GDPR Fallout Shines Spotlight on Board Privacy Awareness

Most companies don’t provide director privacy training, even beyond Europe's new regulation.

By Eve Tahmincioglu

I had a conversation with a top privacy lawyer for a U.S. company last week who was proud to share that almost every employee in the organization had completed GDPR training for the European Union’s far-reaching data privacy regulation before it kicked in Friday.

When I asked her if the board received the training she said, “I never thought of that.”

The CBS-Redstone Feud and the Perils of Going Public

By Barbara Spector

Taking your family company public gives it access to plentiful capital it couldn’t have raised otherwise, allowing it to grow into a stronger competitor and maybe even a powerhouse in its market. Going public enables you to grant equity to key executives, a compensation strategy that can help you recruit the best and the brightest. An IPO raises the profile of your family and business — a good thing if you like publicity — and, if things work out, can make you rich.

But if you want to make a move your board opposes, the directors might try to reduce your power. That’s what’s happening to Shari Redstone, whose family holding company, National Amusements Inc., controls CBS Corp. 

Webinar: What to Know Before Joining a Private Company Board

Serving on the board of a privately owned company is a great opportunity to apply your skills and insights without the regulatory regime of public company board service. But you may encounter potential issues in terms of liability which can be unique to private companies. Join Moses & Singer LLP partners, David Lee Kovac, Allan Grauberd, Lindsay Kaplan and David Shaw of Directors & Boards and Private Company Director for a free webinar July 18 at 2 p.m. ET as they explore three key areas to consider: due diligence, indemnification, and directors and officers insurance. The webinar is sponsored by Moses & Singer LLP.