interesting finding out more about the massive tax legislation that Congress enacted in December. It has been interesting to see the various impacts that the legislation is having on a variety of companies. It has also been interesting to learn more of the details about what Congress actually enacted. For example, here’s a detail about the tax bill that I didn’t previously know about – apparently the tax legislation includes a provision specifying that employers can no longer include as a deduction on their tax returns amounts the employers pay in settlement and defense of sexual misconduct claims, if the settlement is subject to a nondisclosure agreement. Continue Reading New Tax Bill Bans Tax Deductibility of Confidential Sexual Misconduct Claims Settlements

As discussed in a guest post on this site last week (here), on December 14, 2018 the Delaware Supreme Court published its opinion in Dell, Inc. v. Magnetar Global Event Driven Master Fund Ltd. (here). In the following guest post, Mark Lebovitch, Christopher J. Orrico and Alla Zayenchik of the Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman LLP law firm provide their contrasting perspective on Dell and other recent Delaware decisions and of these decisions’ implications for investors and acquirers. I would like to thank the authors for their willingness to allow me to publish their article. I welcome guest post submissions from responsible authors on topics of interest to this blog’s readers. Please contact me directly if you would like to submit a guest post. Here is the authors’ guest post. Continue Reading Guest Post: From Corwin to Dell: Implications for Investors and Corporate Acquirers

As I have previously noted (most recently here), third-party litigation financing is an increasingly important part of the litigation scene in the U.S. and around the world. In a series of articles in December, Law 360 took a comprehensive overview of litigation funding in the U.S. As discussed below, the Law 360 series provides an interesting perspective on an increasingly important part of the U.S. litigation environment. Continue Reading The Latest on Third-Party Litigation Financing

In prior posts (most recently here), I have noted the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent predilection for taking up cases arising under the securities laws or otherwise involving securities lawsuits. On January 12, 2018, the Court reinforced this impression again by agreeing to take up yet another case arising under the securities laws. In this latest case the Court will address the question of whether or not the SEC’s administrative law judges (ALJ) were appointed in violation of the requirements of the Appointments Clause in the U.S. Constitution. The specific question involved is whether or not the ALJs are “inferior officers” of the type that under the Constitution must be appointed by the “Heads of Departments,” or whether they are just regular federal employees. The case could have significant ramifications not only for the SEC but for a variety of other federal agencies as well. The U.S. Supreme Court’s January 12, 2018 order in the case of Raymond James Lucia v. SEC can be found here. Continue Reading U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Take Up Challenge to Constitutionality of SEC ALJs’ Appointment

It is now well known and understood that cybersecurity is a board level issue. This generalization is true not just for companies in the United States but for all companies around the world. In the following guest post, Joel Pridmore, Asia Pacific Underwriting Manager, Specialty, Corporate Insurance Partner, Munich Re Group, Saket Modi, CEO of Lucideus Technologies Pvt Ltd, and Richa Shukla, Partner, Khaitan Legal Associates take a look at this issue, with a particular focus on concerns for Indian companies. I would like to thank the authors for allowing me to publish their article as a guest post. I welcome guest post submissions from responsible authors on topics of interest to this site’s readers. Please contact me directly if you would like to submit a guest post. Here is the authors’ guest post. Continue Reading Guest Post: Cyber Risk: A Board Level View

Over the last few days, I have published several posts looking back at 2017. In addition to looking back, this is also the time of year for looking forward as well. Among other things to watch out for this year is a series of D&O insurance coverage cases that are now pending in the appellate courts. In a January 9, 2018 article (here, subscription required), Law 360 author Jeff Sistrunk identifies three of these cases to watch this year. As discussed below, these cases not only are worth watching but could have important ramifications as well. Continue Reading Key D&O Insurance Coverage Appeals to Watch This Year

In the following guest post, Delaware partners Edward Micheletti, Paul Lockwood and associate Chad Davis of the Skadden Arps law firm take a look at the Delaware Supreme Court’s December 14, 2017 opinion in Dell, Inc. v. Magnetar Global Event Driven Master Fund Ltd. (here), which examined important appraisal action valuation issues. I would like to thank the authors for allowing me to publish their article. I welcome guest post submissions from responsible authors on topics of interest to this site’s readers. Please contact me directly if you would like to submit a guest post. Here is the authors’ guest post. Continue Reading Guest Post: Dell Strongly Reinforces Importance of Merger Price