Public Company & Corporate Governance

Practical, business-focused governance advice for boards and management in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Our public company & corporate governance team advises boards of directors, committees, and senior management on the full range of day-to-day and strategic governance matters. We provide clear, actionable guidance on fiduciary duties, board and committee composition, executive compensation, disclosure and reporting obligations, and shareholder engagement. We regularly support clients in preparing for annual meetings, drafting proxy statements, and navigating interactions with institutional investors and proxy advisory firms, while helping them stay ahead of regulatory developments and shifting market expectations.

We work alongside clients in both ordinary-course governance and high-pressure situations, including shareholder activism, internal reviews, whistleblower response, crisis management, and significant corporate transactions. By combining corporate, securities, and litigation perspectives, we deliver practical solutions that align legal requirements with business objectives. Our goal is to help clients build governance frameworks that are efficient, defensible, and responsive, enabling boards and management teams to make informed decisions, manage risk, and maintain the confidence of investors and other stakeholders.

Whether your company faces a complex transaction, compensation issues, potential conflicts of interest, disclosure obligations, or actual or threatened litigation, your company needs experienced public company and corporate governance lawyers to guide you.

At Reed Smith, our sophisticated cross-border corporate governance lawyers deliver innovative global solutions to boards, special committees, board committees, and management teams that address public company challenges and corporate governance challenges. 

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