Best Practices for Corporate Boards: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide to Avoiding Securities Litigation [2025]

Table of Contents

Introduction to Best Practices for Corporate Boards

The best practice for corporate boards has become a hot topic amid the numerous securities class action lawsuits recently filed. Indeed, corporate boards face a daunting challenge. The first half of 2025 saw 108 federal securities cases with settlements averaging $56 million – representing a 27% increase over the 2024 inflation-adjusted average settlement value of $44 million.. These numbers paint a concerning picture that demands quick action and smart corporate governance.

Securities litigation risks have reached new heights. The median settlement dropped slightly to $13 million, but two recent Supreme Court rulings have reduced U.S. agency power substantially. These decisions now limit how effectively the SEC can defend investor interests. Securities experts also watch appeals closely as they might change how past Supreme Court decisions affect class certification.

Board members and executives must understand this complex legal environment to:

  • Keep up with regulatory changes, especially the SEC’s shifting stance on cryptocurrency
  • Develope best practices for board meetings

This detailed guide helps your board put effective practices in place to reduce potentially pricey securities litigation. You will find practical, useful strategies to protect your company and its shareholders by improving corporate governance and preparing for securities class actions.

Understanding the Legal Landscape for Corporate Boards

The world of securities litigation keeps changing faster, creating new challenges for corporate boards. Securities class action lawsuits filed in 2024 stayed at the same level as 2023, with 229 new federal filings. These steady numbers hide big changes in both the types and effects of these cases.

Recent trends in securities class action lawsuits

Corporate boards need to stay alert as settlement values hit new records. Case filings remain stable but the financial risks have grown:

The makeup of securities lawsuits has changed a lot. Tech and healthcare companies faced the most lawsuits in 2024, making up over half of all cases. New types of claims are showing up while others are dropping:

Cases are getting resolved faster after slowing down for six years. Resolutions went up 17% with 217 cases closed in 2024 – 124 dismissals and 93 settlements. At this rate, about 242 cases will be resolved in 2025, which is 12% more than 2024.

Why litigation risk is rising for directors

Legal battles have become a top concern for directors and officers. Securities litigation ranks sixth among their worries, with 63% saying it’s very or really important. This growing worry comes from several factors coming together:

Factors causing the increased concern about securities litigation among directors and officers include the growth of event-driven and AI-related lawsuits, higher financial severity of claims, and an aggressive regulatory and enforcement landscape. Heightened regulatory scrutiny and the re-emergence of Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) further contribute to this growing worry.

The rise of event-driven and AI-related litigation

Wallstreet bear and bull used in Best Practices for Corporate Boards
The financial stakes continue rising, but boards implementing these proactive governance practices significantly reduce their securities litigation exposure while enhancing overall corporate performance through better oversight and transparency.

Increased severity and costs

  • Bigger settlements: In 2024, SCA settlements reached a record $4.1 billion, with high valuations and general economic inflation cited as possible contributing factors to the higher payouts.

Heightened regulatory and enforcement activities

  • Increased SEC scrutiny: Regulatory agencies like the SEC have adopted a more aggressive enforcement stance, especially concerning emerging risks such as AI and cybersecurity disclosures. For example, new cybersecurity rules require companies to report material incidents within four days.

Resurgence of SPACs and other market dynamics

Litigation funding and plaintiff bar innovation

Securities litigation is going global too. Foreign companies make up 25.9% of U.S. exchange-traded companies – the highest since at least 2016. But only 12.1% of early 2025’s lawsuits targeted these companies. The risk stays high as class actions spread beyond the U.S. and Australia.

ESG-related litigation is growing fast. Climate change and ESG lawsuits grew four times larger between 2013 and 2023. Recent cases have targeted companies for misleading claims about board diversity and hiring practices. DEI-related securities cases are also changing, with some claiming too little action and others saying DEI practices are “illegal”.

The legal world keeps getting more complex. Corporate boards must take action early to reduce securities litigation risk by improving their governance and oversight.

Common Triggers of Securities Litigation

Securities class action lawsuits don’t just appear out of nowhere. Corporate boards need to know what sparks these legal challenges to take preventive steps before issues get worse. Let’s look at three main triggers that need your attention.

Misleading disclosures and omissions

Information shared—or not shared—with investors is the life-blood of securities litigation. Recent patterns show that small disclosure issues can create big legal problems:

These cases pack a punch financially. NERA reports that combined settlement amounts for cases settled in 2022 hit USD 4.00 billion, which is USD 2.00 billion more than the inflation-adjusted amount in 2021.

