Glass Lewis has released its 2026 Benchmark Policy Guidelines, along with its 2026 Benchmark Policy Guidelines on Shareholder Proposals and ESG-related issues, introducing several notable changes ahead of the upcoming proxy season. Key Updates for 2026 Enhanced Pay-for-Performance Evaluation Glass Lewis has updated its pay-for-performance model to adopt a scorecard-based…
On November 17, 2025, the SEC issued a statement from the Division of Corporation Finance which announces a significant change in the Division’s involvement in the annual shareholder proposal season. Noting “current resource and timing considerations following the lengthy government shutdown and the large volume of registration statements and other…
On September 10, 2025, the SEC announced that an open meeting will be held on September 17, 2025 and the agenda items include: Whether to issue a policy statement addressing the presence of a provision requiring arbitration of investor claims arising under the federal securities laws and its impact on…
On September 10, 2025, the SEC announced that James J. Moloney, a partner at Gibson Dunn, has been named Director of the agency’s Division of Corporation Finance, effective in October. He previously served on the SEC Staff in the Division of Corporation Finance from 1994 to 2000. The announcement notes…
The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced the formation of a new Cross-Border Task Force designed to strengthen enforcement efforts against international fraud targeting U.S. investors. This specialized unit will focus on investigating securities law violations by foreign-based companies, with particular attention to market manipulation schemes like “pump-and-dump” operations. The…
On August 1, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the launch of a task force on artificial intelligence (AI) that will spearhead the agency’s efforts to enhance innovation and efficiency in its operations through the responsible use of AI. Valerie Szczepanik, who has been named the SEC’s Chief…
On July 24, 2025, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) announced the launch of its Annual Global Benchmark Policy Survey. In its announcement, ISS notes: This year’s survey begins with core governance topics, including shareholder rights in relation to multi-class capital structures, considerations with regard to shareholder proposals, and board governance, with…
On March 6, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC or Commission) adopted final rules requiring expansive new climate-related disclosures in Form 10-K and Form 20-F annual reports and most registration statements (the Rules). The disclosure requirements quickly became the subject of litigation challenging their validity; federal lawsuits were…
On July 21, 2025, the SEC announced that it has designated George R. Botic to serve as Acting Chair of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, effective July 23, 2025. The PCAOB announced last week that Chair Erica Williams will depart the Board on July 22. The SEC’s announcement notes…
On July 16, 2025, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) announced the withdrawal of its draft Corporate Governance Framework (“CGF”). The announcement notes that “[t]he draft CGF has been withdrawn from public comment as COSO takes time to evaluate the extensive feedback received to date and…