Once your company has its organizational and governing documents in place, one can concentrate on the task of operating the company. Complying with appropriate laws and regulations operating a company can be complicated. It is important for businesses of all sizes to develop and implement appropriate corporate governing principles. Strategies are needed to protect a company from the financial and legal risks of violating the law. The company should also have an established plan of action to address potential violations.
Many businesses rely upon the advice of outside counsel regarding issues including:
- Compliance with governing documents: qualifications of board members, composition of the board, structure of board committees, independence requirements for board members and committees, fiduciary duties, periodic review of articles of organization and bylaws, shareholder relationships, proxy proposals and voting issues.
- Compliance with federal laws and regulatory rules: ethics codes, whistleblower policies, claw back policies, insider trading policies, conflicts of interest, related party transactions.
- Insurance and other risk management issues.
- Human Relations policies, including employment, health insurance and retirement funds.