Inadequate internal controls

Poor internal controls have become a bigger trigger for securities litigation since Sarbanes-Oxley came into effect:

Studies show that auditors who issue adverse internal control opinions might reduce their legal risk in shareholder lawsuits. Companies might benefit from spotting and sharing control weaknesses instead of hiding them.

Failure to oversee ESG risks

ESG issues have moved faster from side concerns to central litigation triggers:

  • Caremark liability exposure: Boards that ignore ESG risks or don’t set up systems to monitor these issues might face Caremark claims. Courts now see ESG oversight as part of directors’ fiduciary responsibilities.
  • SEC enforcement focus: The Climate and ESG Task Force looks hard for material misstatements and disclosure gaps. Companies might face questions before actual physical harm occurs, making good governance crucial.
  • Documentation requirements: Boards must create processes to verify ESG disclosures, watch for material omissions, and keep records that prove their claims. This covers both filed disclosures and public documents like sustainability reports.
  • Board expertise considerations: Directors should check if board members can understand and advise on ESG issues. ESG keeps changing, so directors might need ongoing training to handle complex related issues.

Corporate boards that miss these common litigation triggers face serious legal risks. You can protect your company by strengthening governance practices based on these warning signs.

Step 1: Strengthen Corporate Governance Structures

A reliable corporate governance structure with strong internal controals protects companies against securities litigation. Companies can cut their legal risks and improve oversight by putting smart board practices in place early.

Clarify board roles and responsibilities

Clear board roles and responsibilities help prevent securities litigation and create good governance:

    • Duty of Obedience: Following all laws, regulations, and bylaws
  • Document expectations clearly – Many boards face issues due to unclear expectations. Key documentation should cover:
    • Financial support the organization needs
    • Board meeting attendance rules
    • Role in fundraising activities
    • Help with nominating and recruiting new members
    • Committee service rules

Research shows boards work better when their roles appear clearly in corporate governance guidelines. These guidelines should spell out when the board votes, weighs in on issues, and what policies need board approval before management acts.

Ensure independence of audit and risk committees

Independent audit and risk committees play a key role in defending against securities litigation:

    • Explain how to check legal and regulatory compliance
    • Set rules for checking independent auditor qualifications
    • Explain how to oversee internal audits to ensure robuse corporate governance frameworks and strong internal contoals

Audit committees should control the hiring, pay, retention, and oversight of external auditors—not the CEO or CFO. This setup keeps auditors independent and improves oversight.

These governance structures create layers of protection against securities litigation. They ensure proper oversight, keep independence intact, and establish clear accountability across the organization.

Step 2: Improve Disclosure and Transparency Practices

Clear disclosure and transparency practices shield companies from securities litigation. Your company needs structured processes to review and share information. This builds trust with stakeholders and protects the organization.

Review public statements and filings regularly

A systematic review of corporate communications helps you avoid inconsistencies that could trigger securities class actions:

    • Ways to protect people who report concerns
  • Keep information similar across platforms – Your message should stay consistent across all disclosure channels. Numbers and metrics should match exactly whether they appear in proxy statements or on corporate websites. Different numbers on different platforms could lead to SEC questions and make investors doubt your information’s reliability.
  • Keep detailed records of oversight activities – About 20% of Fortune 100 companies share what they did based on board evaluations. These records show careful oversight and can prove proper governance if litigation occurs.

Quick disclosure plays a significant role too. Sharing information quickly, even preliminary data, helps stakeholders make better decisions and manage their expectations. This works especially well during company restructuring or other major events.

Work closely with legal and investor relations teams

Strong communication between board committees and corporate teams improves transparency and lowers litigation risk:

  • Make use of disclosure committees – Many companies created disclosure committees after Sarbanes-Oxley. Senior officers from accounting, legal, investor relations, tax, internal audit and key business units usually join these committees. Make sure ESG committees work closely with disclosure committees to share information easily.
  • Work better with investor relations – IR professionals help relate market and company news while managing investor views. They should:
    • Present negative news carefully to reduce investor concerns
  • Plan for crisis communication – Clear communication during tough times shows you take responsibility and care about stakeholders. Companies need to:
    • Explain their action plans clearly
    • Keep everyone updated on progress

These practices do more than just protect against litigation. Boards that share information about their evaluation process show their dedication to good governance. Fortune 100 companies that improved their board evaluation disclosures saw better director training programs, board structure, and governance documentation.

