New Challenges Facing Boards of Directors in the Economic Crisis

Adverse publicity regarding Director’s failures to monitor risk, appropriately manage executive compensation, and other key governance issues are dominating headlines. The unprecedented changes presented by the struggling economy, and the programs and agenda of a new Administration, are raising significant regulatory and enforcement challenges that Directors will need to address.

Discussion topics include:

• The on-going economic crisis
• Key priorities for regulators including white-collar enforcement
• Developments in Director’s exposure to class action lawsuits
• Directors’ duties to manage risk
• The potential for shareholder access to corporate proxy machinery
• Hot topics for audit committees including greater focus on fraud, mark-to- market accounting and IFRS transitioning
• The complexities of proxy and other related Director and executive compensation requirements