Business Organizations Law Commons^™

Will Systematic Stewardship Save The Planet?, Zohar Goshen, Assaf Hamdani

Faculty Scholarship

The largest institutional investors have solidified their status as “universal owners,” holding almost eighty percent of the U.S. stock market. The growing influence of these investors over the companies they invest in has sparked optimism among scholars and activists that asset managers will use their clout to steer firms towards Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives. But such optimism may be misplaced. Focusing on carbon emission reduction, we argue that universal owners lack the necessary incentives and competence to pressure corporations to lower emissions.

Universal owners market ESG investments with conflicting promises of “doing well while doing good.” The untenable …

A Theory Of Calibrated Fiduciary Duties In Firms, Robert J. Rhee

UF Law Faculty Publications

Although the laws of firms state the same traditional duty of loyalty, they diverge in expressing the duty of care and the concept of good faith. The differences are not subtle shades of refinement, but quantum contrasts of discrete legal states. The law shuffles, reclassifies, and relocates core elements of the duty of care and the concept of good faith uniquely in each form of firm. Why? Despite apparent legal divergence, a single fiduciary rule governs all forms of firms. This Article presents a theory of calibrated fiduciary duties that explains important variations in the formulation of fiduciary duty and …

Dispute Resolution Tradeoffs In Ombuds Office Design, Kristen M. Blankley

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

An organizational ombudsman (or “ombuds,” used as the preferred term in this paper) is a conflict resolution specialist who works as either an employee or contractor within the organization it serves. Unlike mediators or arbitrators, ombuds work only with a designated constituency group (often employees or other stakeholders) to solve a variety of conflicts at the lowest level possible within the organization. Ombuds, while preserving the confidentiality of the information they learn, can report trends to the organization or the public. While ombuds do not have the authority to make formal policy changes or other formal decisions, their work informs …

Performance Leads Governance: A Comment On Professor Tallarita’S Dual-Class Analysis, David J. Berger, Pierluigi Matera

Faculty Scholarship

The rise of dual-class stock structures in corporate governance has sparked intense academic, legal, and regulatory debate. In his recent contribution, Dual-Class Contracting, Professor Tallarita persuasively challenges some contemporary interpretations of contractarian theories by showing that dual-class structures do not reflect bespoke bargaining or firm-specific negotiation, but rather result from lawyer-driven standardization, social norms, and path dependency.

Drawing on Tallarita’s empirical findings, we argue that the reality of dual-class structures extends beyond governance formality. Specifically, we contend that investor behavior is driven not by structural governance ideals, but by corporate performance and mission alignment. Companies increasingly design governance structures based …

Caremark's Politics, Itai Fiegenbaum

Cardozo Law Review

What propels the evolution of Delaware corporate law? In a series of persuasive articles, Professor Mark Roe explains Delaware corporate law developments as an effort to preempt federal intervention. If public outrage over corporate governance failures reaches Congress, federal lawmakers may impose reforms that undercut Delaware’s prominence and ultimately harm those that benefit from the prestige and lucre that come with it. To avoid this, Delaware courts strategically adjust doctrines to appear vigilant in protecting investors. Delaware’s adjudication of director oversight failures aligns with this account. In re Caremark, the seminal case renowned for its declaration of a proactive board-level …

Bernard Parks, Jr. V. Kelly King, Order On Motion To Dismiss Appeal, John J. Goger

Superior Court of Fulton County: Metro Atlanta Business Case Division Opinions

No abstract provided.

Will Systematic Stewardship Save The Planet?, Zohar Goshen, Assaf Hamdani

Villanova Law Review (1956 - )

No abstract provided.

Delta Air Lines, Inc., V. Crowdstrike, Inc., Order On Motion To Compel, Kelly L. Ellerbe

Superior Court of Fulton County: Metro Atlanta Business Case Division Opinions

No abstract provided.

Alpharetta Underwriters, Llc V. Argonaut Mgmt. Svcs., Order On Pending Motions, Wesley B. Tailor

Superior Court of Fulton County: Metro Atlanta Business Case Division Opinions

No abstract provided.

Barbarians At The Gate Or Angels At The Crossroads? Examining The Impact Of The Uk Green Taxonomy On Private Equity Firms, Melek Redzheb, Fatjon Kaja

Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial & Commercial Law

This Article explores whether the UK Green Taxonomy will foster sustainable corporate governance in private equity-backed portfolio companies. We explore how the Taxonomy will address the greenwashing problem that plagues financial markets, including the private equity industry. Our analysis suggests that general partners will have a twofold response to the new reforms. In the short term, they will seek to address the social concerns of limited partners by negatively screening unsustainable companies and cherry-picking more sustainable ones (the so-called “exit” strategy). In the long term, however, they will adopt a dynamic strategy to transform unsustainable targets into sustainable enterprises on …

The Dubious Role Of Institutional Investors In Driving The Green Transition: Legal And Economic Constraints, Giovanni Strampelli

Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial & Commercial Law

There is a well-established trend that the process of transition to a sustainable economic growth model marked by the pursuit of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) objectives has large companies at its center, which are considered an essential hub for this purpose given their weight in the global economy. In this context, the role of shareholders, especially institutional investors, plays an important role. Indeed, it is widely recognized that they, having an increasing prominence in the shareholder base of large, listed companies, can push these public companies to adopt more virtuous conduct in the areas of, among others, environmental protection …

Court Appointed Monitorships: Effective Remedy Or Modern Misstep?, Jean Joun

Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial & Commercial Law

When a corporate entity or organization violates the law, there are several remedies the courts may enforce against the bad actor. Most common are damages—both compensatory and punitive—and injunctive relief. The class of injunctive relief that most are familiar with is the kind that restrains the bad actor from a conduct or behavior. However, courts in certain instances may decide, either on their own volition or after being asked to consider such a remedy by a prosecuting entity, to appoint a compliance monitor with the function of ensuring that the bad actor continues traversing a legally sound path. Although court-ordered …

Uncovering Red Flags In The Silver State: Recognizing And Expanding The Corporate Duty Of Oversight In Nevada, Daren Dunaway

Nevada Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Where Singapore Meets Asean: Shaping Insolvency Reform For Micro And Small Enterprises, Lovein Leying Sui

Singapore Law Journal (Lexicon)

Given the economic dependence on micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the ASEAN region, the MSE insolvency regime is of paramount regional importance. Evidence indicates that the ASEAN region has prioritised the improvement of such a regime, especially after the financial instability following the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper explores how trends in ASEAN MSE insolvency can inform Singapore’s insolvency reforms to improve MSE access and efficiency, while also considering broader implications for the region.

The New Framework For Directors’ Duty To Creditors And The Challenges Ahead – Foo Kian Beng V Op3 International Pte Ltd (In Liquidation) [2024] 1 Slr 361, Jonathan Ren Hao Cheong

Singapore Law Journal (Lexicon)

In Foo Kian Beng v OP3 International Pte Ltd (in liquidation) [2024] 1 SLR 361, the Singapore Court of Appeal introduced a two-step, three-category framework for evaluating whether a director has breached his fiduciary duty to consider the interests of creditors. This decision not only affirms the traditional understanding of the duty in other common law jurisdictions but also provides directors with clearer guidance on managing the affairs of the company in times of financial distress. This article builds upon the discussion in Foo Kian Beng by evaluating the new framework established by the SGCA. It also identifies potential challenges …

How To Strengthen The International Competitiveness Of Capital Markets, Aurelio Gurrea-Martinez

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Global capital markets are undergoing profound transformation. Over the past decade, there has been a marked decline in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) in most advanced economies, including those with highly developed capital markets such as the United Kingdom and the United States. Interestingly, during the same period, countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and particularly China have witnessed a significant increase in the number of listed companies, contributing to making Asia home to approximately 55 percent of all listed companies worldwide (OECD, 2025). Much of the decline in IPO activity in many advanced economies can be attributed to the expansion of …

A Commitment Rule For Insolvency Forum: A Response To Critics, Anthony J. Casey, Aurelio Gurrea-Martinez, Robert K. Rasmussen

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

On September 14, 2023, we sent a letter to the Secretariat of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (“UNCITRAL”) Working Group V (Insolvency) expressing our concern about the concept of “Center of Main Interest” (“COMI”) adopted in the Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency (“Model Law”).1 We noted that the concept of COMI presents various weaknesses.

What 2 Profs Noticed As Transactional Law Students Used Ai, Celia Bigoness, David Reiss

Cornell Law Faculty Publications

We teach entrepreneurship law clinics in which our students do transactional work on a wide range of matters, including business formation, contracts, intellectual property protection and regulatory compliance.

This past semester, we had access to generative artificial intelligence tools from Lexis, Westlaw and Bloomberg Law, as well as those that are more broadly available to the general public, including ChatGPT and Perplexity.

While we have not done a rigorous study of these tools, we have some early observations about how AI is changing how transactional lawyers do their jobs, particularly new transactional lawyers. Our own experience has been mostly positive, …

Ai At Work, Algorithmic Bosses, And The Ambivalence Of Automation, Antonio Aloisi, Valerio De Stefano

All Papers

This chapter revisits a foundational question (“what do bosses do?”) to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping power dynamics in the workplace. Far from neutral tools of optimisation, algorithmic systems increasingly amplify managerial prerogatives, embedding them into automated processes that are difficult to scrutinise or contest. These developments give rise to a paradox: managers and workers are simultaneously augmented and disempowered, caught in systems that intensify control while eroding autonomy. Drawing on legal, organisational, and regulatory perspectives, we argue that existing safeguards, ranging from data protection rights to information and consultation, are ill-equipped to confront this shift. The chapter …

American Plastics, Llc, V. Home Depot Product Authority, Llc, Order On Motion To Compel Discovery, Kelly L. Ellerbe

Superior Court of Fulton County: Metro Atlanta Business Case Division Opinions

No abstract provided.

