Michael W. Peregrine

February 08, 2025 | Corporate Counsel

It’s well established that the board’s duty of care includes an obligation to monitor the effectiveness of the company’s legal function, including its size, structure, reporting relationships and hierarchical positioning. The annual ACC Survey addresses topics that are critical to those monitoring duties.

By Michael W. Peregrine

6 minute read

January 09, 2025 | Corporate Counsel

The board’s governance and nominating committee will benefit from the general counsel’s briefing on the latest development affecting antitrust enforcement of interlocking directorships.

By Michael W. Peregrine and Stephen Y. Wu

4 minute read

October 11, 2024 | Corporate Counsel

The new NACD Report strongly endorses focused board oversight as essential to the proper corporate application of technology. This is particularly the case given how technology trends and developments are dramatically impacting the current competitive environment.

By Michael W. Peregrine 

6 minute read

October 02, 2024 | Corporate Counsel

Corporate counsel should monitor the current election discourse over proposals that would impact the long-standing independence of the Department of Justice from partisan politics. Efforts of a new administration to reduce this traditional independence could potentially impact corporate and legal strategies on many levels.

By Michael W. Peregrine and Ashley Hoff

6 minute read

August 07, 2024 | Corporate Counsel

There's little question that today's harsh and divisive public discourse can often extend itself to the corporate boardroom. There's also little question that such divisiveness can impede effective governance. And there should be very little question that the general counsel is well positioned to provide advice on respectful and productive boardroom discourse.

By Michael W. Peregrine

6 minute read

February 09, 2024 | Corporate Counsel

Major board take-aways from this year's Survey include (i) indications of a decline in the CLO's leadership - level role and influence, and (ii) increasing pressures on legal departments "to do more with less." Both are particularly relevant to the board's oversight responsibility – and of concern to the CLO.

By Michael W. Peregrine

6 minute read

December 14, 2023 | Corporate Counsel

One of the key governance issues of 2023 has been the increasing conflict between the board and its chief executive officer on their respective roles; i.e., the hazy line between governance and management. It's a conflict that can extend to the role and function of the general counsel.

By Michael W. Peregrine

6 minute read

October 05, 2023 | Corporate Counsel

An important new report released by the National Association of Corporate Directors ("NACD") helps to identify an additional role that the chief legal officer can perform in support of the company's governance structure.

By Michael W. Peregrine

5 minute read

May 09, 2023 | Corporate Counsel

The increasing political, legal, scientific and media focus on the risks of artificial intelligence ("AI") provides a new opportunity for the chief legal officer to support the role of corporate governance. Indeed, a series of recent developments focusing on the risks of AI have also added a sense of urgency to clarifying the board's oversight obligations.

By Michael W. Peregrine

6 minute read

March 17, 2023 | Corporate Counsel

 The organization's Chief Legal Officer, perhaps teaming with the Chief Compliance Officer, is the logical executive to advise the board, its committees and executive leadership on the appropriate response to the important new DOJ compliance policies.

By Michael W. Peregrine

5 minute read