Good transparency should run through your whole organization, starting at the top. Clear rules and strong processes help share information responsibly and consistently. This builds trust – your best defense against securities litigation.

Lady justice in 3d used in Best Practices for Corporate Boards
Securities litigation poses huge financial and reputation risks for corporate boards in our complex legal world. A proactive approach to internal controals and corporate governance is not just helpful—it is crucial to survive long-term.

Step 3: Conduct Regular Risk Assessments

Proactive risk assessment is the life-blood of good board oversight. It helps directors spot and reduce potential securities litigation risks early. A regular, structured review of both old and new risks gives corporate boards an edge in today’s fast-changing business world.

Identify litigation-prone areas

Boards need a systematic way to spot litigation risks through structured assessment practices:

  • Maintain complete risk registers – Management should document all enterprise-wide risks and assign specific board committees to oversee them. This practice ensures every major risk area gets board attention.
  • Implement critical self-questioning processes – Directors should ask themselves if they can:
    • Describe the company’s risk management framework clearly
    • Name the organization’s top risks without hesitation
  • Check risk assessments against external standards – Boards should compare management’s risk list with industry reports and sector analyses to verify everything is covered. External checks help find blind spots in internal assessment processes.
  • Set clear committee duties – Risk oversight should go to the right committees—financial risks to audit teams, HR risks to compensation committees. This approach ensures each risk type gets expert attention.

A structured assessment method builds a stronger defense against litigation claims. Good boards rate risks on impact (1-3) and likelihood (1-3), then multiply these scores to set priorities. This numbers-based approach helps put resources where they matter most.

Monitor emerging risks like crypto and AI

New technology brings unique risks that boards must watch carefully:

  • AI-specific governance challenges – AI creates complex risks in data privacy, intellectual property, and security. Boards must tackle:
    • Third-party data and model authentication issues
    • Unclear copyright rules for AI-created content
  • Cybersecurity threat development – AI has reshaped the security scene by enabling:
    • Better phishing attacks that look more human
    • AI-created malware that beats normal security
  • Better monitoring tools – AI-powered risk management systems can offer:
    • Live, predictive monitoring of operational risks
    • Smart pattern spotting to find unusual activity

Boards should stay in touch with tech leaders like Chief Information Officers and Chief Information Security Officers to watch these new risks. These experts help boards focus on the right areas as tech risks keep changing.

Good risk assessment needs boards to balance traditional oversight with forward-looking analysis of new threats. By finding risky areas early and watching tech developments closely, corporate boards can reduce their securities litigation exposure.

Step 4: Establish Robust Internal Controls and Corporate Governance

Strong internal controls act as a defensive shield in your corporate governance structure. They protect you against securities litigation. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) states that boards must set up procedures to manage risks. They need to watch over internal control frameworks and set acceptable risk levels for strategic objectives.

Implement compliance monitoring systems

Your compliance monitoring should check if you follow regulatory requirements, internal policies, and industry standards. These systems give corporate boards several benefits:

  • Risk-based approach – Create internal controls that reduce your most significant litigation risks. This focused strategy helps you use resources where they matter most. You should review your compliance scope every year based on new risk assessments.
  • Cross-functional implementation – Build a strong three-lines-of-defense model. The board, management, and staff should know their specific roles in keeping internal controls running. Your board sets values and responsibilities. Management keeps the control system going. Staff carries out control activities.
    • Rules about who can approve specific transactions
    • Clear standards for keeping complete records
    • Ways to spot and fix differences in accounts
    • Steps to protect physical and digital assets

A 2021 survey showed 53% of business leaders still had work to be done in all areas of their internal control framework. Regular testing and improving your compliance monitoring system helps find weak spots and keeps everything working well.

Document board oversight activities

Good records of board oversight activities show that directors are doing their job right and will help not being the subject to securties litigation. Courts have pointed to missing documentation as proof of poor board oversight in recent cases:

    • When the meeting happened and who was there
    • What you talked about for each agenda item
    • Clear notes about risk discussions
    • What actions and decisions you made
  • Legal protection considerations – The Supreme Court says boards show bad faith in two ways: not setting up a monitoring system or having one but not watching how it works. Recent cases showed problems when board minutes had no food safety risk discussions.
  • Documentation best practices – Keep records that show what management told you about critical issues and what the board did about them. A former Delaware Court of Chancery vice chancellor said well-prepared minutes prove boards take their job seriously.

