As I have noted in several posts on this site (most recently here), one of the recurring D&O insurance coverage questions is the extent of the preclusive effect of the professional services exclusion. In the following guest post, Rehana Box and Marie Vlassis of the Ashurst law firm take a look at judicial developments in … Continue Reading
As I learned during my recent visit to the country, just about everything about China is big. It is the world’s most populous country. China leads the world’s economic growth by size and speed. It is also one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing insurance markets. According to a June 10, 2015 Law 360 article … Continue Reading
The increasing globalization of business and commerce presents significant opportunities and major complications. The complications run across a wide variety of issues. Among other things, the complications arising from an increasingly global economy include concerns relating to the liabilities of companies’ directors and officers across jurisdictions. These concerns can vary widely depending on the countries … Continue Reading
On September 29, 2014, I will be in London to participate in the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) regional symposium. The luncheon event, which is entitled “Dangers of Long Arm Enforcement in a World WIthout Borders” will take place at Gibson Hall. I will be making a presentation at the event on the topic of … Continue Reading
In an interesting June 11, 2014 Financial Times article entitled “Spain’s Renewal Must Include Governance Improvements” (here), financial journalist and commentator Tony Barber identifies corporate governance issues that he believes Spanish companies have been slow to address. According to Barber, while there may be historical explanations for many of the long-standing corporate governance practices in … Continue Reading
In an interesting and provocative article, an Australian attorney has sounded the alarm on escalating securities class action litigation in his country. The May 2014 article, written by John Emmerig of the Jones Day la firm’s Sydney office, is entitled “Securities Class Actions Escalate in Australia” (here). The article suggests that in light of recent … Continue Reading
The volume of misstatement-related securities litigation in Japan has “increased dramatically” since the 2004 revisions to Japanese securities laws, according to a June 2013 report from the consulting firm Alix Partners. The report, entitled “Recent Trends in Japanese Securities Litigation: 2000-2012,” can be found here. Even though misstatement-related securities suit filings in Japan were down … Continue Reading
In a May 13, 2013 order (here), Southern District of New York Judge Shira Scheindlin granted defendants’ motion to dismiss the Libor-scandal related securities suit that had been filed against Barclays and two of its former executives following the company’s entry into a massive Libor-related settlement last summer. The suit’s dismissal is just the latest … Continue Reading
I know that much of this blog’s readership is located outside the United States and that many readers have substantial business dealings overseas. One of the countries that I know many are focused on is India. For that reason I am pleased to be able publish the following guest from Michael Lea and Abhimanyu Malkan … Continue Reading
On March 30, 2012, in a decision that may highlight the extent to which Canadian courts are increasingly willing to enforce securities laws in ways that may have extraterritorial effects, the Ontario Court of Appeals held that the liability regime under the Ontario Securities Act applies to Canadian Solar, a company whose shares trade only … Continue Reading
In this post, I review two recent law firm memos examining the state of class action litigation in Australia and Mexico, respectively. I first review class actions in Australia, and then examine class actions in Mexico below. AUSTRALIA Class actions, which have been available as a procedural alternative in Australia since 1992 are “now … Continue Reading
Securities class action lawsuit filings in Canada hit record levels in 2011 according to a new report from NERA Economic Consulting. The January 31, 2012 report, entitled “Trends in Canadian Securities Class Actions: 2011 Update” (here) concludes that the persistent growth in Canadian securities class action lawsuit filings “is not a transient phenomenon.” According … Continue Reading
During the twelve months ending June 30, 2011, at least 32 Chinese companies were hit with U.S. securities suits. In addition, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has initiated a number of enforcement actions and other proceedings against U.S.-listed Chinese companies, issued a formal bulletin warning investors about the risks of investing in Chinese companies … Continue Reading
In today’s global economy, business increasingly is conducted cross-jurisdictionally. Company officials and their advisors increasingly must grapple with liability issues arising under the laws of multiple jurisdictions. These liability issues in turn can present complex indemnification and insurance questions. Simply identifying the operative legal considerations can present a significant challenge. A newly updated legal … Continue Reading
One of the questions posed in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Morrison v. National Australia Bank is whether the Court’s holding might encourage securities claimants foreclosed by Morrison from U.S. court to attempt to pursue their claims in their home countries or in other jurisdictions. The January 10, 2011 … Continue Reading
As a result of series of legal developments, securities class action lawsuits in Australia have become have become increasingly common in recent years, and signs are that these trends will continue, according to a comprehensive study of Australian securities class action litigation issued on May 7, 2010 by NERA Economic Consulting. The report can … Continue Reading
Pop quiz: the law of which jurisdiction should govern a coverage dispute arising under D&O insurance policies issued by U.S-domiciled insurers to an NYSE company incorporated in Delaware with its headquarters in Oregon? If you find the answer "British Columbia" as surprising as I do, read on. The court decision discussed below could have important … Continue Reading
Beginning with the corporate scandals earlier in this decade and continuing with the more recent financial meltdown and Ponzi scheme revelations, these has been a widespread push toward corporate governance reform. In some European countries, these developments have been accompanied by the implementation of mechanisms to provide some form of relief to the victims of … Continue Reading
In an October 29, 2009 order (here, Hat Tip: Am Law Litigation Daily), Ontario Court of Justice judge Paul Perell ruled that the direct involvement of the U.S.-based law firm Milberg LLP was permissible in the securities class action lawsuit filed against Timminco Limited and pending before the court. Timminco had been sued in … Continue Reading
As a result of legislative reforms and a changing enforcement environment, the number of disclosure related securities cases in Japan has increased in recent years and is likely to continue to grow in the years ahead, according to a July 15, 2009 report from NERA Economic Consulting. The report, which was written by Makoto Ikeya … Continue Reading
There is no question that the Amsterdam Court of Appeals’ May 29, 2009 action authorizing Royal Dutch Shell to begin funding the April 2007 securities settlement represents a landmark development. Under the ruling (a copy of which can be found here, in Dutch), Shell will begin paying a total of $381 million to a foundation … Continue Reading
Questions surrounding the susceptibility of foreign domiciled companies to U.S. securities laws and to the jurisdiction of U.S. court are frequently recurring issues, as I noted most recently here. However, a new case filed in Ontario under Ontario’s securities laws presents an interesting variation on these questions. The Ontario Action Against AIG According to its … Continue Reading
