The Advisors' Blog

In the wake of Corp Fin’s new statement on how the Staff will handle the Rule 14a-8 process for the 2026 proxy season, we have scheduled a webcast on TheCorporateCounsel.net for tomorrow, December 2nd – “This Year’s Rule 14a-8 Process: Corp Fin Staff Explains What You Need to Know.”

In this program, you will hear directly from Staff in the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance about important takeaways from the Statement, the Staff’s procedural expectations for this year, and common questions. Additionally, Gibson Dunn’s Ron Mueller and Cooley’s Reid Hooper will be joining the program to share practical tips on navigating the new process – and its potential consequences for companies.

There are a few important things to know about this webcast that are different from our typical programming:

1. It’s free for anyone who wants to attend, even if you aren’t currently a member of TheCorporateCounsel.net. We want to do what we can to get the word out about the Staff’s approach so that the season is as smooth as possible for everyone (especially given the Staff’s workload after the shutdown).

2. It’s happening from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Eastern.

3. Since this is a pop-up webcast, we aren’t offering CLE credit for this one. Members of TheCorporateCounsel.net can get lots of live and on-demand credits through our other programs, though! As you can see on that site’s home page, we have several good upcoming programs in December – including a program with former high-level Corp Fin Staff on December 11th, which will include practical guidance for companies to navigate this Rule 14a-8 process and other important SEC and Corp Fin initiatives.

There are a number of open issues to consider when it comes to how this year’s shareholder proposal process will play out, and you’ll want to have a strategy if you get a proposal relating to severance arrangements or other matters. So tune in tomorrow to hear the very latest on the Staff’s expectations and other practical pointers!

– Liz Dunshee