Corporate Governance

With more than sixty public companies and many large private and family-owned companies as clients, Haynes and Boone is very experienced in advising independent directors, executive officers, controlling stockholders, stockholder groups and other constituencies on governance issues. Corporate Board Member magazine, based on its annual survey of 25,000 directors nationwide for the purpose of identifying the top U.S. corporate firms, has consistently recognized Haynes and Boone for its corporate practice expertise. We have captured a top spot for the past seven years for Dallas headquartered law firms. Because of our experience in the field of corporate governance, our lawyers are invited to speak at professional seminars and publish articles on governance issues. Haynes and Boone strives to be on the cutting edge of “Best Practices” and new developments in corporate governance.

Advising On Corporate Governance

Boards of directors, senior management teams, independent directors, board committees and stakeholder groups turn to Haynes and Boone lawyers for our expertise on the following kinds of governance matters:

Director Duties in Making Business Decisions

• Proper due diligence
• Proper deliberation
• Proper use of third-party experts
• Proper preparation of board minutes
• Proper due diligence

 Director Duties in Monitoring and Overseeing the Affairs of the Corporation 

• Risk management oversight
• Audit function oversight
• Management conduct oversight
• Executive compensation oversight
• Executive officer termination

Director Duties in Detecting and Preventing Corporate Wrongdoing

• Effective corporate compliance programs
• Internal investigations
• Enforcement of ethics and legal compliance programs Board composition and operating protocols
• Board operating protocols
• Director self-evaluation protocols
• Classified board structures
• Board compensation issues
• Internal conflicts with a board

Special Independent Board Committees 

• Interested party transaction committees
• Internal investigation committees
• Derivative litigation disposition committees
• Proper formation and operation
• Proper selection of independent advisors

Governance Documents 

• Corporate charter and bylaws
• Board committee charters
• Codes of conduct
• "Whistleblower" procedures
• Governance principles

Takeover Controversies 

• Proxy contest strategies
• Hostile tender offer strategies
• Director fiduciary duties

Shareholder Activism

• Responsive strategies to activist's demands

Stockholder Meetings 

• Bylaw provisions governing stockholder meetings
• Meeting preparation
• Election of director protocols
• Proxy solicitation and compliance

Sarbanes-Oxley Act Compliance 

• Officer certifications
• Internal controls certification
• Whistleblower issues
• Disclosure controls and procedures
• Board self evaluations
• Board independence standards
• Stock exchange listing requirements relating to internal affairs of the corporation

Stock Exchange Governance Requirements 

• Compliance issues
• Director independence standards
• Board committee issues

Protecting Directors Against Personal Liability 

• D&O insurance safeguards
• Indemnification safeguards
• Exculpatory charter provision safeguards
• Board training programs on director conduct

Close Corporations 

• Sale of control issues
• Oppression of minority stockholders
• Stockholder buy-sell agreements
• Stockholder voting agreements

Our corporate governance practice includes experienced attorneys from numerous practice groups, including corporate, securities, litigation, tax, labor/employment, and corporate restructuring practices. We tailor our advice to the specific circumstances of our clients. We also regularly provide pertinent training seminars to Boards, special committees and executive management regarding corporate governance issues.