Shareholders can now access more corporate records through Delaware General Corporation Law Section 220. This makes detailed documentation of your board’s oversight activities vital to defend against securities litigation claims.

Step 5: Prepare for Shareholder Class Actions

Corporate boards face major threats from shareholder class actions that demand legal expertise and readiness to respond.  Securities class action lawsuits grow more complex each day, and boards need strategic preparation beyon simple governance practices to handle potential legal challenges.

Understand the Simple and Affiliated Ute presumptions

You can develop better defense strategies by knowing the legal presumptions that govern securities class actions:

  • Courts have determined this presumption doesn’t apply when “the claims of fraud at issue were not based primarily on omissions”
  • The Basic presumption connects market efficiency and price impact, and defendants must prove lack of price impact during class certification
  • Courts use multi-factor tests to analyze whether claims focus on omissions, which helps determine the applicable presumption

Develop a litigation response plan

A well-laid-out litigation response framework helps minimize disruption when lawsuits begin:

  • Create a dedicated litigation team with members from legal, IT, human resources, and other key departments to handle securities litigation awsuit responses
  • Use data preservation protocols to map data sources and identify relevant information quickly, and keep records for at least ten years
  • Provide securities litigation response training to employees who manage commercial relationships or handle sensitive data about preserving attorney-client privilege and document obligations
  • Select specific team members to assess when the company should become lead plaintiff or opt out of class actions based on loss thresholds
  • Create clear procedures with custodian banks for handling settlement notices and filing proof of claim forms on time

Legal understanding and operational readiness are vital to prepare for securities class actions. Boards show due diligence during litigation by knowing reliance presumptions and implementing structured response plans.

Governance officer is pushing REGULATORY COMPLIANCE on an interactive touch screen monitor. Business process concept and compliance risk management metaphor for meeting data security regulations. Used in Best Practices for Corporate Boards
Strong corporate governance structures protect you first against securities litigation claims. Clear board roles and committee independence should stay at the top of your list.

Step 6: Stay Informed on Legal Developments

Legal compliance is the life-blood of securities litigation prevention. Court decisions can change your board’s compliance obligations overnight as the legal landscape continues to evolve.

Track Supreme Court and circuit court rulings

Your board needs to watch these crucial court decisions carefully:

  • The Second Circuit upheld two most important district court rulings in May 2025. The court determined that controlling shareholder stock sales cannot be matched with company stock buybacks under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act
  • Texas federal district court struck down the FTC’s noncompete ban in August 2024 that prevented nationwide implementation
  • The Supreme Court will hear more than two dozen cases during its October 2024 term. These cases could affect corporate governance practices
  • The Jarkesy decision by the Supreme Court gave defendants the right to jury trials when the SEC seeks civil penalties for securities fraud. This limits administrative proceedings

Get updates from external counsel

Your board needs reliable legal experts to provide timely updates on relevant developments:

  • Get legal alerts from trusted law firms about regulatory changes that affect your operations
  • Make use of information tools that automatically monitor specific industries or legal domains
  • Work with specialized securities counsel to understand how recent rulings like Roth v. LAL Family Corpcould affect your corporate practices

Boards must go beyond just tracking cases. They need to understand how legal developments affect their specific governance practices during their tenure.

Conclusion

Securities litigation poses huge financial and reputation risks for corporate boards in our complex legal world. A proactive approach to internal controals and corporate governance is not just helpful—it is crucial to survive long-term.

Here are the key points to remember as you put these strategies to work:

• Strong corporate governance structures protect you first against securities litigation claims. Clear board roles and committee independence should stay at the top of your list.

• Building trust through open disclosure practices will cut your legal risks. Your team should check public statements on every platform to avoid inconsistencies that often lead to securities class actions.

• Risk assessment helps you spot weak spots before they attract lawsuits. Your assessments should cover new risks like AI and cryptocurrency to show proper board oversight.

• Resilient internal controls show proof of proper oversight. Courts now look closely at board activity records when they evaluate claims of oversight failures.

• Class action preparation needs legal expertise and operational readiness. You can’t always prevent securities litigation, but good planning helps minimize its impact.

• Knowledge of legal changes lets you adjust governance quickly. Strong relationships with external counsel help your board keep up with trends in compliance.

Securities litigation stakes have reached all-time highs with record-breaking settlements. In spite of that, boards that follow these best practices can avoid getting pricey lawsuits and improve their overall performance through better governance.

