The Informed Board
From Skadden, The Informed Board is a podcast for directors facing the rapidly evolving challenges of a global market. A complement to our newsletter for directors, our aim with this podcast is to help flag potential problems that may not be fully appreciated, explain trends, share our observations and give directors practical guidance without a lot of legal jargon. Join Skadden partners who draw on years of front-line experience inside boardrooms to explore the complex issues facing directors today.
Episodes
Market Conditions Are Ripe for Long-Term Investment: Jefferies Chief Market Strategist David Zervos
The U.S. economy is delivering what may be a once-in-a-generation opportunity for capital holders — and boards that recognize this moment could be positioned to reap significant rewards.In this episode, Jefferies Chief Market Strategist David Zervos points to accelerating productivity, a growing capital share of GDP, a favorable regulatory environment, and strong demographic tailwinds as convergin
As AI Evolves, So Must Board Oversight
Every board needs to confront what artificial intelligence (AI) means for their company’s business model and their ability to create shareholder value. That urgency sets the tone for this episode, where host Skadden partner Ann Beth Stebbins moderates a discussion about how boards are overseeing their companies’ use of AI — and how they can use AI themselves in their oversight role.For insights, A
Mick Mulvaney Offers Insights on U.S. Government Involvement in the Private Sector
The federal government has made sizeable investments in several private companies and is steering inbound foreign investment — the most significant U.S. government involvement in the private sector outside of wartime economies. Mick Mulvaney, first-term Trump White House chief of staff and former director of the Office of Management and Budget, joins Skadden M&A partner Ann Beth Stebbins to ex
Board Oversight at a Time of Political and Geopolitical Uncertainty
The economic playing field is being reordered. What does that mean for boards? “Decisions that are being made today are going to be existential to the long-term viability of the companies that they're overseeing,” suggests Kevin Kajiwara, co-president of Political Risk Advisory at Teneo, who advises Fortune 100 CEOs on geopolitical risks and their strategic implications. Kevin joins Mich
Should Your Board Consider a Move Out of Delaware?
Delaware is home to more than two-thirds of the Fortune 500, and 1.8 million business entities. “The Delaware General Corporation Law is widely considered to be the most thoughtfully developed corporate law in the country,” explains Hon. Lori W. Will, vice chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery. In addition, sophisticated judges, responsive executive and legislative branches and extensive su
Is an Activist Targeting Your Company?
How do you know if your company is likely to be a target for activists? And what is the best way to respond when approached by an activist? Skadden M&A partner Ann Beth Stebbins discusses the activist’s playbook with Ted White of Legion Partners Asset Management, a veteran activist investor, and Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman, head of the firm’s Shareholder Engagement and Activism Practice.&n
When and How To Replace a Director
Investors often believe that companies are too slow to refresh their boards. Directors and CEOs may also think that their companies do not have the right mix of directors, as strategies change and some directors’ skills become dated. Yet annual board turnover remains low and fairly steady, Spencer Stuart partner Laurel McCarthy tells podcast host, Skadden M&A partner Ann Beth Stebbi
What Goes On Inside Your Board Room? Investors Want To Know
What do investors think makes a board effective? Skadden M&A partner Ann Beth Stebbins kicks off the discussion with that question with her guests, Allie Rutherford and Adrienne Monley of PTJ Camberview, which advises companies on shareholder relations. It's a board that evolves with the trends, says Allie. It's a board that discloses its composition in a way that conveys how the skill se
When and How Directors Should Engage with Investors
In this episode of the Informed Board podcast, our host, Skadden M&A partner Ann Beth Stebbins is joined by guest, Rebecca Corbin from Corbin Advisors, to explore the critical role that board directors play in shareholder engagement. Corbin stresses that a proactive approach toward shareholder engagement can enhance a company’s value. In their conversation, Ann Beth and Rebecca discuss h
CEO Succession Planning on a Clear Day
“There’s certainly an argument to be made, that the moment you name a new CEO, then you ought to be starting to think about who the next person is,” says Blair Jones. In this episode of the Informed Board podcast, our host, Skadden M&A partner Ann Beth Stebbins, is joined by guests, Blair Jones, a managing director at Semler Brossy Consulting Group LLC, and Erica Schohn, partner and head
How Will Corporate DEI Policies be Affected by the Supreme Court Ruling in the University Affirmative Action Cases?
Skadden partners Ann Beth Stebbins, David Schwartz and Lara Flath discuss the implications for US companies of the Supreme Court’s decision in June striking down race-based affirmative action programs in higher education. David Schwartz is global head of Skadden’s labor and employment group, and Lara Flath is a Skadden litigation partner who represented the University of North Carolina (UNC) in th
Will the EU’s Focus on Foreign Subsidies Make It More Difficult To Acquire European Businesses?
Companies now face an additional regulatory hurdle when making acquisitions in the European Union. In addition to merger control and foreign direct investment (FDI) filings, they will be subject to the EU’s new Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR), Skadden partner Giorgio Motta explains. The law, which took effect in July, allows the European Commission to look into acquisitions of, and investments
What A New Executive Order and Tighter Controls on Tech Exports Mean for Companies Doing Business in China
In 2022, the U.S. restricted technology exports to China that might have military uses, and an executive order is expected soon limiting investments in certain Chinese tech companies. Skadden M&A partner Ann Beth Stebbins leads a discussion about the reasons for the rules and their impact on companies doing business in China. Joining her are Jessie Liu, a partner in Skadden’s White Collar Defe
How the SEC Is Making it Harder To Exclude Shareholder Proposals and What This Means for ESG This Proxy Season
The SEC’s Rule 14a-8, which gives shareholders the right to put proposals to a vote of other shareholders, was adopted to allow shareholders access to other shareholders and management, BlackRock Head of External Affairs Dalia Blass explained. But it came with some protections to prevent proposals that would be a waste of time, such as those that had little to do with the company’s business. Ahead
Pass-Through Voting: Empowering Shareholders or Increasing the Influence of Proxy Advisors?
In a move intended to “democratize” shareholder voting, several large index funds are giving their investors a say in how shares are voted, instead of leaving those choices to fund managers’ stewardship teams. In the pilot projects, aimed primarily at institutional investors, fund investors are given several options: to vote as the fund manager’s stewardship team recommends; to vote with managemen
Should Your Company Take a Stand on Political and Social Issues?
Skadden partners Ann Beth Stebbins and Ki Hong, Joele Frank partner Jamie Moser and the chief people officer of Duck Creek Technologies, Courtney Townsend, discuss the demands companies face to take positions on political and social issues and growing scrutiny of corporate political contributions.Corporate culture is important to today’s work force, and employees often expect their employers to sp
How Antitrust Regulators and the SEC Are Advancing the Wider Biden Agenda
In this inaugural episode of “The Informed Board” podcast, Skadden partners Maria Raptis and Raquel Fox join our host Ann Beth Stebbins to discuss changing approaches to antitrust and securities regulation in Washington. They talk about new priorities in antitrust enforcement, new disclosure initiatives by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the obstacles that could hinder regulatory
Welcome to The Informed Board
From Skadden, The Informed Board is a podcast for directors facing the rapidly evolving challenges of a global market. A complement to our newsletter for directors, our aim with this podcast is to help flag potential problems that may not be fully appreciated, explain trends, share our observations and give directors practical guidance without a lot of legal jargon.Join Skadden partners who draw o