Too Many Mergers? The Golden Parachute As A Driver Of M&A Activity In The 21st Century, Jeffrey N. Gordon

Faculty Scholarship

This Article argues that the corporate governance regime in the United States has produced a level of mergers and acquisition activity greater than the social optimum because of the current version of the “golden parachute,” a super-bonus payoff to a target CEO. In the late nineteenth through the twentieth century, M&A activity was characterized by “waves” that reflected adaptations to changing external environment, whether the efficient production frontier, regulatory constraints, or capital market developments. Economically-motivated parties saw the opportunities in changing the boundaries of the firm; successful first-movers spawned imitators, hence a wave, which eventually subsided, often alongside deteriorating capital …

Volume 48 Masthead

Seattle University Law Review

Volume 48 Masthead

Keynote Address: Community Over Constitution, Riddhi Mukhopadhyay

Seattle University Law Review

In this keynote address, Riddhi Mukhopadhyay challenges the veneration of the U.S. Constitution by highlighting its origins in exclusion and its continued failure to protect marginalized communities. Drawing from her experience in civil legal aid and gender justice, she argues that the Constitution was drafted to consolidate power among white, wealthy men and continues to reflect that legacy through racial, gender, and class-based inequities. While acknowledging the significance of constitutional amendments and landmark cases, Mukhopadhyay emphasizes that meaningful change has always come from community-led action, not top-down reform. Additionally, Mukhopadhyay calls on lawyers and legal advocates to center community, practice …

The Lost Child: A Critique On Transracial Adoption Rhetoric, Hallie Conyers-Tucker

Seattle University Law Review

Transracial adoption in the United States reflects a deeply rooted history of colonialism, cultural assimilation, and racial hierarchy, masked by rhetoric focused on the “best interest of the child.” The author critiques that rhetoric and traces how adoption practices and policies, both domestic and international, have evolved to reinforce systemic inequities. Through historical analysis of the forced adoption of Native American, Black, and Asian children, it reveals how the best interest standard has been wielded not to protect children but to uphold political and racial ideologies. The author argues that the prevailing adoption framework relies on child-saving and color-blind narratives …

A Global Reconstruction: Black Internationalism And The Human Rights Regime, Britta Redwood

Seattle University Law Review

Black American advocates for civil, political, and economic rights have long taken an internationalist approach and fostered connections with international organizations and transnational movements. This engagement has also been a generative force and played role in shaping international law. Beginning in the early years of the twentieth century, Black intellectuals and leaders, spearheaded by the NAACP and the UNIA, focused on human rights as a means for addressing and repairing the harms wrought by slavery, Jim Crow, and racism. From the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Genocide Convention, and the drafting of …

The Gap: Addressing The Missing Piece In HawaiʻI’S Anti-Discrimination Laws On Credit And Lending, Wendy Mun

Seattle University Law Review

This author addresses the significant gap in Hawaiʻi’s anti-discrimination laws, specifically the lack of explicit protections for LGBTQ+ individuals against credit and lending discrimination. Although federal laws like the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and recent interpretations by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) extend some protections, they remain vulnerable to shifting federal priorities and interpretations. The author explores how other states, particularly California and Washington, have enacted robust statutory protections that clearly prohibit credit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. They argue that Hawaiʻi, despite its large LGBTQ+ population, must amend its credit protection laws to reflect …

The U.S. Drug Policy Hamster Wheel: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Seattle’S New Drug Ordinance, Hallie Conyers-Tucker

Seattle University Law Review

The author critically examines Seattle’s new drug ordinance using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to reveal how legislative language influences the policy's actual effect. Although the ordinance claims to prioritize diversion and community health, the use of permissive language such as “may” and “shall” grants broad discretionary power to law enforcement and undermines the stated intent. The author situates the ordinance within a broader historical context, highlighting how drug policy in the United States has consistently been shaped by racialized and stigmatizing narratives. Additionally, the author argues that meaningful reform requires reframing the discourse around substance use to support public health …

Something Concrete: How Labor Advocates Can Best Respond To The Ambiguity Of Glacier Northwest, Ateş Serifsoy

Seattle University Law Review

The Supreme Court’s much-anticipated decision in Glacier North-west, Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local No. 174 (Glacier) marked a critical moment for workers’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the longstanding practice of Garmon preemption. Yet, initial fears of a significant rollback of workers’ rights, driven by sensational headlines, were met with an unexpectedly narrow Court opinion. This Comment examines Glacier’s implications for Gar-mon preemption and the right to strike. It offers the historical background of the doctrine of labor law preemption before Glacier; presents a detailed analysis of Glacier itself, including its …

Table Of Contents

Seattle University Law Review

Table of Contents

Can The Law Protect My Craft? How Gaps In Copyright Of Knitting Patterns Symbolize A Greater Struggle For Protecting Traditionally Feminine Forms Of Intellectual Property, Kysa Walzer

Seattle University Law Review

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the application of intel-lectual property rights within the context of copyright protection of knit-ting patterns. The article will discuss the underutilization of copyright pro-tection for knitters and crafters and its larger impact upon craft and indus-try traditionally comprised of women. Part I introduces knitting patterns and a short history of copyright protections. Part II discusses the specific areas within knitting patterns and the knitting community which give rise to legal grey areas for copyright protection. Part III discusses the larger implications of copyright and intellectual property in spaces where women traditionally make …