Today’s watchfulness creates tomorrow’s protection. The regulatory world keeps changing, but good governance still needs the same things: clear oversight, open communication, and active risk management.

Key Takeaways

Corporate boards face unprecedented securities litigation risks, with 108 federal cases filed in the first half of 2025 alone and average settlements reaching $56 million. These actionable strategies will help protect your organization from costly legal exposure:

• Strengthen governance structures by clarifying board roles and ensuring audit committee independence – Clear documentation of fiduciary duties and committee charters creates essential legal protection against oversight failure claims.

• Implement systematic disclosure reviews and coordinate with legal teams regularly – Consistent information across all platforms and structured review processes prevent the misleading statements that trigger most securities lawsuits.

• Conduct proactive risk assessments focusing on emerging threats like AI and cryptocurrency – Regular evaluation of both traditional and technological risks enables boards to address vulnerabilities before they become litigation targets.

• Establish robust internal controls with comprehensive documentation of oversight activities – Detailed meeting minutes and compliance monitoring systems provide crucial evidence of proper board diligence in legal proceedings.

• Prepare litigation response plans and stay current with legal developments – Understanding key court precedents and having structured response protocols minimizes disruption and strengthens defense strategies when securities litigation occurs.

The financial stakes continue rising, but boards implementing these proactive governance practices significantly reduce their securities litigation exposure while enhancing overall corporate performance through better oversight and transparency.

FAQs

Q1. What are the main triggers of securities litigation against corporate boards? The primary triggers include misleading disclosures or omissions in public statements, inadequate internal controls, and failure to properly oversee environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks. Boards must be vigilant about accurate and timely disclosures, robust internal control systems, and comprehensive ESG risk management.

Q2. How can corporate boards strengthen their governance structures to reduce litigation risk? Boards can strengthen governance by clearly defining roles and responsibilities, ensuring the independence of audit and risk committees, implementing regular self-assessments, and creating comprehensive committee charters. These measures help establish clear accountability and improve overall board effectiveness.

Q3. Why is regular risk assessment crucial for corporate boards? Regular risk assessment allows boards to proactively identify potential litigation-prone areas and monitor emerging risks like those associated with cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. This practice enables boards to anticipate and mitigate potential legal issues before they escalate into costly litigation.

Q4. What steps should boards take to prepare for potential shareholder class actions? Boards should develop a comprehensive litigation response plan, including establishing a designated litigation team, implementing data preservation protocols, and instituting litigation response training for key employees. Additionally, boards should familiarize themselves with legal concepts like the Basic and Affiliated Ute presumptions to better understand potential defense strategies.

Q5. How important is staying informed about legal developments for corporate boards? Staying informed about legal developments is critical for boards to adapt their governance practices and comply with evolving regulations. Boards should track Supreme Court and circuit court rulings, engage external counsel for updates, and participate in industry associations to stay ahead of emerging legal trends that may impact their operations.

Contact Timothy L. Miles Today for a Free Case Evaluation

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff in a securities class action, or have questions about best practices for corporate boards, or just general questions about your rights as a shareholder, please contact attorney Timothy L. Miles of the Law Offices of Timothy L. Miles, at no cost, by calling 855/846-6529 or via e-mail at tmiles@timmileslaw.com.(24/7/365).

Timothy L. Miles, Esq.
Law Offices of Timothy L. Miles
Tapestry at Brentwood Town Center
300 Centerview Dr. #247
Mailbox #1091
Brentwood,TN 37027
Phone: (855) Tim-MLaw (855-846-6529)
Email: tmiles@timmileslaw.com
Website: www.classactionlawyertn.com

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Timothy L.Miles

Timothy L. Miles is a nationally recognized shareholder rights attorney raised in Brentwood, Tennessee. Mr. Miles has maintained an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell® since 2014, an AV Preeminent Attorney – Judicial Edition (2017-present), an AV Preeminent 2025 Lawyers.com (2018-Present). Mr. Miles is also member of the prestigious Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers: The National Trial Lawyers Association, a member of its Mass Tort Trial Lawyers Association: Top 25 (2024-present) and Class Action Trial Lawyers Association: Top 25 (2023-present). Mr. Miles is also a Superb Rated Attorney by Avvo, and was the recipient of the Avvo Client’s Choice Award in 2021. Mr. Miles has also been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell® and ALM as an Elite Lawyer of the South (2019-present); Top Rated Litigator (2019-present); and Top-Rated Lawyer (2019-present),

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