I am forwarding a timely and helpful discussion by Scott Wornow of the Coblentz firm in which Scott discusses situations that we now regularly see in the multi-media social, business and political news: issues and situations to consider when an executive, or the business, or a high-profile person who is associated with or linked to the business is accused of a significant unethical or illegal act or lapse of judgment. Below I have provided a link to Scott’s discussion, and I have also provided a few snapshots from Scott’s discussion. Headings contained in Scott’s discussion include, for example, topics covering Contracts and Quasi-Contracts; Morals Clauses; Fiduciary Considerations; and Regulatory; Compliance and Risk Management. Scott’s discussion covers a lot of issues in a concise and to-the-point discussion. This is a discussion that is important for all businesses including public companies, nonprofits and NGOs, private companies, and even governmental entities.
These issues can cross into many different areas including law, liability and remedial actions, social and business reputation, crisis management, investigations, internal controls, governance and leadership, “righting the ship,” culture, HR and tone at the top, enterprise risk management (ERM) processes and who has responsibility for risk management, compliance policies and processes, protecting the business’s assets pre- and post-crisis, ESG, boards and audit and risk committees, the FCPA, the new DOJ guidelines on corporate compliance programs, internal and outside audit, executive officers, directors, senior managerial officers and other professionals, and in-house counsel responsibilities and possible liability, dealing with regulatory agencies, and other areas. Also consider whether the industry in which the business operates is subject to additional specific statutes, regulations, rules, or expectations that are relevant to these topics. You will find discussions on many of these topics throughout this blog.
The following are some snapshots from Scott’s discussion (I added the yellow highlights), and below the snapshots I have provided a direct link to Scott’s full discussion.
Click on the following link to access Scott’s full discussion.
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Remember, every case and situation is different. It is important to obtain and evaluate all of the evidence that is available, and to apply that evidence to the applicable standards and laws. You do need to consult with an attorney and other professionals about your particular situation. This post is not a solicitation for legal or other services inside of or outside of California, and, of course, this post only is a summary of information that changes from time to time, and does not apply to any particular situation or to your specific situation. So . . . you cannot rely on this post for your situation or as legal or other professional advice or representation.
Thank you for reading this website. I ask that you also pass it along to other people who would be interested as it is through collaboration that great things and success occur more quickly.
Best to you, David Tate, Esq. (and inactive California CPA) – practicing in California only.
I am also the new Chair of the Business Law Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco.
Blogs: Trust, estate/probate, power of attorney, conservatorship, elder and dependent adult abuse, nursing home and care, disability, discrimination, personal injury, responsibilities and rights, and other related litigation, and contentious administrations http://californiaestatetrust.com; Business, D&O, board, director, audit committee, shareholder, founder, owner, and investor litigation, governance, responsibilities and rights, compliance, investigations, and risk management http://auditcommitteeupdate.com
The following are copies of the tables of contents of three of the more formal materials that I have written over the years about accounting/auditing, audit committees, and related legal topics – Accounting and Its Legal Implications was my first formal effort, which resulted in a published book that had more of an accounting and auditing focus; Chapter 5A, Audit Committee Functions and Responsibilities, for the California Continuing Education of the Bar has a more legal focus; and the most recent Tate’s Excellent Audit Committee Guide (February 2017) also has a more legal focus:
Accounting and Its Legal Implications
Tate’s Excellent Audit Committee Guide
The following are other summary materials that you might find useful:
From a prior blog post which you can find at https://wp.me/p75iWX-dk if the below scan is too difficult to read:
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A blog discussing the law, D&O, governance, liability and other aspects of public and private businesses, not for profit organizations, and governmental entities – see additional detail below - note: sometimes I post information just to pass it along on these topics (not an endorsement), and sometimes I provide only brief comments or no comments, not a more full discussion. 