Executive Roundtable Series Presents a Workshop on Building Better Bylaws

Raleigh, N.C. – On May 5, 2015, Smith Anderson presented a workshop on “Building Better Bylaws,” which addressed how bylaws can be used by businesses as a risk management tool and to improve their corporate governance. The event was the second installment in the firm’s four-part 2015 Executive Roundtable Series, which provides executives with practical approaches to managing legal and strategic challenges impacting their businesses.

Presented by Cliff Brinson, Mikal Shaikh and Christopher Smith, “Building Better Bylaws” revealed how companies can use forum-selection bylaws to control litigation costs and discussed issues around arbitration bylaws and fee-shifting bylaws.  Bylaws also can be an effective governance tool for dealing fairly with activist shareholders. With these expanded uses of bylaws, however, has come increased scrutiny from shareholder advocates. The discussion also addressed best practices for adopting bylaws and pending legislation addressing bylaws.

Smith Anderson was involved with the recent and closely-watched case City of Providence v. First Citizens BancShares, Inc., in which the topic of a forum-selection bylaw was addressed by the Delaware Court of Chancery. You can read more on the Court’s decision in our recent Corporate Client Alert, “Delaware Court of Chancery Upholds North Carolina ‘Exclusive Forum’ Bylaw.”

About the 2015 Executive Roundtable Series
This is the second year that Smith Anderson presents its Executive Roundtable Series, which is designed to provide advice or strategies to executives which could help protect their companies and maintain focus on their business goals in the current business climate. For information on upcoming sessions, “Restrictive Covenants in Employment Agreements” (June 17, 2015) and “So You've Been Sued, Now What?” (October 14, 2015), please contact Susan Hargrove at shargrove@smithlaw.com.

About Smith Anderson
Founded in 1912, Smith Anderson has grown to become the largest business and litigation law firm headquartered in the Research Triangle region and one of the largest in North Carolina. We provide a full range of legal services to a diverse and dynamic group of regional, national and international companies. Over one hundred years of practicing law has grounded our Firm's culture, informed our perspective and provided us the insight necessary to help our clients succeed. Over time, our core principles have remained unchanged. We remain personally dedicated to the success, prosperity and betterment of our clients, our friends and the communities we serve. For more information, please visit www.SmithLaw.com.