Corporate Governance
This area deals with the systems of rules, practices, and processes by which a corporation is directed and controlled. It involves balancing the interests of a company’s many stakeholders, such as shareholders, management, customers, suppliers, financiers, government, and the community.
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
This area involves the buying, selling, dividing, and combining of different companies and similar entities. Lawyers in this field handle negotiations, structuring deals, and carrying out due diligence.
Securities Law
This is concerned with the regulation of securities (stocks, bonds, etc.) and the exchanges on which they are sold. It involves dealing with disclosure requirements, insider trading laws, and other regulations designed to protect investors.
Corporate Finance
This area involves the ways in which corporations raise and manage capital. It includes dealing with financial instruments, investment decisions, and the legal aspects of financial transactions.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy
This involves dealing with the legal aspects of financial distress and bankruptcy, including the rights and responsibilities of debtors and creditors.
Corporate Litigation
This area deals with resolving disputes involving corporations, either through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or trial. It can cover a wide range of issues, from contract disputes to allegations of corporate misconduct.
Fiduciary Duties
This area pertains to the legal obligations of corporate directors and officers to act in the best interests of the corporation and its shareholders.
Shareholder Rights and Derivative Actions
This involves dealing with the rights of shareholders within the corporation and the mechanisms by which they can enforce those rights, including the use of derivative lawsuits.
Regulatory Compliance
Corporations must comply with a wide range of regulations, from environmental laws to employment standards. Corporate lawyers often advise on compliance issues to help corporations avoid legal problems.
Corporate Formation and Structure
This area deals with the legal processes and structures involved in forming a corporation, including drafting articles of incorporation, bylaws, and other foundational documents.
Intellectual Property (IP) Rights
In certain industries, corporations’ IP assets can be of central importance. Corporate law can intersect with IP law in areas like IP protection, licensing, and litigation.