Gwyneth (Gwyn) E. McAlpine Business Professional

The 2009 proxy season marks the first year in which all public companies must comply with the Securities and Exchange Commission's e-proxy rules.  These rules were effective for large accelerated filers, and on a voluntary basis for all other companies, as of January 1, 2008.  The experience of early adopters in 2008 provides valuable insight for companies implementing the e-proxy rules for the first time, as well as those companies that are looking for ways to improve their e-proxy experience over last year.  The lessons learned will help companies better anticipate challenges, establish informed expectations, and identify strategies for the upcoming proxy season.  This Update provides background information on e‑proxy rules and offers our "Top 8" lessons learned from the 2008 e-proxy season.

The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice recently released their Hart-Scott-Rodino Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2007 for the period from October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007.

The SEC recently adopted amendments to rules and forms affecting foreign private issuers.

The Securities and Exchange Commission recently reviewed the executive compensation disclosure of 350 companies under its new rules adopted in 2006. Following this review, the SEC issued comment letters to the companies reviewed and then issued a report that follows the general themes that run throughout these comment letters.

The SEC recently published an interpretive release providing guidance on compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The SEC separately finalized rule amendments relating to internal control over financial reporting and defining the term “material weakness.” The guidance became effective on June 27, 2007, and the amendments to the rules will be effective August 27, 2007. The SEC also proposed a new definition for the term “significant deficiency.”

This Update summarizes key highlights of the SEC's interpretive guidance, the SEC's new and proposed rules and PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 5.

A robust panel discussion of the advantages and challenges associated with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in providing legal services.