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Securities Law Commons

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University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

Faculty Scholarship

Sarbanes-Oxley Act

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Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Securities Law

Sarbanes-Oxley, Corporate Federalism, And The Declining Significance Of Federal Reforms On State Director Independence Standards, Lisa M. Fairfax Jan 2005

Sarbanes-Oxley, Corporate Federalism, And The Declining Significance Of Federal Reforms On State Director Independence Standards, Lisa M. Fairfax

Faculty Scholarship

Commentators have argued that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley” or the “Act”) raises federalism concerns because it regulates the internal affairs of a corporation, including the composition of, and qualifications for, corporate boards, in a manner traditionally reserved to states. This Article responds to those claims, arguing that the Act reflects a relatively minimal intrusion into state law, particularly with regard to issues of director independence. This Article further argues that the Act’s failure to disturb state law on these issues may impede its ability to tighten director independence standards and by extension may undermine its ability to improve …


The Sarbanes-Oxley Act As Confirmation Of Recent Trends In Director And Officer Fiduciary Obligations, Lisa M. Fairfax Jan 2002

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act As Confirmation Of Recent Trends In Director And Officer Fiduciary Obligations, Lisa M. Fairfax

Faculty Scholarship

This Article argues that, instead of dramatically altering the responsibilities of corporate officers and directors, Sarbanes-Oxley confirms at least some case law and other recent articulations of management’s fiduciary duty. At a minimum, recent allegations regarding corporate misconduct may suggest some degree of confusion on the pat of corporate officers and directors about the manner in which they should comply with their fiduciary duty. By requiring more exacting standards of conduct from these corporate agents, Sarbanes-Oxley may not only clear up that confusion, but also may represent a natural extension of recent pronouncements by Delaware courts, the SEC and other …