The increasing globalization of business and commerce presents significant opportunities and major complications. The complications run across a wide variety of issues. Among other things, the complications arising from an increasingly global economy include concerns relating to the liabilities of companies’ directors and officers across jurisdictions. These concerns can vary widely depending on the countries in which the companies are involved.

 

Assessing and allowing for the legal differences between different jurisdictions can be challenging. Among other things, the laws regarding indemnification vary widely in different countries. The availability and procedures for class action litigation are also very different in different countries. The types, availability and applicability of D&O insurance also varies as well.

 

Fortunately, a new resource is available to help those struggling to identify the important issues affecting the liability of directors and officers in different jurisdictions. The resource is a American Bar Association publication entitled “The Global Directors and Officers Deskbook,” (here) which was edited by my good friend Perry Granof, director of Granof International,  and Henry Nicholls, who is senor counsel at the Cohon & Pollack law firm. The book provides an overview of the directors and officer liability landscape in 28 countries, including the United States, Canada and 26 other countries

 

Each of the chapters in this timely and helpful book addresses a different country. Each chapter follows a common format; the topics addressed in each chapter are: Statutory and Regulatory Framework: Indemnification; Regulatory Proceedings and Shareholder Representative Actions; Insolvencies, Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution; and Insurance Issues.

 

The 28 countries addressed in the book are arranged regionally, with five countries from Africa and the Middle East (including Egypt, Israel, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa); seven countries from Asia/Pacific (including Australia, China; Hong Kong; India; Japan; Singapore; and South Korea); eight countries in Europe (including France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom); six countries in Latin America (including Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru), as well as Canada and the United States.

 

I know from reviewing several of the chapters that the overview provided by each of the chapters is very useful. For example, the chapter on India provides a helpful discussion of the new Companies Act of 2013, which recently replaced the Companies Act of 1956.Among other things, the new Companies Act has introduced the concept of shareholder class actions. These and similar kinds of important observations are provided in each of the various chapters.

 

I was very pleased to note in reviewing the book how many of the chapters were written by friends and professional acquaintances. The India chapter was written by Burzin Somandy, whom readers may recall was my host and tour guide during my recent visit to Mumbai. The book’s regional coordinator for Europe and co-author of the U.K. chapter is my good friend Nilam Sharma of the Ince & Co. law firm. The Israel chapter was co-authored by Rachel Levitan with whom I have had much professional contact over the years. The China chapter was co-authored by Arthur Xiao Dong, whom I met for the first time during my 2012 visit to China. Other chapters were written by industry colleagues whom I have been fortunate to meet through PLUS. From my perspective, the book is clearly the work of knowledgeable and experienced industry veterans.

 

I would like to thank Perry Granof for the opportunity to review this book. I know that just about everyone in the D&O liability insurance industry will find this book to be indispensable.