Startup Law Initiative: Governance

Monday, June 17, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Pacific via ZOOM

BHBA members attend all CLE webinars for free. There is a fee for non-members. Check out all membership options at www.bhba.org/membership.

Earn 1.0 CA CLE Hours

Meet the Speakers

Stephanie Granato

Owner

Counsel for Growing Companies, Entrepreneurs, and Investors

Granato Law Office

Mark T. Hiraide

Partner

Advisor to Entrepreneurs, Startups, and Publicly Traded Companies

Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP

LaVonne D. Lawson

Counsel

Leech Tishman

(Moderator)

About the Program

This session covers the core aspects of governance critical for startups, addressing board composition, fiduciary duties, approval processes for key acts, and litigation considerations. Attendees will learn about structuring effective board compositions, understanding fiduciary duties of care, loyalty, and avoidance of misconduct, and navigating the approval of major contracts, option plans, and equity grants. The program will also explore strategies for filling board vacancies, managing internal and external litigation, and ensuring compliance with regulatory obligations and reporting requirements. Designed to equip startup founders and advisors with essential governance knowledge, this seminar will cover the following topics.

What is governance?
What does it mean for a startup?
Board composition – How many, who could be/should be?
Fiduciary Duties – care + loyalty + no bad acts
Approving Key Acts –
Major contracts
Option plan
Other equity grants
Filling vacancies
Litigation – internal (shareholder dispute) v external (corporate misconduct, securities violation, product/service liability)
Board observers
Meetings – regular, special, annual
Board
Shareholders
Cumulative voting
Reporting to investors – transparency and information rights
Contractual reporting obligations
Inspection rights
Cap table – who gets to see this?
Corporate Transparency Act
Insurance: D&O, E&O, EPL, GL, cyber
Regulatory compliance

The BHBA Startup Law Initiative aims to offer practical legal resources to the startup community through a series of meticulously crafted webinars. These webinars will include scheduled question and answer sessions, enlightening cohorts of founders, managers, and advisors about fundamental legal requirements and optimal strategies for establishing and nurturing innovative enterprises.

Tuesday, 4/30, 4:00 pm - Current Developments in Startup Law: AI, CTA, and the Latest on Non-Compete Agreements

Monday, 5/14, 4:00 pm - Funding

Tuesday, 6/20, 11:00 am - Attracting and Retaining Talent for Startups: Employee Incentive Plans, Payroll Concerns, Immigration Law Issues

Date TBD - Growths and Exits

This series is developed by Howard S. Fisher, Thomas Gaffney, Stephanie Granato, LaVonne Lawson, William Norman, Bill Staley, and Michele F. L. Weiss.

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