An upcoming symposium at the University of Virginia School of Law will bring together leading academics and practitioners — including Myron T. Steele '70, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Delaware — to examine the state of corporate governance in the wake of the corporate collapses of the past decade.
"Power & Control: Today's Corporate Governance Issues," will be held Friday, Feb. 21 in Caplin Pavilion. Steele will deliver the keynote address at 12:20 p.m. The symposium is sponsored by the Virginia Law & Business Review.
"We are honored that Chief Justice Steele will be joining us to share the wisdom and insight of his many years' experience in the top echelons of corporate law," says Victoria Morphy, editor-in-chief of the Review. "His keynote address will provide invaluable practical context for the issues considered at this year's symposium."
Currently a partner at the Delaware law firm Potter Anderson & Corroon, Steele previously served as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Delaware and as a vice chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery. In these roles, he presided over major corporate litigation, LLC and limited partner governance disputes. He has published more than 300 opinions resolving corporate disputes and writes frequently on issues of corporate document interpretation and corporate governance. The Directorship magazine ranked Steele as one of the 100 most influential people in corporate governance in the United States.
Steele is also a lecturer at the University of Virginia School of Law who teaches the short course "Advising The Board Of Directors In a Mergers and Acquisitions World."
Steele's address will be preceded by three panel discussions on corporate governance. The first, "Incorporation and the Nevada-Delaware Debate," will consider the merits of incorporation in Delaware versus other states. The second, "Shareholder Activism," will examine the apparent increase in and effects of shareholder activism. The third, "Multidistrict Litigation and Exclusive Forum Bylaws," will weigh the validity, merits and implications of corporate exclusive forum bylaws, which limit the jurisdictions in which shareholders may file suit against a corporation. The symposium will close with a roundtable discussion from 1:30 p.m.-2 p.m.
"Power & Control: Today's Corporate Governance Issues," including breakfast and lunch, is free and open to the public.
Schedule - Friday, Feb. 21
8 a.m.
Breakfast
Breakfast
8:40 a.m.
Welcome
Katie Packer '15 & Katherine Shaia '15
Special Projects Editors, Virginia Law & Business Review
Welcome
Katie Packer '15 & Katherine Shaia '15
Special Projects Editors, Virginia Law & Business Review
8:45 a.m.
Introductory Remarks
George Geis
Vice Dean, William S. Potter Professor of Law, University of Virginia School of Law
Introductory Remarks
George Geis
Vice Dean, William S. Potter Professor of Law, University of Virginia School of Law
9:05 a.m.
Incorporation and the Nevada-Delaware Debate
- MICHAL BARZUZA, Caddell & Chapman Professor of Law, University of Virginia School of Law
- A. THOMPSON BAYLISS '03, Partner, Abrams & Bayliss
- DAIN DONELSON, Assistant Professor, University of Texas McCombs School of Business
- DAVID C. SMITH, Professor of Commerce; Director, The McIntire Center for Financial Innovation, University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce
- Moderated by PAUL G. MAHONEY, Dean, David and Mary Harrison Distinguished Professor of Law, and Arnold H. Leon Professor of Law, University of Virginia School of Law
10:10 a.m.
Shareholder Activism
Shareholder Activism
- H. RODGIN COHEN, Senior Chairman, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
- STEVEN M. DAVIDOFF, Co-Director, Law and Capital Markets, Professor of Law and Finance, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
- ROGER H. KIMMEL '71,Vice Chairman, Rothschild Inc., Chairman, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Director, PG&E Corporation
- Moderated by ANDREW N. VOLLMER '78, Director, John W. Glynn, Jr. '65 Law & Business Program, University of Virginia School of Law
11:15 a.m.
Multidistrict Litigation and Exclusive Forum Bylaws
Multidistrict Litigation and Exclusive Forum Bylaws
- STEPHEN M. KOTRAN '90, Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
- THEODORE N. MIRVIS, Partner, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
- ROBERTA ROMANO, Sterling Professor of Law, Director, Yale Law School Center for the Study of Corporate Law, Yale Law School
- Moderated by ALBERT CHOI, Albert C. BeVier Research Professor of Law, University of Virginia School of Law
12:20 p.m.
Lunch & Keynote Address
MYRON T. STEELE '70
Former Chief Justice, Delaware Supreme Court; Partner, Potter Anderson & Corroon
Lunch & Keynote Address
MYRON T. STEELE '70
Former Chief Justice, Delaware Supreme Court; Partner, Potter Anderson & Corroon
1:30 p.m.
Roundtable Discussion
Moderated by RICHARD HYNES
Nicholas E. Chimicles Research Professor of Business Law and Regulation; Director, John M. Olin Program in Law and Economics, University of Virginia School of Law
Roundtable Discussion
Moderated by RICHARD HYNES
Nicholas E. Chimicles Research Professor of Business Law and Regulation; Director, John M. Olin Program in Law and Economics, University of Virginia School of Law
2 p.m.
Thank You and Adjournment
VICTORIA MORPHY '14
Editor-in-Chief, Virginia Law & Business Review
Thank You and Adjournment
VICTORIA MORPHY '14
Editor-in-Chief, Virginia Law & Business Review
Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, Virginia is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service.
